1978 Topps #685 Frank Taveras
About Frank Taveras
Taveras appeared in 157 games in 1978 and hit .278 with a career-high 182 hits. His steals fell to 46, and opposing catchers threw him out a league-high 25 times. He had cut back on winter ball and lifted weights to keep his strength through the summer, and he tried to stay calmer with umpires. He is on League Leaders stolen-base card #204 with Freddie Patek of the Royals. His own 1978 Topps card is #685.
Frank Taveras was a speedy shortstop from Las Matas de Santa Cruz in the Dominican Republic who played from 1971 to 1982 for the Pirates, Mets and Expos. Scout Howie Haak signed him in January 1968 for a $3,500 bonus while he was playing for the Dominican National Police team, and he later called Roberto Clemente his guide, mentor and counselor. He made the Pirates for good in 1974 and held the shortstop job through 1978, led the majors in stolen bases in 1977, and finished with 300 steals, 1,029 hits and two home runs. His glove was erratic, averaging 32 errors a year from 1975 to 1978, and Pittsburgh fans often booed him. He appeared in the 1974 and 1975 NLCS, his only postseason, and was traded to the Mets in 1979. In the Dominican League he spent ten seasons with Aguilas Cibaenas. He was nicknamed the Pittsburgh Stealer.
Sources: SABR BioProject · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 195 | 36 | 114 | 40 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| SGC | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 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.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Shop 1978 Topps cards Live auctions Buy It Now on eBay Sold prices
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
Related cards
More Frank Taveras in this set: #204 League Leaders
Team card: #606 Pittsburgh Pirates Team
More Pittsburgh Pirates cards:
- #28 Ed Ott
- #53 Phil Garner
- #84 Kent Tekulve
- #138 Larry Demery
- #165 Rennie Stennett
- #190 John Candelaria
- #201 1977 Batting Leaders
- #204 1977 Stolen Base Leaders
- #207 1977 ERA Leaders
- #223 Bruce Kison
- #255 Jerry Reuss
- #283 Omar Moreno
- #308 Jim Rooker
- #323 Jim Fregosi
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1978 Topps #685 card?
It is card #685 of the 726-card 1978 Topps Baseball set, picturing Frank Taveras of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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.