The 1959 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic in the hobby’s history. It marked Topps’ transition from using black-and-white photos to colorful player portraits and card designs. As a result of this change, along with being the first cards issued after the 1958 World Series, the 1959s occupy a special place for collectors and remain some of the most sought-after vintage cards.
Within the set, some stand out far above the rest in terms of their collectibility and monetary worth. Let’s take an in-depth look at the 1959 Topps cards that command the highest prices in the hobby due to their scarcity, historical significance, and condition.
The undisputed king of the 1959 Topps set is the #311 Mickey Mantle card. Widely considered the “Mona Lisa” of baseball cards due to its exquisite photo and centering, the Mantle is the most valuable vintage cardboard in existence when graded high. In pristine mint condition, it has sold for over $2.8 million, making it worth more than a nice home in many areas.
Even well-worn low-grade Mantle cards fetch five-figure sums. Its immense popularity and demand are driven not just by Mantle’s legendary status as one of the game’s greatest players, but also the iconic quality of this specific card’s design and photo capturing “The Mick” in his batting stance. Finding a perfect 10 Mantle #311 is like discovering the Holy Grail for collectors.
Next up is Roger Maris’ #130 card, which skyrocketed in value after he broke Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record in 1961. Maris’ achievement was a watershed moment in baseball history, and today his ’59 Topps card sells for big money reflecting that fame, even though he’s not in the same class as Mantle as a player. Graded gems can sell for over $100,000, with average condition copies still going for thousands.
Like the Mantle, condition is critical – but Maris cards are still highly sought after and command impressive sums regardless of grade. Any card commemorating his 61 HR season earns a major premium. The achievement alone keeps the ’59 Maris among the set’s premier keys even over 60 years later.
Staying in the realm of home run records, another ’59 Topps card with eye-popping values is Ted Williams’ #76. As one of the greatest hitters ever who also walked away from the game still holding the Major League single-season batting average record of .406, Williams is a legend. His ’59 cards commonly sell for $5,000-$10,000 or more in top-grade, depending on auction activity and popularity at a given moment.
In addition to chronicling iconic performances, valuable 1959s also pay tribute to pioneering players who broke barriers. Ernie Banks’ #78 card stands out in this regard. As the first African American player for the Chicago Cubs and a 14-time All-Star dubbed “Mr. Cub,” Banks was a trailblazer. His high-grade ’59 is worth $3,000-$6,000 due to his historic significance and popularity in Chicago/among Cub fans in particular.
Condition, as always, is paramount – but Banks cards retain value regardless in recognition of his accomplishments as one of baseball’s earliest Black superstars. When a PSA/BVG Gem MT 10 Banks pops up, it can soar well above the typical range given his rarity and appeal to diverse collectors.
Although they played prior to the full growth of the vintage sports card market, legends like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Sandy Koufax also have impressive ’59s today. Mays’ iconic leaping catch photo on his #110 earns consistent five-figure prices for high-quality specimens. Aaron’s #76 and Koufax’s #217 similarly sell for thousands, as both were well on their way to the Hall of Fame by 1959 despite their early careers.
While the above standouts typically get all the attention as icons, lower-tier keys that can still break $1,000 include Nellie Fox (#115), Harvey Kuenn (#239), Early Wynn (#244) and Billy Pierce (#278). Each was an impact all-star caliber player who showed up prominently in the late-1950s baseball landscape captured in this seminal set.
And of course, condition is critical across the board. As the saying goes in the hobby – grades make grades. The difference between a mid-range copy and a true gem-quality candidate can mean a difference of hundreds if not thousands of dollars realized. Original centering, sharpness of colors and image, and lack of flaws decide a card’s potential at auction.
In summing up, the 1959 Topps baseball issue marked a revolutionary point in the fledgling hobby. Six decades later, its cards remain hugely popular with both vintage collectors and investors given the legendary players and events they commemorate from such a pivotal time in sports history. Conditioned examples of the above keys can preserve their value for generations to come.
