1963 Topps #442 J.C. Hartman
About J.C. Hartman
Hartman's 1963 Topps card, #442 in the fifth print series, is a recognized rookie card, and shows him with the Houston Colt .45's. It arrived after his rookie season, in which he was recalled from Triple-A to back up regular shortstop Bob Lillis, starting 42 games and batting .223 down the stretch. He went on to open 1963 on Houston's roster, appearing in 39 games with 21 starts at shortstop before a return trip to the minors.
J.C. Hartman was a shortstop from Cottonton, Alabama, known in the clubhouse by the nicknames Cool and The Spider, the latter earned for the long reach of his arms and legs as he ranged for ground balls. Before affiliated ball he played in the Negro leagues with the barnstorming Kansas City Monarchs in 1955. He signed into the Chicago Cubs system in 1959, advanced to Triple-A with the Houston Buffs in 1961, and was picked up by the expansion Houston Colt .45's that winter. Hartman reached the majors in 1962, splitting shortstop duty behind Bob Lillis, and returned to Houston in 1963 before finishing his playing days in the minors through 1967. A right-handed thrower and hitter, he had served as a U.S. Army paratrooper before his baseball career. After retiring he joined the Houston Police Department, becoming its first African American supervisor.
Sources: Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 230 | 1 | 11 | 116 | 63 | 20 | 13 | 5 | 1 |
| SGC | 21 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-09-24. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8), and PSA's qualified grades are counted separately from the straight-grade rows shown here.
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Related cards
Team card: #312 Houston Colt .45's
More Houston Colt .45's cards:
- #9 1962 National League Strikeout Leaders
- #24 Bob Bruce
- #45 Bob Aspromonte
- #77 Al Spangler
- #99 Jim Umbricht
- #119 Bob Lillis
- #141 Manny Mota
- #153 Hal Smith
- #158 1963 Rookie Stars
- #189 Dave Giusti
- #204 Don Nottebart
- #208 1963 Rookie Stars
- #230 Pete Runnels
- #262 Ellis Burton
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1963 Topps #442 card?
It is card #442 of the 576-card 1963 Topps Baseball set, picturing J.C. Hartman of the Houston Colt .45's.
Is 1963 Topps #442 a rookie card?
Yes - #442 is the 1963 Topps rookie card of J.C. Hartman.
How many cards are in the 1963 Topps Baseball set?
576 cards, tracked as 583 collectible states. The numbers run from 1 to 576 with no gaps and no number used twice, and seven cards carry a catalogued print variation - three checklists, the two Rookie Stars cards also printed with a "1962" heading, and the #341 Jack Baldschun and #454 Art Fowler print states - that the master set counts separately.
Sources: Trading Card Database, PSA CardFacts, Cardboard Connection, BaseballCardPedia, The Topps Archives, 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 2026-10-03.