1977 Topps #481 Roger Metzger
About Roger Metzger
Playing time fell sharply in 1977. Metzger appeared in 97 games, 96 at shortstop and one at second base. He batted .186 over 269 at-bats with 16 RBI. He scored 24 runs and stole two bases. His #481 carries the Astros team name.
Roger Metzger was a switch-hitting shortstop who held down the position for the Houston Astros through most of the 1970s, known for his strong defense and good running speed. The Chicago Cubs took him 16th overall in the 1969 draft out of St. Edward's University, and he debuted with them in 1970. Houston had him from 1971 into 1978, when he moved to the San Francisco Giants. He won the 1973 Gold Glove at shortstop, the first by an Astro at the position, and no Astros shortstop won another for 48 years. In 11 seasons he played 1,219 games and hit .231. He had five home runs and 83 stolen bases. On November 29, 1979, a table saw took the tips of four fingers on his right hand. He tried a comeback with the Giants, hit .074 in 28 games, and was released on August 10, 1980, then re-signed as a coach for the rest of that season.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 91 | 17 | 40 | 26 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| SGC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Data as of 2026-10-19. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted.
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Related cards
Team card: #327 Houston Astros Team
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- #184 Bo McLaughlin
- #209 Rob Andrews
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- #248 Wilbur Howard
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1977 Topps #481 card?
It is card #481 of the 660-card 1977 Topps Baseball set, picturing Roger Metzger of the Houston Astros.
How many cards are in the 1977 Topps Baseball set?
660 cards, numbered 1 through 660 with none skipped and distributed as a single series. No card carries a catalogued print variation, so the base set and the master set are the same 660 cards.
Sources: Trading Card Database, PSA CardFacts, BaseballCardPedia, Cardboard Connection, Baseball Almanac, 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 2026-10-25.