1957 Back-O'-The-Card: Darrell Johnson

"Darrell gets the important job of backing up Yogi Berra as the Yankee catcher this season. His fine performances at Denver in 1955 and '56 paved the way for his appearance in a Yankee uniform. Last season he batted .319 including 20 doubles and seven circuit blows.
Darrell started in 1949 and in Marshall in '50 hit .329. He advanced to Wichita Falls in '51 and batted .309. After a brief major league trial he traveled to Richmond where his contract was assigned to New York."

-1957 Topps No. 306

1957 Back-O'-The-Card: Elston Howard

"When Elston was brought up to the Yankees, he was a top prospect. Last season he pinch-hit 13 times and came through five times for a .417 average. In the seventh game of the 1956 World Series, Elston blasted a double and a homer."

-1957 Topps No. 82

1957 Back-O'-The-Card: Randy Gumpert

"Randy won 13 and lost 16 for the 1949 White Sox. His earned run average was 3.81.

He started out in organized baseball with the Athletics in 1936 and spent part of 1937 and 1938 with them. He then shuttled around the minors for a few years and was in military service from 1943-45.

After his discharge, Randy joined Yankees. Over two seasons he won 15 and dropped 4."

-1950 Bowman No. 14 

"Randy had a 5-12 record for the White Sox in 1950. He started out in 1936 with the Athletics and spent part of 1936 and 1937 with them. Randy was in the minors from 1939-42 and in military service from 1943-45.
After his discharge, Randy became a member of the Yankees. Over two seasons he won 15 while losing four. He was released to the White Sox in July 1948. Randy was in 34 games for Chicago in 1949, winning 13 and losing 16 with a 3.81 ERA."

-1951 Bowman No. 59 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

"Randy had a 9 and 8 record in 33 games for the Chicago White Sox in 1951. He worked 142 innings, struck out 45 batters, gave up 34 bases on balls and recorded an earned run average of 4.31.
He entered baseball with Connie Mack's A's in 1936. He's now with the Red Sox."

-1952 Bowman No. 106

"Randy started in organized ball with the A's in 1936 and had a 1-2 record. In '37, he was sent to the minors and got another trial in '38. Sent down again, Randy played in the minors until he went into the Armed Forces in 1943.
Upon his discharge, he joined the Yankees in 1946, winning 11 and losing 3. He had a 4-1 mark in '47 and went to the White Sox in '48. 1951 was his first winning year with Chicago. He was traded to the Red Sox in November 1951."

-1952 Topps No. 247

Randy joins the Yankees as the new first base coach. His playing career lasted 20 seasons, with three seasons spent in military service during World War II.
At the age of 18 with Connie Mack's Philadelphia club in 1936, Randy was the second-youngest pitcher in the American League (Bob Feller was the youngest). 1946 was his best major league season, an 11-3 record with a 2.31 ERA with the Yankees. While hurling for the White Sox in 1951, Randy made the All-Star team.

1957 Back-O'-The-Card: Bob Grim

"Bob had the finest won-loss percentage in the American League last year [6-1, .857], though he didn't qualify for the title. He came into 19 games in '56 as a reliever and snuffed out enemy rallies in 11 of those contests.
In his three seasons of major league ball, Bob holds winning records over five teams and is tied with the other two. He is especially effective in hurling against the White Sox, Tigers and Red Sox."

-1957 Topps No. 36

1957 Back-O'-The-Card: Whitey Ford

"Whitey was the leading pitcher in the American League last year, placing first in earned run average and won-loss percentage. His 1956 performance gave him a lifetime winning record against every team in the league. In the World Series, Whitey posted a 1-1 mark to boost his overall Series record to 4-2."

-1957 Topps No. 25

1957 Back-O'-The-Card: Art Ditmar and Rip Coleman

ART DITMAR

My Biggest Thrill in Baseball by  Art Ditmar
"There really isn't one big thrill, there are a lot of them. These are my biggest thrills: My first and only home run, hit my first at-bat in A ball during the 1949 season at Savannah. Then, I pitched two consecutive 4-0 shutouts at Ottawa during the 1954 season. I also pitched a 15-inning 5-2 win over Richmond. Then I won my first major league game pitching the first five innings of an 8-6 win over the Yankees on the last day of the 1954 season."

