1969 Topps #579 Dave Nelson
Card carries the Topps All-Star Rookie trophy, recognizing his selection to the Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team at second base for the 1968 season.
About Dave Nelson
1969 Topps #579 is Dave Nelson's rookie card, issued in the set's sixth series and picturing him with the Cleveland Indians. The card carries the Topps All-Star Rookie trophy, marking his selection to the Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team at second base after his 1968 debut season, when he hit .233 in 189 at-bats for Cleveland.
David Earl Nelson was born June 20, 1944, in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and starred in football, baseball, basketball and track at Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, California, before playing at Compton Junior College and Los Angeles State College. Signed by Cleveland Indians scout Bob Mattick, he climbed the minor-league ladder as a prolific base stealer and reached the majors with Cleveland in 1968, earning a spot on the Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team at second base. Traded to the Washington Senators after the 1969 season, he moved with the franchise to Texas as it became the Rangers, shifting to third base and then back to second. His best year came in 1973, when he hit .286, stole 43 bases and made his only All-Star Game appearance. A trade sent him to the Kansas City Royals for the 1976-77 seasons, where he reached the postseason in the 1976 ALCS. Nelson later coached and broadcast in the majors for decades, including as Milwaukee Brewers first base coach, before his death in 2018.
Sources: Wikipedia · SABR BioProject · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 335 | 6 | 100 | 165 | 41 | 16 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| SGC | 9 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Data as of 2026-09-04. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted.
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Related cards
More Cleveland Indians cards:
- #7 American League 1968 ERA Leaders
- #9 American League 1968 Pitching Leaders
- #11 American League 1968 Strikeout Leaders
- #19 Ken Suarez
- #61 Jimmie Hall
- #91 Al Dark
- #118 Stan Williams
- #145 Max Alvis
- #176 Joe Azcue
- #201 Russ Snyder
- #220 Sam McDowell
- #244 Indians 1969 Rookie Stars
- #267 Vicente Romo
- #291 Vern Fuller
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1969 Topps #579 card?
It is card #579 of the 664-card 1969 Topps Baseball set, picturing Dave Nelson of the Cleveland Indians.
Is 1969 Topps #579 a rookie card?
Yes - #579 is the 1969 Topps rookie card of Dave Nelson.
How many cards are in the 1969 Topps Baseball set?
664 cards, tracked as 696 collectible states. Numbers run from 1 to 664 with none skipped and no printed number shared by two cards; 32 cards carry catalogued print variations that the master set counts separately, 23 of them the yellow- and white-letter name pairs of #440-511.
Sources: Trading Card Database, PSA CardFacts, Cardboard Connection, Baseball Almanac, 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 2026-10-12.