1957 Topps #285 Ned Garver
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 Ned Garver
Ned Garver, born Christmas Day 1925 in Ney, Ohio, signed into the St. Louis Browns organization in 1944 and announced himself immediately, leading the Class D Ohio State League with 21 wins and a 1.21 ERA while batting .407. A right-handed workhorse, he pitched for the Browns (1948-52), Tigers (1952-56), Athletics (1957-60), and Angels (1961), leading the AL in complete games in 1950 and 1951. His 1951 season is legend: 20-12 for a 52-102 Browns club — the first pitcher ever to win 20 games for a team that lost 100 — clinched with his own tie-breaking home run on the season's final day. He started that year's All-Star Game and finished second to Yogi Berra in MVP voting. Traded to Kansas City in December 1956, he won his 100th game in 1957 despite a 6-19 record, then rebounded with 12 wins in 1958. He finished 129-157 with a 3.73 ERA, later serving as mayor of tiny Ney. This card comes from 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 | 550 | 0 | 12 | 163 | 198 | 113 | 40 | 23 | 1 |
| SGC | 33 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-07-05. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1957 Topps Ned Garver card?
It is card #285 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 Ned Garver, Kansas City Athletics.
Is the 1957 Topps #285 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 2026-10-13.