1960 Topps #31 Sammy Esposito
About Sammy Esposito
Sammy Esposito was a hometown favorite on Chicago's South Side, starring in three sports at Fenger High School before turning down big-league offers to play at Indiana University. He signed with the White Sox in August 1952 for one of the era's richest bonuses and debuted in the majors a month later, then served in the Army before returning to Chicago for good in 1956. Splitting time at third base, shortstop, and second, Esposito spent virtually his entire ten-year career (White Sox, 1952 and 1955-63; Kansas City Athletics, 1963) as the slick-fielding understudy to Hall of Famers Luis Aparicio and Nellie Fox, never landing a starting job but winning over fans with his hustle and glove. His 1960 Topps card catches him fresh off the 1959 American League pennant, when he went 0-for-2 and pinch-ran in that fall's World Series loss to the Dodgers. Esposito's real legacy came later: 21 seasons as North Carolina State's head baseball coach, four ACC championships, and a 513-253-4 record that still stands as the best in Wolfpack history.
Sources: Wikipedia · SABR BioProject · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 280 | 0 | 9 | 121 | 86 | 30 | 20 | 14 | 0 |
| SGC | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 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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Related cards
Team card: #208 Chicago White Sox
More Chicago White Sox cards:
- #1 Early Wynn
- #41 Barry Latman
- #57 Win-Savers
- #69 Billy Goodman
- #100 Nellie Fox
- #116 Jim Rivera
- #121 Camilo Carreon
- #131 Ed Hobaugh
- #150 Billy Pierce
- #169 Jake Striker
- #180 Harry Simpson
- #199 Dick Donovan
- #222 Al Lopez
- #240 Luis Aparicio
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1960 Topps #31 card?
It is card #31 of the 572-card 1960 Topps Baseball set, picturing Sammy Esposito.
What is the 1960 Topps Venezuelan version?
Topps licensed a parallel printing for the Venezuelan market covering roughly the first 196 cards. It is a separate issue on thinner stock with Spanish text on the back, collected on its own and not part of finishing this 572-card set.
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.