It takes just one look on the 1958 Topps baseball card design to know what makes them immediately recognizable:
The intense, multi-colored backgrounds give them a number of the most vibrant eye enchantment of any classic set within the pastime.
Participant photos offset by the blue, yellow, orange, pink and inexperienced backgrounds popped off the cardboard as collectors tore open pack after pack.
Topps additionally added All-Star playing cards to their guidelines for the primary time, giving collectors a number of methods to gather a few of their favourite gamers.
Whereas there aren’t as many key rookie playing cards because the 12 months earlier than, cardboard debuts of big-name stars Roger Maris, Vada Pinson, Curt Flood and Corridor-of-Famer Orlando Cepeda are nonetheless extremely fascinating.
After all, legends like Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Sandy Koufax, and lots extra anchor a robust 494-card guidelines.
And on this information, I stroll via that are the ten most useful.
Let’s leap proper in!
1958 Topps #433 Pancho Herrera Error
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $17,500
One factor that classic collectors will shortly understand in regards to the 1958 Topps set is that its many variations could make it difficult to finish a full “grasp” set.
A number of playing cards are available in a number of variations.
There are 33 playing cards in Collection 1 and a pair of with “yellow letter” variations (extra on these later).
Workforce playing cards for the Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, and Milwaukee Braves present gamers on the reverse, both alphabetically or numerically.
However not one of the variations on this set are rarer than the Pancho Herrera error card, the place the “a” in his final identify is not absolutely seen.
To present you an concept of its rarity, PSA has graded solely 56 of the error variations in comparison with 487 examples of the proper variation.
And it is even scarcer in prime grade.
Simply 4 examples of the error variation have made it into PSA 8 holders in comparison with 138 of the proper variation.
Herrera’s profession was short-lived, as he spent simply three seasons (1958, 1960, and 1961) within the Majors with the Philadelphia Phillies.
And the Cuban native was at his most interesting in 1960, ending runner-up to Frank Howard for NL Rookie of the Yr whereas receiving down-ballot MVP votes.
Nevertheless, the worth of his 1958 Topps card will at all times be decided by whether or not or not the “a” is absolutely seen.
1958 Topps #150 Mickey Mantle
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $12,000
On the prime of the primary peak of his extraordinary Corridor-of-Fame profession, 26-year-old New York Yankees heart fielder Mickey Mantle had already achieved all of it.
A two-time reigning AL MVP, six-time All-Star, and former batting champion (1956), Mantle was the Yankee catalyst for six AL pennants and 4 World Collection titles from 1951-57.
In 1958, Mantle was already Cooperstown certain.
However, he wasn’t content material to relaxation on his laurels.
Coming off a brutal seven-game loss to the Milwaukee Braves within the ‘57 World Collection, The Mick was a participant possessed in ‘58.
Incomes his seventh All-Star nod and a fifth-place end within the AL MVP balloting, Mantle led the league in homers (42) for the third time in 4 years.
He additionally paced the Majors in runs scored (127) for the third consecutive 12 months and walks (129) for the second straight season.
Statistical particulars apart, it was one other unbelievable 12 months for a generational hitter.
And this time, it ended with a trophy.
Elevating yet one more AL pennant with a 92-62-1 file, the Yankees bought their rematch with the Braves within the ‘58 Fall Traditional.
Mantle made his presence felt, going 6-for-24 with two house runs, a triple, 4 runs scored, seven walks, three RBIs, and a beefy 1.003 OPS.
With Mantle setting the desk and in his stride, the Yankees erased each a 2-0 and a 3-1 deficit to edge the Braves in seven.
Now, with a hoop for each finger, Mantle’s dash in the direction of immortality was in full stride.
1958 Topps #5 Willie Mays
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $9,500
The Metropolis of San Francisco embraced the Giants with open arms throughout their inaugural season by the Bay.
The identical couldn’t be mentioned for celebrity heart fielder Willie Mays.
“Mays was the hated embodiment of New York,” Mays biographer Charles Einstein mentioned. “He had the temerity to play heart discipline in Seals Stadium, the place the native-born DiMaggio had performed it in his minor-league days.”
Mays additionally needed to sq. up in opposition to the scourge of racial discrimination.
Life on the skilled entrance provided little reprieve.
Mays’ relationship with supervisor Invoice Rigney was strained at its finest.
The 2 clashed frequently.
It doesn’t matter what Mays did in ’58 for the third-place Giants, it did not matter to a vocal, hostile sect of the workforce’s followers.
And that is a disgrace, contemplating simply how good Mays was.
In 152 video games for 80-win San Francisco, Mays slashed .347/.419/.583 with 29 house runs and 96 RBIs.
