1957 Topps #349 Nellie King
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 Nellie King
Nelson Joseph "Nellie" King, born March 15, 1928, in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, was raised at the Milton Hershey School after his father's death and signed his first professional contract with the St. Louis Cardinals organization in 1946. A lanky 6-foot-6 right-handed sidearm pitcher, he toiled eight years in the minors before the Pittsburgh Pirates called him up. King made his major league debut on April 15, 1954, striking out Brooklyn's Duke Snider in his first appearance. He pitched for the Pirates from 1954 through 1957, working almost entirely in relief, and finished 7-5 with a 3.58 ERA over 95 games; his best year was 1956, when he went 4-1 with seven saves. An arm injury ended his playing days after the 1957 season. King later became a beloved Pirates broadcaster (1967-1975) alongside Bob Prince, and in 2009 published a memoir, "Happiness Is Like A Cur Dog." This 1957 Topps card, #349, is part of the scarce high-numbered Series Four.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 448 | 0 | 3 | 96 | 164 | 114 | 39 | 32 | 0 |
| SGC | 33 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 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).
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1957 Topps Nellie King card?
It is card #349 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 Nellie King, Pittsburgh Pirates.
Is the 1957 Topps #349 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.