1979 Topps #61 Bo Diaz
About Bo Diaz
Ron Hassey took Diaz's catching job in Cleveland in 1979, and Diaz spent most of the summer with Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League, returning to the Indians in September for 15 games and a .156 average. That winter he hit 20 home runs in 66 games for Caracas, a Venezuelan league record that stood until 2013. His 1979 Topps card, #61, lists him with the Indians.
Bo Diaz was a Venezuelan catcher known as The Cannon for his throwing arm. He debuted with Boston in September 1977, the first Venezuelan catcher in the majors, then played for Cleveland, Philadelphia and Cincinnati through 1989. He was a reserve on the American League All-Star team in 1981 and the National League team in 1987. As the Phillies' starting catcher in 1982 he hit .288 with career highs of 18 home runs and 85 RBI. On April 13, 1983, he hit a two-out, walk-off grand slam off Neil Allen to beat the Mets 10-9, and that October he hit .333 in the World Series, won by Baltimore in five games. In winter ball he played for the Leones del Caracas and was MVP of the 1982 Caribbean Series after batting .412. He was killed at his home in Caracas on November 23, 1990, when a satellite dish he was adjusting on the roof slipped and fell on him. The Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame inducted him in 2006.
Sources: SABR BioProject · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 63 | 5 | 31 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| SGC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 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 1979 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
Team card: #96 Cleveland Indians / Jeff Torborg
More Cleveland Indians cards:
- #13 Paul Dade
- #38 Bernie Carbo
- #77 Dan Briggs
- #79 Ted Cox
- #122 Mike Paxton
- #146 Duane Kuiper
- #150 Wayne Cage
- #168 Dave Freisleben
- #226 Ron Pruitt
- #253 Rick Wise
- #280 Andre Thornton
- #307 Larvell Blanks
- #332 Gary Alexander
- #359 Dan Spillner
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1979 Topps #61 card?
It is card #61 of the 726-card 1979 Topps Baseball set, picturing Bo Diaz of the Cleveland Indians.
How many cards are in the 1979 Topps Baseball set?
726 cards, numbered 1 through 726 with none skipped and issued as a single series, tracked as 727 collectible states: #369 Bump Wills comes with a Rangers or a Blue Jays team banner, and the master set counts both.
Sources: Trading Card Database, PSA, 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.