Tito Francona - 1957 Topps #184
1957 Topps #184 Tito Francona
About Tito Francona
John "Tito" Francona was signed by the St. Louis Browns in 1952 and, after two Army years, reached the majors with the relocated Baltimore Orioles in 1956, playing center field and hitting .258 as a rookie. A left-handed-hitting outfielder-first baseman, he went on to play 15 seasons for nine clubs, most notably the Cleveland Indians (1959-1964). His 1959 breakout was legendary: he batted .363 in 399 at-bats, ten points higher than batting champ Harvey Kuenn, but a late leg injury left him short of qualifying. He earned an All-Star selection in 1961 (career highs of 178 hits and 85 RBIs) and led the AL with 36 doubles in 1960, finishing with a .272 average, 125 home runs, and 656 RBIs. His father Carmen gave him the nickname "Tito," Italian for "little one." His son Terry Francona became a World Series-winning manager. This is Francona's rookie card.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 405 | 2 | 5 | 115 | 132 | 76 | 37 | 38 | 0 |
| SGC | 30 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 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 Tito Francona card?
It is card #184 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 Tito Francona, Baltimore Orioles.
Is the 1957 Topps Tito Francona #184 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 2026-07-05.