What’s So Great About The 1957 Topps Frank Robinson Rookie Card

Is it possible for a player to be both an inner circle Hall of Famer and somehow underrated? To be one of the biggest home run hitters of all time, a two-time MVP, and yet your rookie card doesn’t get the love that some of your peers?

If it is possible, then exhibit one is Frank Robinson and his 1957 Topps rookie card, number 35 in the classic set. But who is Frank Robinson? What should we know about the 1957 Topps Frank Robinson Rookie Card?

Who is Frank Robinson?

Frank Robinson, whose career spanned 21 seasons from 1956 through 1976, was nothing short of one of the most feared sluggers of his, or any other, time.

Over his long career, Robinson racked up many awards and leaderboard appearances. He won the Rookie of the Year award, was an All-Star 14 times, and won two World Championships.

He was a two-time MVP (the first to win the MVP in both the American and National Leagues), an All Star Game MVP, and a World Series MVP. He won a Triple Crown, a Batting Title, and a Gold Glove. Robinson batted .300 nine times, hit 30 home runs 11 times, and led his league in slugging four times and in runs scored three times.

For his career, Robinson put up a career line of .294/.389/.537 for an OPS of .926 and OPS+ of 154. His 586 career home runs ranked 4^th all-time when he retired, and now ranks 10^th all time. Frank Robinson was worth an amazing 107.2 WAR in his career, an inner circle total.  He finished with 2,943 career hits, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

Robinson became the first Black manager while still an active player in 1975, and would go on to manage 2,241 games over parts of 17 seasons.

Frank Robinson passed away on February 7, 2019 at the age of 83 years old.

The 1957 Topps Frank Robinson #35 Rookie Card

Frank Robinson’s rookie card appears in the 1957 Topps set, on card #35. This first-series card has been graded 6,695 times by PSA, but there is not a single copy in a PSA 10 slab.

PSA 9s are hard to come by as well, with only 26 cards in that grade in existence. The last sale was back in August of 2023 for $32,500. PSA 8’s get more plentiful, with 328 total copies. The last sale, back in September of 2024, was for $4,950.

With PSA 7s, the total population count is a heartier 735 copies. Recent sales in that grade range from $1,250 to $1,550. One has to assume that eye appeal contributes to the range of prices.

PSA 6s are still more plentiful, with 1,212 copies. Recent comps range from $475-650. PSA 5s number 1,128, with recent auction prices in the $300-350 range, with buy-it-now prices a bit higher. That’s getting into the “2024 Hobby Box” price range (think 2024 Topps Five Star or 2024 Topps Chrome Sapphire).

That’s the cost of a modern hobby box for the 68-year-old rookie card of an all-time great in very solid condition. That’s the condition of my Frank Robinson rookie card, which I picked up recently.

Prices of course go down from there, with the lowest grade examples available for $100 or less.

Final thoughts on the 1957 Topps Frank Robinson Rookie Card

Despite almost 6,700 total PSA-graded copies, there are no PSA 10 copies in existence. Even in a PSA, this is a rare and expensive gem. Yet as you work your way down the grade ladder, you get various price points that go from the range of the high roller down to the big spenders down to costs similar to a premium 2024 hobby box, and below.

So, there is a Frank Robinson rookie card for every collecting budget and every collector.

What’s your take on the 1957 Topps Frank Robinson rookie card? Own a copy? Covet it? Tell us what’s on your mind at CardLines on X.

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