He led the Majors in stolen bases (31) and topped the NL in runs scored (121), OPS (1.002), and OPS+ (165).
The NL MVP runner-up to Chicago Cubs shortstop Ernie Banks, Mays wasn’t even voted workforce MVP by the Giants’ fan base.
1958 Topps #30 Hank Aaron (Yellow Letters)
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $6,750
Superior collectors might immediately perceive what makes this card so precious.
Novice collectors might level out that Hank Aaron should be the explanation.
And, sure, Hank Aaron does clarify half of it.
However upon nearer look, you will discover that his identify seems in yellow letters as a substitute of the usual, right white letters.
For no matter cause, Topps printed 27 playing cards in Collection 1 and 6 playing cards in Collection 2, the place both the workforce identify or the participant’s identify seems in both yellow or white.
The yellow-letter variations are rarer and, due to this fact, extra precious.
Nonetheless, Aaron himself is what offers this card most of its worth.
A primary-time Gold Glover and four-time All-Star, Aaron completed third in a hotly-contested NL MVP race.
Come October, the private accolades meant little.
Confronted with the tall job of dispatching the vaunted Yankees two years in a row, the Braves folded away a 3-1 sequence result in lose in seven.
Aaron hit .333 for the sequence however did not go deep after hitting three house runs within the ’57 Fall Traditional.
Little did anybody know, this may be Aaron and the Braves’ final postseason for over a decade.
1958 Topps #52 Roberto Clemente (Yellow Letters)
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $5,500
As if diehard hobbyists weren’t fortunate sufficient for there to be a Hank Aaron card with a number of variations on this set, we additionally get Roberto Clemente’s base card in a number of variations.
However, not like Hank Aaron, Clemente’s identify is not the supply of the variation.
His card is without doubt one of the examples the place the workforce identify might be in yellow or white.
In the event you look close to the underside, you will normally see “Pittsburgh Pirates” in white letters.
However for those who’re fortunate sufficient to search out one which seems in yellow letters, you will discover a bump in worth.
Once more, you could find these “yellow letter” variations on 33 playing cards spanning Collection 1 and a pair of.
Together with Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente, 5 different Corridor of Famers have a yellow letter variation.
Al Kaline, Luis Aparicio, Dick Williams, Bob Lemon, and Early Wynn spherical out the checklist.
However Aaron and Clemente are far and away essentially the most fascinating of the group.
1958 Topps #30 Hank Aaron (White Letters)
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $5,250
A 12 months after main the Braves to their first-and-only World Collection title of the Milwaukee period, future house run champ Hank Aaron continued his assault on NL pitching unabated.
Backed up by the Majors’ finest pitching workers (by ERA), Aaron lifted what would have in any other case been a league-average offense.
He hit to a .326/.386/.586 slash line with 30 house runs, 34 doubles, 4 triples, 109 runs scored, and 95 RBIs.
On the All-Star break, Milwaukee was 40-33 and within the thick of a pennant race in a muddled Nationwide League.
The Braves turned on the afterburners within the second half, going 52-29 to run away from the league by a full eight video games.
Aaron was the centerpiece of Milwaukee’s second consecutive league championship, offering his trademark energy and unbelievable, regular protection in proper discipline.
A primary-time Gold Glover and four-time All-Star, Aaron completed third in a hotly-contested NL MVP race.
1958 Topps #1 Ted Williams
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $5,000
In 1957, Ted Williams turned again the clock with one of many best seasons of his profession.
In his age-38 marketing campaign, the NL MVP runner-up captured his fifth batting title and led the Majors in OPS.
In ’58, the Boston Purple Sox left fielder fell from the nice heights of the earlier 12 months.
Nevertheless, a down 12 months for the immortal Ted Williams nonetheless counted as an ideal 12 months by every other participant’s requirements.
Whereas the Boston Purple Sox meandered to a 79-75-1 file and a third-place end within the AL, Williams stored stringing collectively hit after hit.
And with league batting averages down, Williams captured his sixth batting title with a .328 mark, sixty factors lower than the 12 months earlier than and 16 factors lower than his closing profession common.
Williams additionally led the Majors in on-base proportion (.458) and OPS (1.042), crushing 26 house runs and tallying 23 doubles, 81 runs scored, and 85 RBIs.
Father Time was undoubtedly at Williams’ doorstep, but he wasn’t popping out with no battle.
1958 Topps #52 Roberto Clemente (White Letters)
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $4,000
After putting sixth within the eight-team Nationwide League in 1949, the Pittsburgh Pirates rattled off eight straight abysmal campaigns with finishes no higher than seventh.
In 1958, the tides turned.
