1959 Topps #270 Gil Hodges
Gil Hodges, the Dodgers' slugging first baseman and future Hall of Famer (2022).
About Gil Hodges
Gil Hodges signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1942 and, after military service, became one of the era's great first basemen, anchoring the Dodgers infield for 18 seasons and eight All-Star selections. Originally a catcher, he was converted to first base in 1948 by manager Leo Durocher, who declared he'd found "the best first baseman I'd seen since Dolph Camilli." Hodges helped Brooklyn win six pennants and its only championship in 1955, then won it all again with the Dodgers in Los Angeles in 1959 — the season pictured on this Topps card — batting .391 in that Series against the White Sox. During a rare 1952 World Series slump, a Brooklyn priest famously told his congregation, "Just go home and say a prayer for Gil Hodges," and fans mailed him encouragement rather than criticism. He finished with 370 home runs and 1,274 RBI, then managed the Washington Senators and the New York Mets, leading the 1969 "Miracle Mets" to their first World Series title. Hodges died suddenly in 1972 and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2021, inducted in 2022.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Variations & how to tell them apart
White Back / Gray Back Series 3 (cards 199-286)
Every card #199-286 exists with the reverse printed on white card stock OR gray card stock. Per PSA the GRAY back is the less common of the two (correcting the older "roughly equal" claim), but there is NO price differential (Beckett) — the difference is a scarcity/completeness point, not a value flag. The tint is on the reverse and is not reliably visible on a front scan.
- White Back: Printed on white card stock — the more common Series 3 back.
- Gray Back: Printed on gray card stock — the scarcer Series 3 back (PSA), but with no established price premium.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1,532 | 2 | 40 | 279 | 369 | 304 | 225 | 312 | 1 |
| SGC | 348 | 0 | 3 | 25 | 54 | 70 | 94 | 97 | 5 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-07-05. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. Totals are summed across each grader's listed variations.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1959 Topps Gil Hodges card?
It is card #270 of 572 in the 1959 Topps Baseball set - Topps' largest set to that point, issued across seven series with a circular color photo on every front. It pictures the Los Angeles Dodgers player.
Does the 1959 Topps Gil Hodges have back variations?
Yes. Every card #199-286 exists with the reverse printed on white card stock OR gray card stock. Per PSA the GRAY back is the less common of the two (correcting the older "roughly equal" claim), but there is NO price differential (Beckett) — the difference is a scarcity/completeness point, not a value flag. The tint is on the reverse and is not reliably visible on a front scan.
Is the 1959 Topps Gil Hodges valuable?
Value depends on grade, the series (the high numbers run scarcer), and any variation. Use the links above to check current T206 Cards inventory and live eBay listings.
Sources: Trading Card Database, Baseball-Reference, BaseballCardPedia, PSA & SGC population reports, and Baseball-Almanac. Card data, images & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-10-13.