1975 Topps #659 Bob Apodaca
About Bob Apodaca
Robert John Apodaca signed with the New York Mets as an amateur free agent in 1971 after converting from third base to pitcher at Cerritos College, then starring at Cal State Los Angeles, where he was senior-year MVP. He debuted for the Mets in September 1973 and won a bullpen job the next spring, going 6-6 with three saves as a rookie and picking up his first career win against the St. Louis Cardinals and future Hall of Famer Bob Gibson. This 1975 Topps card, #659, catches him in the midst of his finest season: a 1.49 ERA and 13 saves that led all Mets relievers. Apodaca remained a bullpen fixture through 1977, finishing his five-year Mets career with a 16-25 record, 26 saves and a 2.86 ERA before a torn elbow ligament in 1978 ended his major-league run. He went on to a long coaching career, including nine years as the Colorado Rockies' pitching coach, helping the Rockies reach their first World Series in 2007.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 266 | 4 | 47 | 160 | 34 | 9 | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| SGC | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-08-19. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. The graders do not split the 1975 Topps Mini or O-Pee-Chee issues into this set.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1975 Topps #659 card?
It is card #659 of the 660-card 1975 Topps Baseball set, picturing Bob Apodaca.
How many cards are in the 1975 Topps Baseball set?
660 cards, numbered 1-660, with no variations and no short prints - PSA reports the cards were printed in equal quantities. The 1975 Topps Mini and the 1975 O-Pee-Chee issues are separate products with their own checklists.
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 2026-10-05.