1975 Topps #453 Claude Osteen
About Claude Osteen
Claude Wilson Osteen, a left-hander nicknamed "Gomer" for his resemblance to television's Gomer Pyle, was born August 9, 1939, in Caney Springs, Tennessee. A high school phenom at Reading (Ohio) High, he signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 1957 and debuted in the majors at 17 without pitching in the minors. Traded to Washington in 1961, he became a regular starter, then joined the Dodgers in a seven-player deal after 1964. In Los Angeles he blossomed into an ace, making three All-Star teams (1967, 1970, 1973) and helping the Dodgers reach the 1965 and 1966 World Series. His signature moment came in Game Three of the 1965 Series: after Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax dropped the first two games, Osteen shut out Minnesota 4-0, swinging the momentum toward a Dodgers title in seven games. He won 20 games twice, in 1969 and 1972. Dealt to Houston for Jimmy Wynn after 1973, he moved to St. Louis in August 1974, the club shown on this 1975 Topps card, before his release that April sent him to the White Sox for a final season. He finished 196-195 with a 3.30 ERA and 1,612 strikeouts over 18 years, later coaching pitchers for four big league clubs.
Sources: Wikipedia · SABR BioProject · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 296 | 5 | 96 | 160 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| SGC | 14 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-08-19. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8), and PSA's qualified grades are counted separately from the straight-grade rows shown here. The graders do not split the 1975 Topps Mini or O-Pee-Chee issues into this set.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1975 Topps #453 card?
It is card #453 of the 660-card 1975 Topps Baseball set, picturing Claude Osteen.
How many cards are in the 1975 Topps Baseball set?
660 cards, numbered 1-660, with no variations and no short prints - PSA reports the cards were printed in equal quantities. The 1975 Topps Mini and the 1975 O-Pee-Chee issues are separate products with their own checklists.
Sources: Trading Card Database, Cardboard Connection, the PSA price guide, Baseball-Reference, the SABR BioProject and the National Baseball Hall of Fame, PSA & SGC population reports. Card data compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-08-20.