After taking on the managerial function in the midst of the earlier 12 months, Danny Murtaugh galvanized the clubhouse.
And thanks largely to the improved well being of future Corridor-of-Fame proper fielder Roberto Clemente, Murtaugh’s efforts pushed the Pirates to their first profitable season in workforce historical past.
After lacking practically a month and a half of video games in 1957 attributable to again issues, Clemente began the marketing campaign on the correct foot in 1958, lashing three hits in a 14-inning Opening Day win.
Already one in every of baseball’s most dynamic two-way threats, the fourth-year phenom used his cannon arm to notch 22 outfield assists.
And in September, he tied an NL file with three triples in a single recreation in opposition to the Cincinnati Reds.
Total, Clemente slashed .289/.327/.408 with six homers, 24 doubles, ten triples, 69 runs scored, and 50 RBIs.
The Pirates stunned everybody with a second-place end, ending a breakthrough 12 months at 84-70.
1958 Topps #47 Roger Maris Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $3,750
After he was restricted by harm to only 117 video games in his rookie season, 23-year-old Cleveland Indians outfielder Roger Maris entered his second 12 months with a clear invoice of well being.
A number of years off from changing into a family identify, Maris was simply seeking to set up himself in ’58.
He performed 51 video games for Cleveland over the primary couple of months, hitting .225 with a .699 OPS, 9 house runs, and 27 RBIs.
Maris’ numbers have been hit-and-miss, and his harm historical past was an enormous concern to the Indians’ administration.
So, it was no shock when Cleveland pulled the set off on a commerce, dealing the younger outfielder to the Kansas Metropolis Athletics.
Upon arriving in KC, he picked issues up a notch, hitting .247 with a .737 OPS, 19 homers, and 53 RBIs in 99 video games.
Total, Maris’ 28 homers and 80 RBIs cemented his repute and big-league standing as a productive energy hitter.
Maris’ rookie card, and the remainder of his playing cards typically, stay among the many most sought-after within the pastime for any non-Corridor-of-Famer.
1958 Topps #418 World Collection Batting Foes
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $3,750
Topps produced some of the lovely combo-player playing cards of the classic period as a tribute to the ’57 World Collection showdown between Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron.
Finally, Hank Aaron and the Milwaukee Braves got here out on prime of a back-and-forth Collection that noticed the Braves narrowly outscore the Yankees 25 to 23.
Nevertheless, the hole between Aaron and Mantle’s particular person performances was farther aside.
Mantle performed effectively, slashing 263/.364/.421 with a .785 OPS whereas going 5 for 19 with 1 house run, 2 RBIs and three runs scored.
However Aaron torched Yankee pitching, slashing 393,.414/.786 with a 1.200 OPS whereas going 11 for 28 with 3 house runs, 7 RBIs, and 5 runs scored.
Aaron drove in practically a 3rd of Milwaukee’s 25 runs by himself.
Nonetheless the cardboard has superb eye enchantment and historic worth, with the reverse including a pleasant write-up: “Mickey Mantle is at present the best slugger in baseball. He has led the American League in homers, runs-batted-in, and hits, and was its MVP in 1956 and 1957. He hit 52 homers in ’56, making him an actual risk to Ruth’s file. Hammerin’ Hank Aaron might be essentially the most proficient hitter within the majors at present. He unleashes shocking energy, too. He led the NL with 200 hits and with a .328 batting common in ’56. Hank Was the MVP final 12 months.”
1958 Topps #65 Von McDaniel (Yellow Letters)
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $3,250
1957 Topps #11 Jim Rivera (Yellow Letters)
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $2,500
1958 Topps #78 Ernie Johnson (Yellow Letters)
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $2,500
1958 Topps #85 Luis Aparicio (Yellow Letters)
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $1,800
Three years into his big-league profession, Chicago White Sox shortstop Luis Aparicio bought his first style of the All-Star life.
The 1956 NL Rookie of the Yr, Aparicio was singles hitter with elite baserunning abilities and glowing defensive prowess.
As spectacular as he was regular on the six, the 24-year-old turned heads for a spirited White Sox squad.
Named to his first Midsummer Traditional, Aparicio hit to a .266/.309/.345 slash line with two house runs, 20 doubles, 9 triples, 76 runs scored, and 40 RBIs.
These numbers do not leap off the web page.
But, Aparicio’s AL-best 29 stolen bases certain did, as did his first of 5 consecutive Gold Gloves.
It was a tremendous exhibiting for one of many brightest younger stars within the recreation.
But, it got here in what was a irritating season for the 82-win White Sox.
