the compelete guide to 1959 Topps
At a Glance
ABOUT THE SET
1959 Topps contains 572 cards measuring 2 1/2" x 3 1/2". This was the largest Topps set produced at the time. There are three subsets including The Sporting News Rookie Stars, Baseball Thrills, and The Sporting News All-Stars.
UNIQUENESS
There are several errors in the set, mostly incorrect birth dates and spelling, but most errors don’t command a premium. Cards 199-286 come in a white and gray back and cards 507-572 are short printed. Topps lost Ted Williams to an exclusive Fleer contract.
KEY Rookies and HALL OF FAMERS
The set contains 66 Hall of Famers including the rookie card of Bob Gibson and George “Sparky” Anderson.
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UNIQUENESS
In 1959 Topps made their second All-Star set and introduced two new subsets - Baseball Thrills and The Sporting News Rookie Stars. The Sporting News All-Star cards are numbered 551-572 and close out the set. American League players have a blue background and National League players have a red background.
This Baseball Thrill cards, #461-470, highlight some of the most memorable plays and achievements of the 1958 season including Willie Mays’ famous over the shoulder catch in the 58 World Series.
Topps continued issuing multi-player cards for the third year and expanded the checklist to 16 cards.
1959 Topps was the first baseball card set that designated certain cards as rookie cards in their The Sporting News Rookie Stars subset. Though not all rookies were in this subset, notably the two biggest rookies in Gibson and Anderson, this was an innovation that became commonplace as the hobby evolved.
Most of the error cards in the 59 Topps set are incorrect DOBs or spelling mistakes and have no impact on the card value. Warren Spahn and Heywood Sullivan actually have three variations of 59 Topps cards.
CHECKLIST
*HOFers are in bold
Ford Frick
Eddie Yost
Don McMahon
Albie Pearson
Dick Donovan
Alex Grammas UER: Born 1928, should be 1926
Al Pilarcik
Philadelphia Phillies TC CL 1-88
Paul Giel
Mickey Mantle
Billy Hunter
Vern Law
Dick Gernert UER: First played for Scranton in 1950, not 1951
Pete Whisenant UER: 5th line on back, "7 years in the minors", should be 8
Dick Drott
Joe Pignatano
Frank Thomas / Danny Murtaugh / Ted Kluszewski "Danny's All Stars"
Jack Urban
Ed Bressoud
Duke Snider
Connie Johnson
Al Smith
Murry Dickson
Red Wilson
Don Hoak
Chuck Stobbs
Andy Pafko
Red Worthington
Jim Bolger
Nellie Fox
Ken Lehman
Don Buddin
Ed Fitz Gerald
Al Kaline / Charlie Maxwell "Pitchers Beware"
Ted Kluszewski
Hank Aguirre
Gene Green
Morrie Martin
Ed Bouchee
Warren Spahn Born 1921 / Born 1931 / Born 1931 3 Obstructed
Bob Martyn
Murray Wall
Steve Bilko
Vito Valentinetti UER: Born 1929, should be 1928; Colon after "Home" in bio / No Colon
Andy Carey
Bill Henry UER: Says Complete Major and Minor League Pitching Record, But Only Lists M
Jim Finigan
Baltimore Orioles TC CL 1-88
Bill Hall RC
Willie Mays
Rip Coleman
Coot Veal
Stan Williams RC
Mel Roach
Tom Brewer
Carl Sawatski
Al Cicotte
Eddie Miksis
Irv Noren
Bob Turley
Dick Brown
Tony Taylor
Jim Hearn UER: Says Giants swept 1951 World Series, actually lost in 6 to Yankees
Joe DeMaestri
Frank Torre
Joe Ginsberg
Brooks Lawrence
Dick Schofield
San Francisco Giants TC CL 89-176
Harvey Kuenn
Don Bessent
Bill Renna UER: Born 1926, should be 1924
Ron Jackson UER: Born 1923, should be 1933
Jim Lemon / Cookie Lavagetto / Roy Sievers "Directing the Power" UER: 5th line, "drove in 107 runs", should be 114
Sam Jones
Bobby Richardson
John Goryl
Pedro Ramos
Harry Chiti
Minnie Minoso UER: Born 1923, should be 1925
Hal Jeffcoat
Bob Boyd UER: Born 1926, should be 1919
Bob Smith UER: Cartoon on back applies to an outfielder instead of a pitcher
Reno Bertoia
Harry Anderson
Bob Keegan UER: Born 1922, should be 1920
Danny O'Connell
Herb Score
Billy Gardner
Bill Skowron
Herb Moford RC
Dave Philley UER: Says 1951 and 1956 in stats instead of 1941 and 1946.
