• Home
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Get Sports Collectors Daily via EMail
    • Advertise with SC Daily
    • Write for Sports Collectors Daily
    • Write About Your Sports Collection
    • Where Can I Sell My Baseball Cards?
  • Hot on Ebay
    • Most Watched Baseball Cards
      • 50 Hottest Baseball Hobby Boxes
      • Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs
      • 75 Most Watched Bowman Chrome Cards
      • Most Watched Vintage Baseball Card Sets
      • Babe Ruth Cards
      • Hank Aaron Cards
      • Mickey Mantle Cards
      • Willie Mays Cards
      • Nolan Ryan Cards
      • T206 Cards
      • Goudey Cards
      • 1952 Topps Cards
    • Most Watched Basketball
      • Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2020-21 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2019-20 NBA Rookie Cards
        • Zion Williamson Rookie Cards
        • Ja Morant Rookie Cards
      • Top Prizm Basketball Auctions
      • Luka Doncic Rookie Cards
      • LeBron James Rookie Cards
      • Michael Jordan Cards
      • Kobe Bryant Cards
      • National Treasures Cards (all sports)
    • Most Watched Football Cards
      • Most Watched Football Rookie Card Auctions
      • Most Watched 2020 NFL Rookie Card Auctions
      • Patrick Mahomes Rookie Cards
    • Most Watched Hockey Cards
      • Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2019-20 Hockey Rookie Cards
      • Connor McDavid Cards
      • Bobby Orr Cards
    • Most Watched Soccer Cards
    • Most Watched Golf Cards
    • Most Watched Rookie Cards
    • Most Watched PSA 10 Cards
    • Most Watched 1 of 1 Cards
    • Most Watched Memorabilia
    • Most Watched Racing Cards
    • Most Watched Autographs
  • Ending Soon on Ebay
    • Baseball Cards
    • Basketball Cards
    • Football Cards
    • Hockey Cards
    • Golf Cards
    • Vintage Sports Memorabilia
  • Lelands

Sports Collectors Daily

Sports collecting news - Sports cards and sports memorabilia industry news.

Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, we may receive a commission.  It helps keep us afloat!

  • Sports Memorabilia News
    • Barnebys Sports Auction Highlights
  • Sports Card News
    • Modern Sports Card News
      • New Sports Card Release Calendar
      • Shop Talk
    • Vintage Sports Card News
      • Affordable Vintage Cards, Collectibles
      • Old Baseball Card Sets
      • Old Basketball Card Sets
      • Old Football Card Sets
      • Old Hockey Card Sets
      • Vintage Pack Facts
  • Business/Industry News
    • Sports Memorabilia Business News
    • Sports Memorabilia Industry News
    • Hobby Shops Selling, Breaking Online During COVID-19
  • Around The Hobby
    • Editor’s Blog
    • David Cycleback’s Identification and Authentication Advice
  • Popular Stories
  • Sell Your Cards
You are here: Home / Popular Stories / Clemente Still Revered By Fans and Collectors
Baseball Card Exchange

Clemente Still Revered By Fans and Collectors

September 30, 2015 By Bob D'Angelo

Roberto Clemente was a great baseball player, but his throwing arm was extraordinary. I know. I saw it happen.

And Joe Morgan was the victim.

On July 21, 1970, at the Astrodome, Clemente’s Pirates were facing Houston. Jesus Alou was on first base in the bottom of the first when Morgan sent a stclementeyounginging line drive single to right field. Alou went to third on the play, and Morgan took a wide turn at first.

Bad move. Clemente came up firing, throwing behind Morgan to first baseman Al Oliver, who tagged the surprised runner out.

Amazing. I’ll bet Morgan remembers that play.

Clemente was known as “The Great One,” a prideful man from Puerto Rico who won four National League batting titles. He was named to 15 All-Star teams and was the NL’s MVP in 1966.

He connected for his 3,000th and final major-league hit, a double to left-center off Mets’ left-hander Jon Matlack, in the fourth inning at Three Rivers Stadium on September 30, 1972. He was the 11th player in major-league history to reach that milestone, and the first player of Hispanic heritage to do so.

On December 31, 1972, Clemente boarded a small plane in Puerto Rico bound for Nicaragua to assist with earthquake relief in the capital city of Managua. The overloaded plane crashed just off the Puerto Rican coast, and Clemente’s body was neveclemente1955r recovered.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973 in a special election that waived the mandatory five-year waiting period.

