1959 Topps #478 Bob Clemente
Roberto Clemente's card — titled 'Bob Clemente,' a name the proud Puerto Rican star disliked. A key Hall of Fame card.
About Bob Clemente
Roberto Clemente Walker signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers out of Puerto Rico but was lost to Pittsburgh in the 1954 Rule 5 draft after the Dodgers tried to hide him in the minors. Over 18 seasons as the Pirates' right fielder, he won four National League batting titles, made 15 All-Star teams, and captured a record-tying 12 Gold Gloves for his legendary throwing arm. He was named NL MVP in 1966 and won World Series titles in 1960 and 1971, earning World Series MVP honors in the latter after a signature performance against Baltimore. Clemente reached exactly 3,000 career hits in his final regular-season at-bat in 1972. On December 31, 1972, he died in a plane crash off Puerto Rico while personally escorting earthquake relief supplies to Nicaragua. The Hall of Fame waived its waiting period, and Clemente was posthumously inducted in 1973 - the first Latin American player enshrined. His No. 21 was retired by Pittsburgh, and MLB's annual humanitarian honor is named the Roberto Clemente Award.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 8,533 | 0 | 57 | 679 | 1,224 | 1,693 | 1,535 | 3,328 | 17 |
| SGC | 3,466 | 0 | 6 | 77 | 233 | 407 | 783 | 1,875 | 85 |
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 Bob Clemente card?
It is card #478 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 Pittsburgh Pirates player.
Is the 1959 Topps Bob Clemente 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.