Lou Skizas - 1957 Topps #83
1957 Topps #83 Lou Skizas
About Lou Skizas
Lou Skizas packed a lifetime of character into four big-league seasons. Signed by the Yankees as a Chicago teenager in 1949, the son of Greek immigrants debuted on April 19, 1956, delivering a pinch-hit single, then was traded to Kansas City that June and starred as a rookie, batting .316 with 11 home runs in 83 games. Nicknamed "The Nervous Greek," he owned one of baseball's oddest batting rituals — kissing his bat, touching a good-luck piece in his back pocket, and holding his left foot off the ground until the pitch arrived — yet insisted, "I definitely am not superstitious." Dealt to Detroit in the November 1957 blockbuster alongside Billy Martin and Gus Zernial, he finished with the 1959 White Sox, retiring a .270 career hitter with 30 home runs. He later earned a Ph.D. in biology and taught at the University of Illinois. This card, picturing him with the A's, is his Topps rookie card.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 538 | 0 | 23 | 184 | 184 | 81 | 38 | 27 | 1 |
| SGC | 40 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-07-05. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8). PSA counts are straight-graded (the +/Q qualifier rows are excluded).
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1957 Topps Lou Skizas card?
It is card #83 of the 1957 Topps Baseball set - the 407-card, 2-1/2 by 3-1/2 inch set that was Topps' first at the modern standard card size, with full-color photography and complete career stats on the back. It pictures Lou Skizas, Kansas City Athletics.
Is the 1957 Topps Lou Skizas #83 a rookie card?
Yes - it carries the rookie-card designation in the 1957 Topps set.
How many cards are in the 1957 Topps set?
407 numbered cards. Collectors usually count 408 because #176 Gene Baker exists in an error ('Bakep') and a corrected back. The PSA master set adds the 8 checklists, 4 contest cards and the Lucky Penny for 421 items.
Sources: PSA CardFacts, Beckett, BaseballCardPedia, Baseball-Reference, PSA & SGC population reports, and hobby press-sheet research (Net54 / Topps Archives). Card data compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-07-05.