Clemente’s baseball cards have endured through the years, and several are quite valuable. Here is a look at 10 quintessential cards.

1955 Topps – Clemente’s first Topps issue is his rookie card (No. 164), and it has become a coveted item among collectors. Centering for the card always has been an issue. Of the 2,970 cards graded by PSA, there has been just one PSA-10 and 11 PSA-9s.

High grade examples are also are rare on the SGC site,  with only one of the 839 registered cards grading as high as 96 (mint). Two came in at 92.

Former major-leaguer Dmitri Young owned that sole gem mint Clemente, and fetched $432,690 at SCP Auctions in 2012, setting a record for a post-World War II card.  Earlier this year, a PSA-9 card was auctioned for $310,700. In 2006, a Clemente card in that grade sold for nearly $275,000 less.

Clemente rookies are readily available on eBay with mid-range examples currently running between $900 and $2,000.

1973 Topps — Clemente’s final card was issued after his death and was part of the first series (card No. 50). Clemente is taking a swing and s 1973ToppsClementehadows cover his face; the photo appears to be from a spring training game the previous year.

Ironically, in an interview with The Associated Press in the spring of 1972, Clemente said he was thinking about retiring.

“I would like to play this year and one more, but if I have a chance I can quit after this year,” he told the AP.

According to the PSA registry, only five cards from 1973 are graded Gem mint. On its website, Memory Lane noted that trying to find a PSA-10 Clemente from 1973 is synonymous to “eating soup with a fork.”

SGC has seven cards that grade at 96.

You can still Clemente’s final card in very nice shape for around $75.

1958 Topps — Card No. 52 continued a pattern begun in 1957 by Topps to refer to Clemente as “Bob.” While Pirates broadcaster Bob Prince would refer to him as “Bobby” on occasion (and also “Arriba”).

1958clementeClemente, proud of his heritage, hated the Americanized version of his name and insisted on being called Roberto.”

Topps actually used “Roberto” on his 1955 and ’56 cards. Topps would not revert back to “Roberto” on its cards until 1970, although the poster inserts of that year still called him Bob.

The 1958 Topps card has two variations. One shows the team name in white letters, while a rarer version features it in yellow. There have been 701 yellow versions listed in the PSA registry, and there are no gem mint cards; there are seven PSA-9s.

There are two PSA-10s out of 1,595 registered white letter versions, and 16 in near-mint condition.

Nicer examples can be found for $300 and up with top end cards reaching $1,000 and more.

1957 Kahn’s Wieners — A regional issue from the Cincinnati meat company that consisted of members of the Pirates and Reds, this 29-card set was the firs1957clementekahnst to feature Clemente (No. 5).

These cards measured 3¼ by 4 inches and had black-and-white photos on the card fronts and blank backs. Beneath the player’s photo was an advertising s
logan that advised collectors that Kahn’s was “the wiener the world awaited.”

Finding this card in high grade is extremely difficult. As the cards were packaged with the hot dogs and came in contact with the meat, many cards are found in stained condition.

Clemente’s card is the key one in the 1957 set, and of the 23 cards submitted to PSA, only three grade out as high as PSA-7 (near mint). Only six have been submitted to SCG, with the highest grade being an 80 for one card.

As of this writing there was exactly one on eBay.

1968 Topps 3-D — Clemente is part of 12 subjects in this rare test set. This set predates the 3-D cards issued by Kelloclemente3dgg’s by two years, but the same process was used.

There are no sharp corners, as they are rounded, and the card backs are blank. The card fronts include the player’s team, name and position; Clemente is still referred to as Bob. A thin layer of ribbed plastic produces a 3-D effect when the card is tilted.

The only other Hall of Famer in the set is Reds first baseman Tony Perez.

The PSA registry lists six gem mint examples of the Clemente card out of 49 submitted. Eighteen have been submitted to the SGC registry, with two grading as high as 96.

1972 Topps — The laClemente1972st regular card issued during Clemente’s lifetime (No. 309), it’s a very affordable card and easy to obtain.  NM/MT examples can be found for $50-75.

