1957 Topps #256 Ron Kline
About Ron Kline
Signed by Pie Traynor out of a 1950 tryout camp at Forbes Field, Ron Kline went 0-7 as a Pirates rookie in 1952, served two years in the Army during the Korean War, then returned as a rotation workhorse, winning 14 games with a 3.38 ERA over a career-high 264 innings in 1956 while leading the National League in losses — a distinction he repeated in 1958. The 1957 season behind this card was his oddest: a knuckleball picked up in Dominican winter ball sank him to an 0-7 start, and only after junking the pitch did he rally to finish 9-16. Reinvented as a reliever, Kline led the American League with 29 saves for the 1965 Washington Senators, then returned to Pittsburgh in 1968 and posted a 12-5 record with a 1.68 ERA, drawing public praise from Roberto Clemente. Over 17 seasons he went 114-144 with 108 saves in 736 games, later serving as mayor of his hometown of Callery, Pennsylvania.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 558 | 0 | 41 | 205 | 178 | 91 | 26 | 17 | 0 |
| SGC | 43 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 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).
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 Pittsburgh Pirates cards:
- #3 Dale Long
- #12 Dick Groat
- #24 Bill Mazeroski
- #52 Lee Walls
- #76 Roberto Clemente
- #104 Hank Foiles
- #110 Bill Virdon
- #140 Frank Thomas
- #150 Bob Friend
- #161 Pittsburgh Pirates
- #166 Roy Face
- #199 Vern Law
- #209 Bob Skinner
- #234 Dick Cole
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1957 Topps Ron Kline card?
It is card #256 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 Ron Kline, Pittsburgh Pirates.
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.