With whole attendance numbers at Comiskey flagging to below a million for the primary time because the flip of the last decade, second-place Chicago as soon as in opposition to performed second fiddle to New York, a full ten video games behind the Yankees within the AL pennant race.
1958 Topps #187 Sandy Koufax
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $1,800
The final individual to throw a pitch for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Sandy Koufax entered the workforce’s inaugural 12 months in Los Angeles with extra questions than solutions.
Feeling underutilized and uninspired heading into his fourth big-league marketing campaign, Koufax talked brazenly about quitting the sport and pursuing different enterprise alternatives.
It is wild to suppose what may have been if Koufax had gone via with it.
In any case, he was only a handful of seasons away from maybe essentially the most dominant half-decade within the recreation’s historical past.
Fortunately, Koufax did not depart.
As a substitute, he embraced an prolonged workload with the Dodgers in 1958, pitching in a brand new career-high 40 video games (26 begins).
Los Angeles was a multitude, although, ending simply above the NL cellar with a 71-83 file.
As for Koufax, he maneuvered via brutal management issues whereas tantalizing Dodgers followers with temporary flashes of greatness to return.
The 22-year-old lefty surrendered over 100 walks (105) in simply 158.2 innings pitched and led the Majors with 17 wild pitches.
He ended the season with an 11-11 file, a 4.48 ERA, 5 full video games, and a save.
The electrical stuff was there, for certain, but it surely remained uncooked and unrefined.
1958 Topps #70 Al Kaline (Yellow Letters)
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $1,750
Caught in baseball’s center class since their World Collection win in 1945, the Detroit Tigers have been once more a pennant race non-factor in 1958.
Ending the 12 months at a fair 77-77, the Tigers completed fifth within the AL for the fourth time in 5 years.
Detroit was going nowhere and quick.
A minimum of the followers had the predictable brilliance of Al Kaline to tide them over.
A defensive stalwart in proper discipline and a prodigious all-around hitter, the now two-time Gold Glover ended the 12 months hitting .313 (4th within the AL) with a .864 OPS, 16 house runs, 34 doubles, seven triples, 84 runs scored, 85 RBIs, and 7 stolen bases.
Elected to his fourth-straight All-Star Sport, Kaline earned down-ballot MVP consideration regardless of the Tigers’ irrelevancy.
Detroit’s doldrums would final a pair extra years, but Kaline’s inventory would proceed to pattern up.
1958 Topps #2 Bob Lemon (Yellow Letters)
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $1,400
Three years faraway from his final of seven consecutive All-Star nods, Cleveland Indians righty Bob Lemon’s physique was short-circuiting.
In 1957, the long run Corridor-of-Famer was besieged by accidents.
Initially of 1958, the top turned clear for the 37-year-old hurler.
His arm was not responding to conditioning and remedy, and he made only one begin on April twenty second earlier than hitting the disabled checklist the following day.
It was his final MLB begin.
After an underwhelming elongated rehab stint with the Triple-A San Diego Padres, Lemon returned to the Indians in late Could.
He pitched in simply 9 extra video games, ending the season at 0-1 with a 5.33 ERA and 41 hits surrendered in simply 25.1 innings pitched.
Lemon pushed himself for one final crack at a comeback early in ’59, but it surely was to no avail.
Enshrined in Cooperstown in 1976, the career-long Cleveland Indian led the American League and ended his taking part in days with a 207-128 file.
He led the AL in full video games 5 occasions, innings pitched 4 occasions, led the Majors in wins twice, and received a World Collection title in his first All-Star marketing campaign (1948).
1958 Topps #8 Eddie Kasko (Yellow Letters)
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $1,300
1958 Topps #486 Willie Mays All-Star
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $1,100
The 1958 Topps baseball set marked the primary time in firm historical past that the guidelines contained an All-Star subset to broaden the guidelines and add extra selection.
You possibly can think about the enjoyment as younger collectors realized that they had an opportunity to drag not one however two playing cards of a few of their favourite big-league gamers.
Citing the rear of the guidelines from playing cards #475 – 495, the Sport Journal All-Star featured one multi-manager card in addition to ten American League and ten Nationwide League gamers.
As you possibly can determine by the participant depend alone, not everybody who made the ’58 All-Star Sport made it into the subset.
And a few gamers who did make the subset, like Herb Rating, did not make the ’58 All-Star Sport.
So, the subset is not meant to be interpreted as a one-for-one illustration of the ’58 All-Star Sport.
Not surprisingly, Willie Mays is without doubt one of the prime names within the subset.
Mays was 1-4 within the recreation, scoring two of the Nationwide League’s three runs.