It also reflects the psychedelic design that made the 1972 set one of Topps’ more distinctive products during the 1970s. The photo shows Clemente casually tossing a ball into the air. It was about chest-high when the photo was snapped, right above the word “Pirates” on his uniform front.

Looks like Roberto was keeping his eye on the ball, just like every Little Leaguer is taught to do.

1962 Venezuelan Topps — Clemente made his debut in this 198-card set produced for the South American market. The front of the card mirrors the American-produced Topps set, right down to including “Bob” as Clemente’s first name. That’s a puzzling decision, given T62clementevenez1opps’ goal of making inroads in the Latin American market. But then again, it was easier to just use the printing plate from the U.S. version.

Here’s a unique difference: for the first time, Topps reprinted the backs of cards (with the exception of league leaders) in Spanish. So, Clemente’s card back begins, “Uno de los mejores jugadores en las Ligas Mayores …” (“One of the most exciting players in the majors” was the lead-in on the regular Topps issue).

The card stock is flimsy, which makes finding these cards in a higher grade a difficult chore. Sixteen have been submitted to PSA, and the highest grade attained was PSA-5 (EX condition). Only three are in the SGC registry, with one grading at 60 while the other two are 40s.  The lone example on eBay as of this writing was a low grade example priced at $250.

1956 Topps — One of the nicer sets from the 1950s, and the last “large” set before Topps adopted its current card size. Clemente (No. 33) sports two diffclemente1956erent card back variations — white and gray.

Like all of the cards from the 1956 set, the card is dominated by a large portrait shot, with a smaller action shot. The card backs consist of a three-panel cartoon, with 1955 and lifetime statistics listed directly below.

Roberto Clemente 1956 ToppsThe first panel is especially amusing. Clemente, who originally was a prospect in the Brooklyn Dodgers organization, is pictured next to a man pointing to the Brooklyn Bridge. “Like it?” the man holding the contract asks. “It’s yours!”

That’s a nifty play on the greatest con man in American history, George C. Parker. He sold the Brooklyn Bridge at least twice a week to unsuspecting victims, one time for as much as $50,000. Why Topps chose that particular cartoon panel to illustrate Clemente’s early pro career is amusing and baffling at the same time.

There are no PSA 10s of the gray or white back version, and only three PSA 9s of gray backs. There are 18 white backs that have graded out at PSA 9. SGC has two gray backs that come in at 88, with a white back registering the same grade.

Landing a NM 7 like one of these for $500-600 (or higher grade, of course, if you can afford it) would seem like a pretty good long-term investment.

1970 Topps — The 1970 Topps set offers a sort of understated elegance. Clemente is shown hefting a bat somewhere near the on-deck circle at Shea Stadium. Topps reverted to calling him “Roberto” after a 13-year hiatus.

1970clementeThe gray borders and Clemente’s name in black script complete the modest look. It was a nice way to open the 1970s.

Surprisingly, out of 2,440 cards sent to the PSA registry, there is only one that graded out at gem mint. Thirty-four are at PSA 9s (one of those is currently on eBay). Two cards on the SGC site are 96s.

1964 Topps Stand-Ups — Clemente is one of more desirable cards in this offbeat set, trailing only Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and a short-printed Carl Yastrzemski in value.clementestandup

This was a die-cut set, and a folded card could be made to stand up to be displayed. For that reason, finding these cards in high grade proves difficult.

Clemente is shown in a throwing position. The top half of the card sports a yellow background, with the bottom half in green. Clemente’s name is in red letters inside a yellow box.

Again, there are no gem mint registered versions of this card in PSA, although there are 12 PSA-9s. There are two SGC 96s and seven SGC 92s.

While it would be a stretch to call the Stand-Ups “attractive” they are underpriced considering the relative few available in the market, especially at the higher end.

