The 1957 Topps baseball card set was the sixth series of baseball cards produced by Topps and featured all 16 major league teams from that season. While it lacked some of the iconic rookie cards found in sets from previous years, the 1957 Topps set still contained many valuable and historically significant cards that have stood the test of time. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best 1957 Topps baseball cards.
Perhaps the most well-known and valuable card from the 1957 set is the Mickey Mantle card. As one of the game’s greatest sluggers who won the American League MVP three times in the 1950s, Mantle was already a superstar by 1957 and his card has become one of the most iconic in baseball card history. In top-graded gem mint condition, Mantle’s ’57 Topps card can fetch over $100,000 at auction. Even well-centered, nicely centered copies in excellent condition sell for thousands. The card perfectly captures the switch-hitting Yankee outfielder in his prime and remains a highly sought-after piece of sports memorabilia.
Another Yankees legend and surefire Hall of Famer with an extremely valuable 1957 Topps card is Whitey Ford. By 1957, Ford had already won the AL Rookie of the Year and been named to multiple All-Star teams as one of baseball’s premier left-handed pitchers. He would go on to win over 200 games and earn six World Series rings in his career. High-grade Ford cards from the ’57 set can sell for $15,000 or more. Like Mantle, Ford has one of the most recognizable faces in the set and his card remains a key piece for collectors.
Staying with the Yankees, third baseman Andy Carey has one of the more underrated gems from the 1957 Topps set. While not a true superstar, Carey was a solid player for the Yankees from 1955-1959 and had his best season in 1957 when he hit .272 with 13 home runs and 68 RBI. His smooth left-handed swing is prominently featured on his card. In top condition with sharp centering, Carey cards can sell for over $1,000, making him a valuable “common” player card from the set.
Moving away from the Bronx Bombers, one of the best rookie cards from the 1957 Topps set belongs to future Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews of the Milwaukee Braves. Mathews was already baseball’s premier third baseman by 1957, having slugged 47 home runs and driven in 113 runs in 1956 to win the NL MVP Award at just 24 years old. His rookie card, which captures him in a Braves uniform, is one of the most significant from the set. High-grade Mathews rookies can sell for upwards of $7,000.
Another star third baseman with a great 1957 Topps card is Brooklyn Dodgers stalwart Billy Cox. While not a household name today, Cox was a five-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner known for his stellar defense at the hot corner during Brooklyn’s glory years in the 1950s. His smooth lefty swing is on full display on his ’57 card. In top condition, Cox cards can sell for over $1,000, making him another valuable common player from the set.
In addition to the star position players already mentioned, the 1957 Topps set featured several of baseball’s best pitchers as well. Cards of Hall of Famers Warren Spahn (Milwaukee), Early Wynn (Chicago), and Bob Lemon (Cleveland) are all quite valuable in high grades. Spahn’s card in particular, showing the veteran lefty in the windup for the Braves, can sell for over $3,000 in gem mint condition. The cards of these hurlers are often overlooked but hold great historical significance.
While it may have lacked some of the rookie star power of prior Topps sets, the 1957 edition still featured future Hall of Famers like Mays, Aaron and more in addition to the stars highlighted here. Overall condition and centering make a huge difference in the value of these classic cards today. For collectors, owning high-quality examples of the Mantles, Fords, Mathews and others from this vintage set is a true feat. Six decades later, the 1957 Topps baseball card release continues to captivate collectors and remind fans of some all-time great players.
