Ray Katt - 1957 Topps #331
1957 Topps #331 Ray Katt
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 Ray Katt
Raymond Frederick Katt (born May 9, 1927, in New Braunfels, Texas) was a right-handed catcher signed by New York Giants scout Bill Lacy out of a 1947 tryout camp in his hometown. After a minor-league climb that peaked with the 1951 Triple-A Minneapolis Millers alongside Willie Mays and Hoyt Wilhelm, Katt became the Giants' semi-regular backstop during the 1954 championship season, appearing in 86 games; he watched the World Series sweep of Cleveland from the bullpen while Wes Westrum caught. Katt is best remembered for a dubious mark: on September 10, 1954, catching knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm, he tied a record with four passed balls in one inning. Over eight seasons (1952-1959) with the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals, he played 417 games, batting .232 with 32 home runs and 120 RBI. He later coached Texas Lutheran University to a 502-362-2 record (1971-1992) and was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2001. This scarce Series Four card captures Katt back with the Giants for his final New York season.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 446 | 0 | 3 | 95 | 171 | 114 | 48 | 15 | 0 |
| SGC | 35 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 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).
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Find on eBay
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
Related cards
More New York Giants cards:
- #10 Willie Mays
- #39 Al Worthington
- #49 Daryl Spencer
- #58 Ruben Gomez
- #61 Dusty Rhodes
- #86 Bill Sarni
- #105 Johnny Antonelli
- #109 Hank Thompson
- #123 Steve Ridzik
- #148 Don Mueller
- #154 Red Schoendienst
- #191 Joe Margoneri
- #197 Hank Sauer
- #216 Marv Grissom
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1957 Topps Ray Katt card?
It is card #331 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 Ray Katt, New York Giants.
Is the 1957 Topps #331 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.