Clemente has been gone for nearly 43 years, but fans and collectors still hold him in high esteem. So do the Pirates. The right-field wall at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park is 21 feet high in honor of Clemente’s normal fielding position and uniform number.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Facebook Messenger

Related Stories:

Kahn’s Promoted its Baseball Cards in 1950s, 60s Newspapers 15 Most Valuable Baseball Cards of the 50s Roberto Clemente Rookie Card Values Rising Remembering ‘Newk’: 5 Cards of Don Newcombe 1973 Topps Baseball Set Bid Farewell to Clemente, Hello to Schmidt Steve Spurrier 1972 ToppsCards of Players Who Became Bigger Stars as Coaches, Managers Fleer World Series 1916Fleer, Laughlin Combined For Memorable World Series Sets Vintage Cards Come Alive Under The Big Top 1960 Nu-Card Baseball Hi-Lites: Postcard-Sized Slices of History The Wayback Collector: Pop Report Comparisons of Pre-War and Post-War Vintage
Avatar

About Bob D'Angelo

Bob has been a sportswriter and copy editor for more than 35 years and a blogger for a decade. He is celebrating his 50th year of card collecting, and still counts his 1965 Topps Mickey Mantle as his favorite. You can reach him at [email protected].

Filed Under: Popular Stories, Sports Card News, Vintage Sports Card News Tagged With: 1950s baseball cards, 1955 Topps Baseball, 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente, 1956 Topps baseball, 1960s baseball cards, 1968 Topps 3-D, 1970's baseball cards, Kahn's Wieners, Roberto Clemente, vintage baseball cards

Our articles may contain affiliate links. When you click one and make a purchase, we receive a commission.  The revenue is what helps keep SC Daily afloat!

What\
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • Hockey

Bargain Corner

  • Michael Jordan Cards Under $5
  • Mickey Mantle Cards Under $100
  • Graded T206 Cards Under $75
  • Pre-1980 Graded Baseball Cards $5 and Less
  • Pre-1985 Graded Football Cards $5 and Less
  • Pre-1980 Graded Basketball Cards $5 and Less
  • Pre-1990 Graded Hockey Cards $5 and Less
  • Complete Sets Under $10 with Free Shipping
  • Baseball Hall of Famers for $5 or Less
  • Football Hall of Famers for $5 or Less
  • Hobby Boxes Under $30
  • Pre-1986 Rookie Cards Under $1

RSS Auction Report

  • Steve Novella Offers PSA Graded Football, Basketball, Baseball & Autographed Cards Ending January 19-21, 2021
  • CollectibleXchange February 2021 Auction Preview – Register Now
  • Heritage Auctions Modern Sports Cards Catalog Auction – Ends February 4, 2021


Categories

  • Around the Hobby
  • Business/Industry News
    • Sports Memorabilia Business News
    • Sports Memorabilia Industry News
  • David Cycleback's Identification and Authentication Advice
  • Editor's Blog
  • Hobby Shop Talk
  • National Sports Collectors Convention
  • Popular Stories
  • Rich Klein's Ramblings
  • Sports Card News
    • Modern Sports Card News
      • New Sports Card Release Calendar
    • Vintage Sports Card News
      • Old Baseball Card Sets
      • Old Basketball Card Sets
      • Old Football Card Sets
      • Old Hockey Card Sets
      • Vintage Pack Facts
  • Sports Memorabilia News

Sponsor Links

  • Sports Card Forum
  • Buying Vintage Sports Cards
  • Game Used Jerseys
  • 1952 Topps Baseball
  • Championship Rings For Sale
  • Vintage Basketball Cards
  • NBA Signed Items
  • Signed Sports Memorabilia
  • UFC Memorabilia
  • Autographed Baseballs
  • NASCAR Autographs
  • Vintage Graded Baseball Cards
  • Player Pictures
  • Vintage Football Cards
  • Sports Card Boxes
  • Sports Collectors Store

