1978 Topps #459 Charlie Spikes
About Charlie Spikes
Recalled from Toledo in July 1977, after Jeff Torborg had replaced Frank Robinson as manager, Spikes had 28 at-bats in the last two months. On December 9, 1977, the Indians traded him to Detroit for shortstop Tom Veryzer, and Topps still printed him on #459 with the Indians. Ralph Houk had said he was willing to let him swing, but Spikes played ten games for the Tigers in 1978 before a knee injury and surgery; Detroit released him September 25.
Charlie Spikes was a right-handed-hitting outfielder known for his power who played nine seasons in the majors between 1972 and 1980 for the Yankees, Indians, Tigers and Braves. The Yankees took him in the first round of the 1969 draft out of Bogalusa, Louisiana. His long hits in the minors earned him the nickname the Bogalusa Bomber. He hit 65 home runs in 670 major league games and finished with a .246 average. In Atlanta he found a role off the bench, and in 1979 he and teammate Mike Lum led the majors in pinch hits. Manager Bobby Cox, who had managed Spikes in the Yankee farm system, said he had probably delivered as many big hits as any of the regulars. He played 26 games for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan in 1981, and knee trouble ended his career.
Sources: Wikipedia · SABR BioProject · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 129 | 13 | 76 | 30 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| SGC | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1978 Topps #459 card?
It is card #459 of the 726-card 1978 Topps Baseball set, picturing Charlie Spikes of the Cleveland Indians.
How many cards are in the 1978 Topps Baseball set?
726 cards, numbered 1 through 726 with none skipped and issued as a single series, and 728 collectible states: #23 Bump Wills comes with or without a black circle, and #374 Jose Morales with or without black stitching over the red laces, so the master set counts both states of each.
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.