The 1959 Topps baseball card set was the eighth series of baseball cards produced by Topps and featured all players in the major leagues at the time. What makes the 1959 set particularly unique and valuable is the fact that it was the first and only time Topps produced and distributed a true “complete set” that contained player cards for every single player on a major league roster in that given season.
After the success of their first baseball card series in 1951, Topps began standardizing sets to include most or all players from that year. There were always players missing for one reason or another. This was usually because Topps was unable to acquire rights to some players’ images or signatures. So while sets came close, there was never a true complete representation of every player until 1959 rolled around.
The 1959 Topps set contains an impressive 612 total cards. This included player cards, manager cards, league leader statistical recap cards, and team cards highlighting the American and National League pennants from the 1958 season. Every player that suited up for even a single Major League game in 1959 is featured in the set. This included future Hall of Famers like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Sandy Koufax all the way down to seldom used bench players and pitching staff depth pieces.
What made the accomplishment of a true complete set even more impressive was the fact that 1959 featured the largest major league rosters in baseball history up to that point. With the addition of a new franchise in Los Angeles, each team carried at least 25-man active rosters plus additional players in the minors that were called up throughout the season. This meant well over 800 total players were in the two major leagues that year between the regular 25-man rosters and additional players who saw brief stints in the majors. For Topps to secure rights and photos for every single one is nothing short of amazing even by today’s standards.
Beyond just the completeness of the roster, the 1959 Topps set also offered fans some iconic designs and photographic techniques that added desirability and nostalgia. Most notably, the set utilized a horizontal card format as opposed to the more traditional vertical style. This allowed for larger action shots and headshots to take up more real estate on the card front. Background colors and designs also varied across teams to help them stand out. Photo quality was also generally considered an upgrade from prior years with many crisp action shots capturing the players in mid-swing or throw.
The rarity and demand for a true complete set naturally drives the 1959 Topps to heights of value unmatched in the original vintage era. In top graded condition with the scarcity of investment-grade examples remaining, a 1959 Topps complete base set can sell for well into the six-figure range today. Even common examples still sealed in the original wax paper wrapping can bring $10,000 or more. Certain key rookies and stars boast individual card values up to $50,000 depending on grade. Condition is critically important since the fragile cardboard stock shows signs of aging over 60+ years.
While the 1959 Topps set started out as a mere 35 cents per pack at the local drugstore or corner store, it has grown to take on near-mythic status amongst collectors today. Not only was it the first complete representation of major leaguers of that season, it also captured the unique roster dynamics during a transitional pennant chase. Scarcity drives the monetary worth, but nostalgia ensures the 1959 Topps baseball cards remain a symbol of the vintage card collecting hobby’s roots and the ever-increasing demand for authenticated pieces of baseball history. A complete mint example is beyond the budget of most collectors, but the 1959 Topps set will always be considered the “Holy Grail” for those pursuing vintage investments and a true piece of the original atomic era of Topps baseball cards.
