1957 Topps #313 Mel Parnell
Scarce fourth series: #265-352 is the tough run of the 1957 set — roughly twice as hard to find as the other series ("tough, not rare"). No documented reason survives; the best-researched account is that Topps printed the hastily assembled final series in quantity and left Series 4 with the shortest run.
About Mel Parnell
Signed by the Red Sox in 1941 after striking out 17 in a New Orleans high school game, Mel Parnell spent his entire ten-year career (1947–56) in Boston, going 123–75 and still ranking first among Red Sox left-handers in wins, starts, and innings pitched. His high school coach dubbed him "Dusty" because he was a lowball pitcher who "threw a lot down in the dirt." In 1949 he went 25–7 with a 2.77 ERA, led the American League in wins, complete games, and innings, and started the All-Star Game; he was an All-Star again in 1951 and won 21 games in 1953, shutting out the Yankees four times. Remarkably effective at Fenway Park (71–30 there), he capped his career with a July 14, 1956 no-hitter against the White Sox — Boston's first since 1923 — fielding the final out himself. Later a Red Sox broadcaster during 1967's "Impossible Dream" season, he entered the team's Hall of Fame in 1997. His card belongs to the scarce fourth series.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 452 | 0 | 6 | 110 | 150 | 106 | 54 | 25 | 1 |
| SGC | 38 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 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).
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Find on eBay
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
Related cards
More Boston Red Sox cards:
- #1 Ted Williams
- #21 Frank Sullivan
- #56 Dave Sisler
- #63 Ike Delock
- #75 Jimmy Piersall
- #92 Mickey Vernon
- #112 Tom Brewer
- #118 Bob Porterfield
- #131 Milt Bolling
- #163 Sammy White
- #171 Boston Red Sox
- #189 Willard Nixon
- #202 Dick Gernert
- #217 Gene Stephens
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1957 Topps Mel Parnell card?
It is card #313 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 Mel Parnell, Boston Red Sox.
Is the 1957 Topps #313 hard to find?
It is part of the scarce fourth series (#265-352), the toughest run of the set - roughly twice as hard to find as the other series. It is tough, not rare; there is no documented distribution reason, only that Series 4 had the shortest print run.
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 2026-07-10.