1957 Topps #144 Ray Narleski
About Ray Narleski
Ray Narleski (1928-2012) was a hard-throwing relief pitcher whose blazing fastball anchored one of the era's best bullpens. Born in Camden, New Jersey, and the son of former Boston Red Sox infielder Bill Narleski, he was signed by the Cleveland Indians in 1948 and reached the majors in 1954. As a rookie he posted a 2.22 ERA with a team-leading 13 saves and pitched in the World Series, where the 111-win Indians were swept by the New York Giants. Paired with left-hander Don Mossi, the two righty-lefty relievers became known as the "Gold Dust Twins"; Narleski led the league in appearances in 1955 and finished sixth in MVP voting. He earned American League All-Star selections in 1956 and 1958, and shifted to starting in 1957 (11-5, 3.09 ERA). Traded to the Detroit Tigers in November 1958 in the deal that sent Billy Martin to Cleveland, he pitched one final season before a ruptured disc ended his career. He retired 43-33 with 58 saves and a 3.60 ERA.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 561 | 0 | 25 | 211 | 167 | 84 | 43 | 31 | 0 |
| SGC | 42 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 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 Ray Narleski card?
It is card #144 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 Narleski, Cleveland Indians.
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.