The 1958 Topps baseball card set will long be remembered as one of the all-time great vintage sets that featured rookies who would go on to have Hall of Fame careers. While the rookie class of 1958 may not have been the strongest relative to other years in terms of superstar talent at the very top, it had excellent depth with several role players and All-Stars that made their MLB debuts that season.
The biggest rookie star featured in the 1958 Topps set was future Dodgers great and Hall of FamerDon Drysdale. Drysdale’s rookie card shows him as a member of the Dodgers wearing number 53 in his debut season of 1958. Drysdale would go on to win 209 games over his 14-year career spent entirely with the Dodgers and was selected to 5 All-Star teams. He famously teamed with Sandy Koufax to lead the Dodgers to World Series championships in 1963 and 1965. Drysdale’s rookie card in mint condition can fetch over $1,000 today.
Another Dodger who had a Hall of Fame career that got his start in 1958 was outfielder Willie Davis. Davis’ stellar rookie card showcases him in a Dodgers road uniform from his debut season. Davis played 15 seasons for the Dodgers and won a World Series title with them in 1965. He was an All-Star in 1962 and amassed over 2,000 hits in his career. Davis’ rookie card in mint condition is valued at $200-300.
A non-Hall of Fame but highly valuable rookie from the 1958 Topps set is Don Zimmer’s. Zimmer played a then-record 22 seasons in the majors primarily as an infielder but also as a manager and coach after his playing career. His well-known rookie card as a member of theChicago Cubs displays him proudly showing off his number 11 jersey from 1958, his first season with the Cubs after debuting briefly with the Browns the previous season. Zimmer’s rookie card has an eye-popping mint value of $1,500 or more due to his longevity in the game and place as a true baseball icon. Even well-centered near mint copies can cost over $200.
The 1958 Topps set is also well-known for featuring the rookie cards of future All-Star pitchers like Milt Pappas, Ken McBride, and Eli Grba. Pappas won 209 games over his 16-year career primarily with the Orioles and Reds and made 3 All-Star teams. He had a peak from 1959-1966 where he won 15-20 games in all but one season. Pappas’ rookie card as an Oriole has a mint value exceeding $150.
Ken McBride had an effective 6-year stint as a starter and reliever for the Dodgers and Tigers before arm issues shortened his career. His cartoon-style rookie card depicts him as a Dodger with a cheeky expression wearing number 32. McBride’s 1958 Topps rookie in mint condition can fetch $100.
Eli Grba was a key starter for the White Sox and Angels for 10 seasons, highlighted by an All-Star nod in 1962 and 3 seasons of 15+ wins. His clean-shaven rookie card in a White Sox uniform from 1958 has an estimated mint value of $75-100. Beyond Drysdale, Davis and Zimmer, these pitchers helped round out the depth of noteworthy major league contributors whose rookie cards appear in the hallowed 1958 Topps set.
While most of the rookie standouts were future multi-time All-Stars or Hall of Famers, the 1958 Topps set also included a number of other first-year players who enjoyed long, productive big league careers primarily as role players or back-end starters. Outfielder Johnny Romano made his MLB debut in 1958 and went on to play 11 seasons for 6 different teams, hitting .259 with 6 teams between 1958-1968. His rookie card as a Baltimore Oriole lists him at just 160 pounds. Romano cards are valued around $50 in mint condition due to his lengthy career.
Catchers Jerry Zimmerman and Del Rice also debuted in 1958 and would each play over a decade in the majors. Zimmerman was a solid defensive catcher and backup for the Dodgers, Phillies, Cubs and Mets from 1958-1969 while batting .234. Rice was primarily a backup catcher for the Orioles, Angels and Tigers from 1958-1970, known more for his defense and hitting a respectable .238. Both of their 1958 Topps rookie cards have an estimated mint value of $75-100.
In all, while the first major league class of 1958 didn’t boast any true superstar talents on the level of other years, its depth and quality from rookie cards of future Hall of Famers, perennial All-Stars and supporting cast members who played a decade or more has cemented the 1958 Topps baseball set as one of the most historically renowned and collectible in the hobby, especially for its rookie cards of Don Drysdale, Willie Davis, Don Zimmer and several other distinguished big leaguers who debuted that summer.