1958 Topps #487 Mickey Mantle All-Star
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $1,100
1958 Topps #285 Frank Robinson
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $1,000
Frank Robinson was a top-shelf home-run hitter from the leap of his extraordinary Corridor-of-Fame profession.
In 1956, the Cincinnati Reds left fielder was the unanimous selection for NL Rookie of the Yr after clubbing 38 house runs and main the league in runs scored (122).
After hitting .322 with 29 bombs in ’57, the dingers stored on coming in 1958.
The Reds have been a tepid bunch in ’58, falling effectively in need of expectations with a 76-78 file and a fourth-place end.
The stress and uncooked nerves of such a lackluster 12 months led to supervisor Birdie Tebbetts’s resignation in mid-August.
Robinson underperformed, as effectively, no less than in comparison with his personal previous and future requirements.
Robinson’s .269 batting common and .854 OPS stood as his low-water marks for one more half-decade.
Nevertheless, the highly effective righty swinger nonetheless made a mighty affect with the lengthy ball.
Robinson hammered 31 house runs in ’58, the primary of 5 consecutive 30-homer seasons.
He posted 62 extra-base hits altogether.
1958 Topps #246 New York Yankees
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $900
1958 Topps #488 Hank Aaron All-Star
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $900
1958 Topps #343 Orlando Cepeda Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $875
Willie Mays was San Francisco’s chosen scapegoat within the Giants’ first 12 months by the Bay.
Cepeda was the polar reverse.
A prime prospect heading into Spring Coaching in ’58, the 20-year-old first baseman landed an Opening Day beginning job with monster bombs and game-changing pace.
It was a match made in heaven from the get-go.
As Cepeda linked within the batter’s field, the followers linked with him.
“Proper from the start, I fell in love with town,” Cepeda mentioned later.
The unanimous selection for NL Rookie of the Yr, Cepeda slashed .312/.342/.512 with 25 house runs, an NL-best 38 doubles, 4 triples, 15 stolen bases, 88 runs scored, and 96 RBIs.
Ending ninth within the league’s MVP race, Cepeda was the fan’s MVP from day one, albeit on the expense of the Say Hey Child.
Cepeda’s rookie card has usually been neglected and underappreciated rookie playing cards of the classic period.
1958 Topps #310 Ernie Banks
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Worth: $850
Irrespective of how depressing the Chicago Cubs have been, Ernie Banks made issues higher.
The Cubs received not more than 74 video games in Banks’ first ten seasons.
They have been principally downright unhealthy throughout that deluge of shedding campaigns, with little sparkles of utter mediocrity.
Living proof, Chicago’s 72-82 end was the workforce’s second-best end of that miserable stretch.
Nothing labored for the Cubs.
Nothing, apart from Ernie Banks.
An absolute home-run machine, Banks launched himself into the celebrity stratosphere in 1958.
He led all of baseball with 47 house runs, 129 RBIs, and 379 whole bases.
The 27-year-old shortstop additionally hit over .300 for the primary time whereas topping the Nationwide League in slugging proportion (.614), video games performed (154 out of 154), and at-bats (617).
And whereas it wasn’t his finest fielding 12 months, Banks was nonetheless among the many elite on the six.
The Cubs couldn’t be counted on to indicate up daily.
However, Mr. Cub may.
Everyone observed.
Now a four-time All-Star, Banks was the runaway selection for the 1958 NL MVP award.
He would repeat in ’59, changing into the primary NL participant to go back-to-back
1958 Topps Baseball Playing cards In Evaluate
You may have your work reduce out for you for those who try to finish a grasp 1958 Topps baseball set.
As talked about, a number of variations and brief prints might be fairly robust.
In the event you’re not up for the problem, there are such a lot of nice issues about this set that makes amassing the “primary” set and even particular person playing cards a whole pleasure.
The colourful design wants no introduction.
And the debut of All-Star playing cards offers it some pastime historical past.
Large-name rookie playing cards and loads of Corridor-of-Famers spherical out an total pleasant expertise.
No matter your objective with the ’58 Topps set, it is a good one to gather.
The 494-card guidelines was printed throughout six sequence, damaged down as follows:
- Collection 1 (#1 – 88)
- Collection 2 (#89 – 176)
- Collection 3 (#177 – 264)
- Collection 4 (#265 – 352)
- Collection 5 (#353 – 440)
- Collection 6 (#441 – 495)
Subsets embody workforce playing cards, combo-player playing cards and All-Star playing cards.
As with all set, there will likely be those that have blended opinions on this set, principally stemming from the design.
Most love the brilliant colours.
However some suppose it is an excessive amount of.
Regardless of your opinion, there isn’t any query that it comprises some really iconic playing cards and pastime recollections inside.
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