1969 Topps #651 Gus Gil
About Gus Gil
1969 Topps #651, in the set's seventh print series, is a high number issued for the expansion Seattle Pilots. It follows Gil's return to the majors after two years away: he appeared in 92 games at second, third, and shortstop, batting .222 in 221 at-bats with 17 RBI and 20 runs, and hit .278 as a pinch hitter. He also drew passing mentions in Jim Bouton's diary of that season, Ball Four.
Tomas Gustavo Gil Guillen, born in Caracas, Venezuela, was a slick-fielding second baseman who spent four seasons in the majors with the Cleveland Indians, Seattle Pilots, and Milwaukee Brewers between 1967 and 1971. Signed by the Cincinnati Reds in 1959, he logged seven minor league seasons before Cleveland purchased his contract in 1966. Gil hit just .186 in 221 big league games with one home run, but his glove set him apart: a .982 career fielding percentage well above the league average, with quick hands and outstanding range up the middle. He built his reputation over 19 winters in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League, batting .286 there and helping Magallanes win the 1970 Caribbean Series, where he led the tournament with seven RBI. In 2008 he was inducted into the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame. After retiring as a player he managed in the Venezuelan Winter League and in affiliated minor league ball, and later worked as a scout. Gil died in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2015 at age 76.
Sources: Wikipedia · SABR BioProject · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 258 | 0 | 28 | 155 | 49 | 17 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| SGC | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 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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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1969 Topps #651 card?
It is card #651 of the 664-card 1969 Topps Baseball set, picturing Gus Gil of the Seattle Pilots.
Why is #651 harder to find?
It is a high number card from the seventh and last print series, #589-664 - the scarce end of the set.
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.