Jose Felix Uribe was an infielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1961 to 1976 for the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, and New York Mets. While not one of the biggest stars of his era, Uribe assembled a respectable 16-year MLB career and has developed a following among baseball card collectors interested in cards from the 1960s and 1970s. Let’s take a deeper look at some of Jose Uribe’s baseball cards and assess factors that could influence their potential worth.
One of Uribe’s most coveted rookie cards is his 1962 Topps card #439. This is considered his true rookie card as 1962 was his first season in the big leagues. Topps rookie cards from the early 1960s are highly sought after by collectors. Uribe’s rookie card features a solid action photo and basic statistical information on the back. In high grade it can fetch $100-200 due to its significance as his debut. Most known copies of this card are well-worn after 60 years and a common VG-EX copy may only sell for $10-20.
Along with Topps, Fleer also issued baseball cards in the 1960s. Uribe has cards from 1964 (#42) and 1965 (#86) Fleer issues that are attractive to collectors of that brand. The 1964 Fleer card in particular has nice centered portraits and full bleeding colors that have held up well over time. High grade 1964 and 1965 Uribe Fleer cards in the 9-10 condition range could be worth $50-75 each. Most raw copies trade hands in the $5-10 range.
Uribe’s 1968 Topps card (#445) stands out for potential value. This was during his best statistical season when he made the All-Star team as a member of the pennant-winning St. Louis Cardinals. The photo shows him cleanly fielding a ground ball. High grade rookie and star player cards from the late 1960s are especially prized, so a 1968 Uribe in NM-MT 8+ condition could command $100-150. Most raw copies rate around $10-20.
During Uribe’s tenure with the Chicago Cubs from 1970-1973, he found more playing time and success at the plate. This made his 1970 through 1973 Topps rookie stars cards stronger candidates to have value. In particular, a pristine 1970 Topps Uribe (#553) or 1973 Topps Uribe (#498) in graded Gem Mint 10 condition could sell for $300-500 due to their rarity at the absolute pinnacle of quality standards. Even graded Excellent-Mint 9 copies might sell for $75-150.
One of the overlooked Uribe cards is his 1974 Topps issue (#613). This was after he was traded to the Atlanta Braves and showed him batting right-handed. High grades of this card are very scarce. A PSA/SGC Gem Mint 10 copy could potentially sell for over $1000 given how infrequently high grade 1974s surface in the marketplace. Even a Mint 9 of this particular card might bring $250-500 due to the rarity of superior condition.
Uribe finished his career with the 1975-1976 New York Mets. His 1975 Topps (#555) and 1976 Topps (#544) issue are notable because they feature photos of him as a member of the Mets late in his career. These have steadily increased in demand from collectors focusing on 1970s Mets rosters. A pristine graded gem copy of either the 1975 or 1976 Topps Uribe could sell for $150-250 based on recent market trends for those years. Most raw copies are valued around $5-15.
Beyond Topps, Uribe also appeared in several regional and minor league sets over the years that have found a following. Highlights include his 1965 Kansas City A’s Minor League (#47), 1966 Iowa Cubs (#42), and 1972 Tacoma Twins (#8). These niche non-Topps issues usually need to grade over a 9 to bring $50-100 due to the smaller subsets of collectors pursuing them. Lower grades are far more common and trade in the $5-20 range.
While Jose Uribe was not a superstar player, he had a long and productive MLB career that has resulted in him having interesting baseball cards to collectors from the 1960s and 1970s. High grade examples of his significant rookie cards or issues from peak statistical seasons have the strongest potential value, perhaps reaching $500-1000 for true pristine gems. But for most the significant money is in graded 8s and 9s rather than raw common copies. With Uribe becoming a more recognized player, demand for his cards could continue growing steadily over the long run.
