1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente
1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente's rookie card - the most valuable card in the set, and scarcer still for sitting in the high-number series.
About Roberto Clemente
Card #164 is the rookie card of Roberto Clemente, the most coveted card in the 1955 Topps set and scarcer still for sitting in the high-number series. A Puerto Rican right fielder, Clemente signed with the Santurce Crabbers as a teenager, then inked with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954 for a $10,000 bonus and spent that season with the Triple-A Montreal Royals; Pittsburgh claimed him with the first pick of the November 1954 Rule 5 draft. He spent all 18 of his major-league seasons (1955-1972) with the Pirates, batting .317 with exactly 3,000 hits, 240 home runs, and 1,305 RBI. A 15-time All-Star, he won 12 consecutive Gold Gloves (1961-1972), four batting titles (1961, 1964, 1965, 1967), and the 1966 NL MVP, and starred on the 1960 and 1971 World Series champions, taking 1971 Series MVP honors by hitting .414. Nicknamed "The Great One" by broadcaster Bob Prince, he collected his 3,000th hit on September 30, 1972, then died that December 31 in a plane crash while flying earthquake relief to Nicaragua. The Hall of Fame waived its waiting period to induct him in 1973, the first Latin American enshrinee.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Variations & how to tell them apart
High Number (#161-210)
Series 2 (#161-210) shipped in the fall against the new football-card season, so retailers cut their orders and far fewer were printed. As a result the set's biggest high-number names - Roberto Clemente (RC), Willie Mays, Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, Gil Hodges and Duke Snider - are tougher than low-number stars such as Williams, Robinson and Aaron.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 7,779 | 1 | 14 | 198 | 469 | 819 | 1,200 | 4,898 | 180 |
| SGC | 2,929 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 91 | 104 | 337 | 2,077 | 300 |
SGC by variation: Standard 2,928 · One Split Card On Album Page 1
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-26. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8); totals are summed across each grader's listed variations.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente card?
It is card #164 of 206 in the 1955 Topps set - Topps' first fully horizontal design. It pictures the Pittsburgh Pirates player, and is his rookie card.
Is the 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente a rookie card?
Yes. Card #164 is Roberto Clemente's rookie card and the most valuable card in the set, made scarcer still by its place in the high-number series.
Why is this card scarce?
It is in the 1955 Topps high-number series (#161-210), which shipped in the fall against the new football cards, so far fewer were printed - the scarcest run in the set.
Is the 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente valuable?
Value depends on grade and its scarce high-number status, plus the demand for a Hall of Famer. Use the links above to check current T206 Cards inventory and live eBay listings.
Sources: Trading Card Database, Baseball-Reference, PSA & SGC population reports, and Baseball-Almanac. Card data & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-07-01.