1960 Topps #498 Al Pilarcik
About Al Pilarcik
Alfred James Pilarcik broke in with the Kansas City Athletics on July 13, 1956, out of Whiting, Indiana and Valparaiso University, signed by Yankees scout Lou Maguolo. The left-handed-hitting outfielder found a steady job in Baltimore, playing over 100 games in three straight seasons (1957-59) for the Orioles and appearing on this 1960 Topps card in what proved his last year with the club. His most enduring moment came that September 28 at Fenway Park, stationed in right field for Ted Williams' last game as an active player — Pilarcik hauled in Williams' long fly to the bullpen wall in the fifth inning, then watched from the same spot three innings later as Williams' 521st and final homer cleared it for good. He closed out his six-year career in 1961, split between a second stint with the Athletics and the White Sox, finishing with a .256 average, 22 homers and 143 RBIs in 668 games. He then spent 33 years teaching at Lake Central High School, retiring in 2001.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 387 | 0 | 3 | 63 | 154 | 101 | 47 | 19 | 0 |
| SGC | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-08-20. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8), and PSA's qualified grades are counted separately from the straight-grade rows shown here. The Venezuelan issue, the 1960 Topps Tattoos and Bazooka are separate products and are not counted here.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1960 Topps #498 card?
It is card #498 of the 572-card 1960 Topps Baseball set, picturing Al Pilarcik.
How many cards are in the 1960 Topps Baseball set?
572 cards, numbered 1-572, issued in seven series - the last Topps flagship printed entirely horizontally. Cards #375-440 exist on two back stocks, white and gray, which collectors chasing every printed variety count as 638 pieces of cardboard in all.
Sources: Trading Card Database, Cardboard Connection, the PSA price guide, Baseball-Reference, the SABR BioProject and the National Baseball Hall of Fame, PSA & SGC population reports. Card data compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-08-20.