Pages

  • 100 Hottest 2019-20 NBA Rookie Cards
  • 100 Hottest UFC Trading Cards
  • 100 Most Watched Golf Trading Cards on eBay
  • 100 Most Watched Graded Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay
  • 100 Most Watched Wrestling Trading Cards on eBay
  • 20 Hottest Barry Sanders Football Cards
  • 2016 Cubs Replica Championship Rings Don’t Cost a Fortune
  • 2017 Topps Definitive Collection Box Breaks, Most Watched
  • 2019 Toronto Raptors NBA Championship Memorabilia Guide
  • 2019 US Women’s World Cup Apparel, Merchandise, Memorabilia Guide
  • 50 Hottest Baseball Hobby Boxes at Auction on eBay
  • 50 Hottest Kareem Hunt Rookie Cards
  • 50 Most Watched Kevin Durant Auctions on eBay
  • 75 Most Watched Bowman Chrome Cards
  • 8 Types of Kobe Bryant Collectibles to Remember Him By
  • Aaron Judge Game Used Memorabilia Inventory Growing
  • About Us/Contact/Advertise
    • Advertise with SC Daily
    • Contact Us
    • Get Sports Collectors Daily via EMail
  • Affordable Vintage Sports Cards and Collectibles
  • Barnebys Sports Memorabilia Auctions
  • Baseball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Basketball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Best Derek Jeter Baseball Cards on eBay
  • Best Display Cabinets for Sports Memorabilia
  • Best Joey Votto Rookie Cards
  • Best Pascal Siakam Rookie Cards
  • Chiefs Super Bowl Champs Memorabilia Hits the Market
  • Current Most Watched Baseball Cards on eBay
  • Dale Murphy Rookie Card Remains Popular, Affordable
  • Eagles Super Bowl Champions Memorabilia Guide
  • Fanatics Under Wraps 2017 Next Level Edition Autographed Baseballs
  • Football Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Frank Gore Rookie Cards Get No Respect
  • Gardner Minshew Rookie Cards Heat Up as Fun-Loving Rookie Shows His Ability
  • Great Gifts for Cubs Fans
  • Guide to 2018-19 Clemson Tigers National Championship Memorabilia
  • Guide to Houston Astros Championship Memorabilia
  • Guide to LSU National Championship Merchandise, Memorabilia
  • Guide to Nationals World Series Champs Memorabilia, Merchandise
  • Guide to St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup Champions Merchandise, Memorabilia
  • Guide to Vegas Golden Knights Stanley Cup Memorabilia
  • Hank Aaron Cards on eBay
  • Henrik Lundqvist Rookie Cards a Strong Long-Term Play
  • Hockey Card Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
  • Hottest 2019 Baseball Rookie Cards
  • Hottest 2019 NFL Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Hottest Chicago Bulls Memorabilia Auctions on eBay
  • Hottest Devin Booker Rookie Cards as Suns Star Piles Up Points
  • Hottest Kyle Lewis Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Hottest Lonzo Ball Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Hottest Panini National Treasures Cards on eBay
  • Hottest Panini World Cup Stickers on eBay
  • Hottest Pokémon Card Auctions on eBay
  • Hottest PSA 10 Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Hottest Topps Living Set Auctions on eBay
  • Hottest Topps NOW Cards on eBay
  • Hottest Xander Bogaerts Rookie Cards
  • LeBron James Lakers Jerseys Already Available
  • Links
  • Mickey Mantle Cards on eBay
  • Most Popular Bobbleheads on eBay
  • Most Popular Mark McGwire Rookie Card Auctions on eBay
  • Most Watched 1/1 Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Basketball Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Complete Baseball Card Sets at Auction on eBay
  • Most Watched Football Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Football Rookie Card Auctions
  • Most Watched Goudey Baseball Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Hockey Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Kobe Bryant Basketball Card Auctions on eBay
  • Most Watched Racing Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Soccer Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Most Watched Sports Autographs on eBay
  • Most Watched Sports Jerseys on eBay
  • Most Watched Topps Project 2020 Auctions on eBay
  • Most Watched Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay
  • Most Watched Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay
  • Nick Bosa Rookie Cards Getting Collectors’ Attention
  • Patriots Super Bowl 51 Champions Merchandise
  • Ryne Sandberg Rookie Cards, Minor League Issues Still Collector Favorites
  • Selling Sports Cards on eBay for Cash
  • Sports Memorabilia Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Test
  • The 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Kris Bryant Auto Saga: A Timeline
  • Tony Gwynn Rookie Cards Recall “The Best Hitter Since Ted”
  • Top 100 Most Watched Baseball Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Card Auctions
  • Top Authenticated Vintage Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay
  • Top Selling Patriots Super Bowl Championship Items
  • Upper Deck Authenticated Autographs Remain Popular, Accessible
  • Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay Ending Soon
  • Wade Boggs Rookie Cards Still a Collector Favorite
  • What’s Hot on eBay
  • What’s It Worth
  • Where Can I Sell My Baseball Cards?
  • Where to Buy the Anthony Fauci Topps Baseball Card
  • Write About Your Sports Collection
  • Write for Sports Collectors Daily

Copyright © 2021 SportsCollectorsDaily.com | Genesis Web Design by Wickam Group