The 1959 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic issues in the history of the hobby. It was the last year before some major changes were implemented and it featured many stars from what is considered the golden era of baseball in the 1950s. Not surprisingly, several high grade examples from this classic set have become extremely valuable over the years due to their historical significance and the players featured. Here are some of the most valuable 1959 Topps baseball cards collectors are seeking today:
Mickey Mantle (#312) – Widely considered the most iconic card of all-time, Mantle’s rookie is the undisputed king of the 1959 set. High grades of this card in near-mint to mint condition regularly bring six figure prices at auction. Just last year one gem mint PSA 10 copy sold for a record $2.88 million, making it not only the most valuable card from 1959 but one of the priciest ever. Mantle was already a 3-time MVP and had won the Triple Crown at this point in his career.
Willie Mays (#262) – As one of the other all-time greats featured, Mays’ card also fetches big money, especially in top condition. While not quite reaching Mantle levels, a PSA 9 brought $373,000 at one recent auction. Like Mantle, he was already well established as one of the game’s best players by 1959. At just 28, there was more greatness still ahead too from the Say Hey Kid.
Ted Williams (#316) – The last great card of the Splendid Splinter’s playing career, examples in high grade are particularly scarce and prized by collectors. Williams was in his final season in 1959, making his card all the more noteworthy as a piece of baseball history from that era. An NM-MT 7 copy sold for $80,800 back in 2018, showing the demand.
Hoyt Wilhelm (#244) – One of the big surprises of the 1959 set is that Wilhelm’s card is among the most valuable outside of the true superstar rookie cards. Part of this is likely due to the sheer scarcity of high grades – PSA has graded only two Gems out of thousands submitted. When a PSA 10 copy hits auction, it easily brings six figures as one of the marqueeCondition Sensitive cards from Topps’ entire vintage run.
Nellie Fox (#182) – Fox was a 5-time All-Star and 1959 AL MVP who finished his career with over 2,500 hits playing mainly for the White Sox. He was already 32 in 1959 but still near the top of his game. Well-centered, high graded examples have sold for upwards of $25,000 in recent years making his one of the key condition sensitive veteran cards.
Bob Gibson (#512) – The future Hall of Famer was just a rookie in 1959 and his card shows him as a member of the Cardinals. Any Gibson rookie in top-tier condition is a big ticket item, with the near-perfect gem mint PSA 10 eclipsing $100,000. Even an NM-MT 8 can reach five figures.
While stars like Mantle, Mays and Williams reign at the top, there are several other key 1959 rookies that also carry significant premiums based on the player and the rarity/condition of the individual card. Ernie Banks, Don Drysdale, Luis Aparicio and Nate Oliver are just a few more that can crack the over $10,000 barrier in top grades. Given their important place in the history of the set and the hobby, investment-grade examples of these key 1959 Topps cards will likely remain highly sought after for decades to come. For collectors, finding high quality specimens nearly 64 years after the set’s original release is becoming increasingly difficult. But for those who do invest and add these vintage pieces to their collection, the rewards in appreciation often prove very substantial over time.