-1955 Bowman No. 90

"After his Army discharge in 1953, Art won seven straight games for Savannah of the Sally League. He was the No. 2 man on the A's pitching staff in 1955. Between seasons he attends American International College."

-1956 Topps No. 258

"Art was the American League's tough luck pitcher last season. Although he dropped the most decisions, he posted enough victories to be the Athletics' winningest hurler. He pitched 14 complete games including two shutouts and a classy 1-hit job.
Starting in baseball in 1948, Art toiled in the minors for four years [along with two years of military service] before coming to the A's in 1954. As this card went to press, he was traded to the Yankees."

-1957 Topps No. 132

RIP COLEMAN

"In high school, Coleman was a first baseman and earned the nickname Rip, after the old Cardinal first sacker, Rip Collins. When he signed with the Yankee chain in 1952 he was a full-fledged pitcher and enjoyed a fine minor league apprenticeship, with 45 triumphs against 40 losses. He came to Kansas City in a trade in 1957."

-1957 Topps No. 354

1957 Back-O'-The-Card: Bill Dickey

The greatest catcher in Yankee history, Bill's patience and hours of instruction made Yogi Berra into the best catcher in baseball today. More recently, Bill has made young Elston Howard into one of the majors' most promising catching prospects.
Bill's Hall of Fame playing career included an all-time record 13 straight seasons catching at least 100 games- the only position he ever played in his 17 years in the majors. A lifetime .313 hitter, his four straight seasons of at least 20 homers and at least 100 RBIs were four straight seasons of Yankee World Championships. Yet it was his sixth-inning two-out, two-run homer off Mort Cooper to deep right field in Sportsman's Park that secured a 2-0 New York victory over St. Louis to clinch the 1943 World Series- Bill's last game before serving two years in the Navy during World War II.

1957 Back-O'-The-Card: Bobby Del Greco and Irv Noren

BOBBY DEL GRECO

"Just two years after Bobby was playing sandlot ball in Pittsburgh, he was up with the Pirates playing major league ball. The Buccaneers bought Bobby's contract from Charleston, South Carolina in April of 1952 after he showed a lot of promise in spring training.

Bobby broke in with Salisbury of the North Carolina State League in '50 and had a good year with Hutchinson of the Western Association in '51 where he hit over .300."

-1952 Topps No. 353

"Bobby is one of the bright spots of the Pirates' youth parade. Just two years before he started playing for the Pirates, he was playing ball on the Pittsburgh sandlots.
He started with Salisbury in 1950 and was moved up to Hutchinson, where he hit .302 and had 60 RBIs in '51. He was optioned to Toronto in August of '52 and recalled in September."

-1953 Topps No. 48

"After playing 14 games for the Pirates in 1956, Bobby found himself in a Cardinal uniform. He came to St. Louis in a trade that sent Bill Virdon to Pittsburgh.
Bobby caught the eye of major league scouts when he played for Hutchinson and led his league in doubles and was a star defensive flychaser."

-1957 Topps No. 94

IRV NOREN

"With the addition of Irv Noren and Bob Cerv to their picket line, the A's have a slugging outfield. Irv has proven himself as a run producer and can hit a long ball.

When he started in 1946, he set the California League on fire by leading in almost hitting category, and in '49 at Hollywood posted a blazing .330 mark"

-1957 Topps No. 298

1957 Back-O'-The-Card: Frankie Crosetti

Frankie was the greatest shortstop in Yankee history before Phil Rizzuto. In Game 2 of the 1938 World Series, with the Cubs leading 3-2 in the eighth and the great Dizzy Dean pitching, Frankie homered with a runner on base to give New York its margin of victory.
The Crow was part of six Yankee World Championships as a player and seven more as a coach. He's always willing to advise a Yankee rookie on how to have a winning attitude while wearing the Pinstripes.

1957 Back-O'-The-Card: Joe Collins

"This will be Joe's 18th year in organized baseball and judging by his ability to deliver clutch hits, he gets better with age. Whether he's called for outfield or first base duty, Joe fills in beautifully.
Joe came to the Yankees after hitting .319 with 20 homers at Kansas City (A.A.) in 1949. In the first game of the '55 World Series, Joe pounded out two homers."

-1957 Topps No. 295