1958 Topps #1 Ted Williams
Card #1 of the set - Topps again gave the leadoff slot to Ted Williams. As a #1 card it is famously condition-sensitive, worn from the top of stacks and rubber-banded stacks.
About Ted Williams
Ted Williams signed with his hometown San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League in 1937 and reached the Boston Red Sox in 1939, beginning one of the greatest hitting careers in history. A 19-time All-Star and two-time AL MVP (1946, 1949), the left fielder won six batting titles and two Triple Crowns (1942, 1947). In 1941 he hit .406-no major leaguer has batted .400 since. His prime was interrupted by nearly five years of military service as a Marine aviator across World War II and Korea, where he flew 39 combat missions. Even so, at ages 39 and 40 he claimed batting titles in 1957 (.388) and 1958 (.328). Williams retired with a .344 average, 521 home runs, and a record .482 on-base percentage, and homered in his final major-league at-bat in 1960. Dubbed "The Kid" by a Red Sox clubhouse man and famed as "The Splendid Splinter," he pursued one goal-to be "the greatest hitter who ever lived." He was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1966.
Sources: Wikipedia · SABR BioProject
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 4,974 | 0 | 10 | 117 | 240 | 647 | 866 | 3,072 | 22 |
| SGC | 2,105 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 38 | 99 | 311 | 1,555 | 85 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-07-09. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Live auctions Buy It Now Sold prices
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
Related cards
More Ted Williams in this set: #485 All-Star
More Boston Red Sox cards:
- #18 Frank Sullivan
- #29 Ted Lepcio
- #38 Dick Gernert
- #59 Dave Sisler
- #73 Pete Daley
- #89 Billy Klaus
- #130 Jackie Jensen
- #148 Billy Consolo
- #167 Frank Baumann
- #189 George Susce
- #197 Haywood Sullivan
- #204 Leo Kiely
- #220 Tom Brewer
- #227 Gene Stephens
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1958 Topps Ted Williams card?
It is card #1 of the 1958 Topps Baseball set - Topps' sixth flagship issue: 494 cards numbered 1-495 (#145 was never issued), with die-cut player photos on solid-color backgrounds and the first team logos on Topps fronts. It pictures Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox.
How many graded copies of the 1958 Topps Ted Williams #1 are there?
PSA has graded 4,974 copies and SGC 2,105 as of the 2026-07-09 snapshot. Population is a scarcity guide, not a price - high-grade 1958s are notoriously tough because of the set's chronic centering and print-quality issues.
How many cards are in the 1958 Topps set?
494 issued cards, numbered 1-495 - #145 (Ed Bouchee) was pulled before release and never issued, leaving a permanent gap. The PSA master census counts 534 items: the 494 base cards plus 33 yellow-letter variations, 4 numerical checklist-back team cards, the 'Herrer' #433 error, and 2 unnumbered ad cards.
Sources: PSA CardFacts, Beckett, BaseballCardPedia, Baseball-Reference, PSA & SGC population reports, and hobby press-sheet research (Topps Archives, 2026). Card data compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-10-05.