Ted Abernathy - 1957 Topps #293
1957 Topps #293 Ted Abernathy
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 Ted Abernathy
Ted Abernathy tore two shoulder muscles as a North Carolina high-school freshman in 1948 and reinvented himself as a sidearmer — the first of two reinventions that defined his career. Signed by Washington scout Chick Suggs before the 1952 season, he debuted with the Senators in April 1955, going 5-9 as a rookie, then struggled to 2-10 in 1957, the last year he ever started a big-league game. After 1959 elbow surgery removed a handful of bone chips, he dropped all the way down to a knuckles-scraping submarine delivery copied from Senators teammate Dick Hyde — and became one of the era's great relievers. He led the NL in saves with the 1965 Cubs (31, plus a then-record 84 appearances) and 1967 Reds (28, with a 1.27 ERA), winning Fireman of the Year both times, and finished with 148 saves in 681 games. Kent Tekulve later said, 'Ted was who I copied my delivery from.' This scarce Series Four card is his Topps rookie.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 546 | 0 | 16 | 150 | 204 | 115 | 47 | 14 | 0 |
| SGC | 46 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
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 Ted Abernathy card?
It is card #293 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 Ted Abernathy, Washington Senators.
Is the 1957 Topps #293 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.
Is the 1957 Topps Ted Abernathy #293 a rookie card?
Yes - it carries the rookie-card designation in the 1957 Topps set.
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.