Mike Garcia - 1957 Topps #300
1957 Topps #300 Mike Garcia
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 Mike Garcia
Edward Miguel "Mike" Garcia signed with Cleveland in 1942 after scout Willis Butler spotted him pitching semipro ball in Tulare, California, then spent three wartime years in the Army Signal Corps before debuting in the final game of 1948. Nicknamed "the Big Bear" by teammate Joe Gordon for his burly 6-foot-1 frame — Garcia conceded "maybe I walk a little like a bear" — he anchored Cleveland's famed Big Four rotation alongside Bob Feller, Bob Lemon and Early Wynn. He led the AL with a 2.36 ERA as a 1949 rookie, won 20 games in 1951 and 22 in 1952, and made three straight All-Star teams (1952-54). His 19-8, league-best 2.64 ERA season powered the 111-win 1954 pennant winners, though the Giants swept the World Series. Garcia finished 142-97 with a 3.27 ERA — the only Big Four member not in Cooperstown — and entered the Indians Hall of Fame in 2007. His card #300 falls in 1957 Topps' scarce fourth series.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 780 | 0 | 5 | 68 | 281 | 277 | 93 | 56 | 0 |
| SGC | 63 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 22 | 11 | 15 | 6 | 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 Mike Garcia card?
It is card #300 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 Mike Garcia, Cleveland Indians.
Is the 1957 Topps #300 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.