Mickey McDermott - 1957 Topps #318
1957 Topps #318 Mickey McDermott
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 Mickey McDermott
A hard-throwing lefty signed by the Red Sox in 1944 at just 15 — his father doctored his birth certificate and took $5,000 plus two truckloads of Ballantine beer — Mickey McDermott threw three minor-league no-hitters and fanned an American Association-record 20 batters in a 1949 game. He went 18-10 for Boston in 1953 before a trade to Washington for Jackie Jensen, then won a ring with the 1956 Yankees, pitching three innings in Game 2 of the World Series. Dealt to Kansas City in February 1957, he went 1-4 for the Athletics — the club on this scarce fourth-series card. A genuine "triple-threat... a man who can pitch, hit, or sing," per the New York Times, he crooned off-seasons at Grossinger's; Warren Spahn called him and Ted Williams the two greatest athletes he ever saw play baseball. McDermott finished 69-69 with 757 strikeouts across 12 seasons (1948-61), battled alcoholism, and in 1991 won $7 million in the Arizona Lottery.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 492 | 0 | 6 | 101 | 197 | 128 | 36 | 24 | 0 |
| SGC | 28 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 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 Mickey McDermott card?
It is card #318 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 Mickey McDermott, Kansas City Athletics.
Is the 1957 Topps #318 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.