1970 Topps #641 Al McBean
About Al McBean
McBean is pictured with the Dodgers on #641, a Series Seven high number. He pitched one inning for Los Angeles in 1970 before being released and returning to Pittsburgh, where he made seven appearances, all in relief, until the Pirates released him on May 18. For the season he had a 7.36 ERA and one save over 11 innings. He then pitched in the Phillies' system into 1971.
Alvin O'Neal McBean, born May 15, 1938, in Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas, was the first pitcher from the U.S. Virgin Islands to reach the major leagues and for decades the only one. Pirates superscout Howie Haak found him at a 1957 tryout camp on St. Thomas that McBean attended as a photographer for a local paper. Talked into working out in borrowed spikes, he signed for a $100 bonus and debuted on July 2, 1961. A right-hander with a hard sinker, he threw from whatever arm angle suited him that day and moved between the rotation and the bullpen for ten seasons. He pitched for Pittsburgh from 1961 through 1968 and again in 1970, for San Diego in 1969, and for Los Angeles from 1969 into 1970. In 1964 he went 8-3 with a 1.91 ERA out of the bullpen, and The Sporting News named him National League Fireman of the Year. He finished 67-50 with a 3.13 ERA and 63 saves in 409 games. A flashy dresser who loved playing to the crowd, he was Roberto Clemente's Pirates roommate, and Clemente stood as best man at his 1962 wedding. He went home to St. Thomas to work in recreation for the territory and died on January 31, 2024, at 85.
Sources: Wikipedia · SABR BioProject · Baseball-Reference · Baseball Almanac · BaseballCardPedia
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 258 | 12 | 69 | 148 | 17 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| SGC | 10 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Data as of 2026-10-19. 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
Team card: #411 Los Angeles Dodgers
More Los Angeles Dodgers cards:
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- #34 Willie Crawford
- #54 Jeff Torborg
- #71 1969 National League Strikeout Leaders
- #97 Joe Moeller
- #131 Dodgers 1970 Rookie Stars
- #157 Manny Mota
- #174 Ted Sizemore
- #204 Len Gabrielson
- #242 Walter Alston
- #260 Claude Osteen
- #286 Dodgers 1970 Rookie Stars
- #304 Bill Russell
- #341 Bill Sudakis
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1970 Topps #641 card?
It is card #641 of the 720-card 1970 Topps Baseball set, picturing Al McBean of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Why is #641 harder to find?
It is a high number card from the seventh and last series, #634-720 - the high numbers, and the toughest series of the set to find.
How many cards are in the 1970 Topps Baseball set?
720 cards, tracked as 726 collectible states. Numbers run from 1 to 720 with none skipped, issued in seven series - #1-132, #133-263, #264-372, #373-459, #460-546, #547-633 and the high numbers, #634-720; 6 cards, all of them checklists, carry catalogued print variations that the master set counts separately.
Sources: Trading Card Database, PSA CardFacts, BaseballCardPedia, 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 2026-10-25.