1959 Topps #349 Hoyt Wilhelm
About Hoyt Wilhelm
Hoyt Wilhelm built a Hall of Fame career almost entirely around a single darting, unpredictable knuckleball, a pitch he threw nearly every time rather than as a change of pace. Signed by the New York Giants after serving in the Army during World War II, he made a sensational 1952 rookie debut at age 29, going 15-3 with a league-leading 2.43 ERA. On September 20, 1958, in just his ninth career start, he no-hit the eventual World Champion New York Yankees 1-0. Wilhelm pitched for nine teams over 21 seasons, including the Cardinals, Indians, Orioles, White Sox, Angels, Braves, Cubs, and Dodgers, becoming the first pitcher to reach 200 saves and the first to appear in 1,000 games; he finished 143-122 with 228 saves and a 2.52 ERA. Nicknamed “Old Folks” for his remarkable longevity into his late 40s, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985, the first reliever ever inducted. His 1959 Topps card, issued during his Baltimore Orioles tenure, comes shortly after his historic no-hitter.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 971 | 0 | 12 | 186 | 294 | 211 | 113 | 154 | 1 |
| SGC | 164 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 25 | 34 | 34 | 49 | 2 |
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 Hoyt Wilhelm card?
It is card #349 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 Baltimore Orioles player.
Is the 1959 Topps Hoyt Wilhelm 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.