The 1959 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic issues in the entire history of the hobby. It was the year Topps switched from the yellow borders they had used since 1951 to the classic white borders that would define the look of their cards for decades to come. The 1959 set is memorable for featuring the last cards for legends like Ted Williams and Stan Musial in their playing careers. It also contains rookie cards for future Hall of Famers like Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. With its historical significance and star talent featured, 1959 Topps cards hold tremendous value especially in high grades. Here is an in-depth look at PSA grading and values for some of the key cards from this set.
As the leading third-party grading service, PSA has become the standard for determining a vintage baseball card’s condition and value. They rate cards on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being pristine Gem Mint condition showing no flaws. The higher the number grade, the more valuable a card becomes. For the rare 1959 Topps rookie cards and stars, a PSA 10 can be worth tens of thousands of dollars or more in many cases. Even a PSA 9 in excellent shape often commands prices in the thousands. Lower grades like a PSA 5 or 6 that are well-worn still have value for collectors but are much more affordable.
Let’s start with perhaps the single most iconic and valuable card from 1959 Topps – the Hank Aaron rookie. In PSA 10 Gem Mint condition, this card currently sells for well over $100,000. Prices have risen dramatically in recent years as Aaron’s Hall of Fame career and records are more appreciated. A PSA 9 Aaron rookie would still fetch $30,000-50,000. Even a respectable PSA 7 is worth $2,000-5,000 showing there is strong demand across grading levels for this historic first card of the home run king. Another highly coveted rookie is Willie Mays #218. In PSA 10 condition, it averages around $80,000-100,000 at auction recently. The price drops to the $30,000 range for a PSA 9 Mays rookie.
Two other rookies that hold great value are Future Hall of Famers Eddie Mathews #81 and Nellie Fox #413. A PSA 10 Mathews rookie could sell for $50,000+, with a PSA 9 bringing $15,000-25,000. Fox’s very scarce rookie in top PSA 10 condition has sold for over $30,000. His other rookie cards without statistics on the back (PSA 10 of #338 sells for $15,000-20,000). Superstar Ted Williams had his last Topps card in 1959 before retiring, and his #73 PSA 10 usually sells for $15,000-25,000. Even lower graded examples still carry value – PSA 5-7 Williams cards easily sell for $500-2,000.
Beyond the rookies, high grade examples of other stars from this set also demand strong prices. A PSA 10 of Stan Musial’s #490 farewell card has reached $10,000 at auction. PSA 10s of other Hall of Famers like Mel Ott, Warren Spahn, Early Wynn and Del Crandall range between $3,000-7,000 depending on the player. A PSA 9 grade takes a bit less off those estimates. And while not all graded examples will be in perfect mint condition, many cards from this iconic set hold meaningful value even graded in the PSA 5-8 range which makes them attainable to a wider range of collectors. Beyond individual stars, a PSA 10 full complete set would be a true prize graded at a premium over $100,000 given its historical significance and quality represented in top condition.
The 1959 Topps set is highly sought after by both investors and fans looking to commemorate the careers of baseball legends like Aaron, Mays, Williams and more. Third-party grading by PSA has provided a standard to understand condition and predict market prices. Whether a collector is aiming for vintage rookie cards of the all-time greats in Gem Mint 10s or appreciates more affordable well-loved copies in the mid-range grades, this classic issue remains a vibrant and appealing part of the trading card market more than 60 years after initial release. With its historical player talent and classic post-war design, demand doesn’t seem to be slowing for any grading levels of 1959 Topps baseball cards.
