1957 Topps #345 Paul Smith
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 Smith
Paul Leslie Smith, born March 19, 1931, in New Castle, Pennsylvania, was a left-handed-hitting first baseman and outfielder who reached the majors with the hometown-adjacent Pittsburgh Pirates. With New Castle only about 50 miles from Pittsburgh, Smith signed with the Pirates in 1950 and debuted in the big leagues on April 14, 1953. His finest season was that 1953 rookie campaign, when he appeared in 118 games and batted .283 with 110 hits, four home runs, and 44 RBIs. After time back in the minors, he returned to Pittsburgh in 1957 as a reserve outfielder in 81 games, the season depicted on this 1957 Topps card. The Pirates sold him to the Chicago Cubs on May 6, 1958, and he played his final major league game on June 7 that year. Over 223 big-league games he hit .270. Smith finished his playing days at the Triple-A level, retiring after 1963, and died August 18, 2019, in Conroe, Texas. His card is a tougher-to-find Series Four entry in the 1957 set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 574 | 1 | 26 | 174 | 192 | 101 | 50 | 30 | 0 |
| SGC | 47 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 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 Paul Smith card?
It is card #345 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 Smith, Pittsburgh Pirates.
Is the 1957 Topps #345 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.