1978 Topps #59 Otto Velez
About Otto Velez
Velez started at designated hitter in the first game in Blue Jays history, on April 7, 1977, and went 2-for-4 with a run in a 9-5 win over the White Sox. In April he hit .442 with 5 home runs and 18 RBI, and was named the American League's Player of the Month. He finished with 16 home runs and 62 RBI in 120 games. Topps numbered his 1978 card #59.
Otto Velez was a right-handed Puerto Rican hitter who played outfield, first base and designated hitter for the Yankees, the Blue Jays and the Indians between 1973 and 1983. A native of Ponce, he signed with the Yankees as an amateur free agent on December 23, 1969, and reached the majors in September 1973. He played for New York through 1976, then joined the expansion Toronto Blue Jays for their first season and stayed through 1982. His best year was 1980, with 20 home runs and 62 RBI in 104 games. On May 4 of that year he hit four home runs in a doubleheader against Cleveland, one of each kind: a solo shot, a two-run homer, a three-run homer and a grand slam, for 10 runs batted in. Toronto released him on September 7, 1982; he signed with Cleveland in February 1983, played 10 games and retired after the season. He finished with 78 home runs and 272 RBI in 637 games.
Sources: Baseball-Reference · National Baseball Hall of Fame
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 152 | 20 | 99 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| SGC | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 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.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1978 Topps #59 card?
It is card #59 of the 726-card 1978 Topps Baseball set, picturing Otto Velez of the Toronto Blue Jays.
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.