Paul LaPalme - 1957 Topps #344
1957 Topps #344 Paul LaPalme
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 Paul LaPalme
Paul Edmore LaPalme, a left-handed pitcher born December 14, 1923, in Springfield, Massachusetts, entered pro ball in 1941 at age 17 with the Bristol Twins of the Appalachian League, going 10-4. His path to the majors was interrupted by Army service from 1943 to 1945 during World War II. He reached the big leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1951, and in his major league debut he threw a five-hit shutout against the Boston Braves at Braves Field. Over seven seasons LaPalme also pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Redlegs, and Chicago White Sox, working as both a starter and reliever. He compiled a 24-45 record with 277 strikeouts, 14 saves, and one shutout across 253 games (94 starts) and 616 1/3 innings. With Chicago in 1956-57 he was a steady bullpen arm, posting a 4-5 mark, a 2.83 ERA, and nine saves. This card is a scarce high-number Series Four issue. After baseball he ran LaPalme Engravers and lived for years in Leominster, Massachusetts; he died in 2010.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 473 | 0 | 11 | 130 | 158 | 108 | 43 | 23 | 0 |
| SGC | 31 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 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 Paul LaPalme card?
It is card #344 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 Paul LaPalme, Chicago White Sox.
Is the 1957 Topps #344 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.