Julio Becquer
Chicago White Sox TC CL 89-176
Carl Willey
Lou Berberet
Jerry Lynch
Arnie Portocarrero
Ted Kazanski
Bob Cerv
Alex Kellner UER: 3rd line says 7-2 record with Reds, was actually 7-3
Felipe Alou RC
Billy Goodman
Del Rice
Lee Walls
Hal Woodeshick RC
Norm Larker RC
Zack Monroe RC
Bob Schmidt
George Witt RC
Cincinnati Red Legs TC CL 89-176
Billy Consolo
Taylor Phillips
Earl Battey
Mickey Vernon
Bob Allison RC
John Blanchard RC
John Buzhardt RC
John Callison RC
Chuck Coles RC
Bob Conley RC
Bennie Daniels
Don Dillard RC
Dan Dobbek RC
Ron Fairly RC
Eddie Haas RC
Kent Hadley RC
Bob Hartman RC
Frank Herrera
Lou Jackson RC
Deron Johnson RC
Don Lee
Bob Lillis RC
Jim McDaniel RC
Gene Oliver RC
Jim O'Toole RC
Dick Ricketts RC
John Romano RC
Ed Sadowski RC
Charlie Secrest RC
Joe Shipley RC
Dick Stigman RC UER: "fewest walks in the A.A.", should be S.A.
Willie Tasby RC UER: Born 1932, should be 1933
Jerry Walker
Dom Zanni RC
Jerry Zimmerman RC
Dale Long / Ernie Banks / Walt Moryn "Cubs' Clubbers"
Mike McCormick
Jim Bunning
Stan Musial
Bob Malkmus
Johnny Klippstein UER: 4th line, "had his second best ERA season", was actually third best
Jim Marshall
Ray Herbert UER: "10 years of organized ball", should be 9; Did not double 1957 Buffalo
Enos Slaughter
Billy Pierce / Robin Roberts "Ace Hurlers"
Felix Mantilla
Walt Dropo
Bob Shaw
Dick Groat
Frank Baumann
Bobby G. Smith
Sandy Koufax
Johnny Groth
Bill Bruton UER: Born 1929, should be 1925
Minnie Minoso / Rocky Colavito / Larry Doby "Destruction Crew" UER: Colavito misspelled "Colovito" on back
Duke Maas
Carroll Hardy
Ted Abernathy
Gene Woodling
Willard Schmidt
Kansas City Athletics TC CL 177-264 UER: 243-264 listed before 221-242
Bill Monbouquette RC
Jim Pendleton UER: Born 1926, should be 1924 UER: Should be International League in write
Dick Farrell
Preston Ward
Johnny Briggs RC
Ruben Amaro RC
Don Rudolph
Yogi Berra
Bob Porterfield
Milt Graff
Stu Miller
Harvey Haddix
Jim Busby
Mudcat Grant
Bubba Phillips
Juan Pizarro
Neil Chrisley
Bill Virdon
Russ Kemmerer
Charley Beamon RC
Sammy Taylor
Jim Brosnan UER: Last line, 17 wins for 1953 Springfield was actually 17 losses, had 17
Rip Repulski
Billy Moran
Ray Semproch
Jim Davenport
Leo Kiely
Warren Giles PRES
Tom Acker
Roger Maris
Ozzie Virgil UER: "Ozzie" on front, "Ossie" on back
Casey Wise
Don Larsen
Carl Furillo
George Strickland
Willie Jones
Lenny Green
Ed Bailey
Bob Blaylock RC
Hank Aaron / Eddie Mathews "Fence Busters"
Jim Rivera
Marcelino Solis RC
Jim Lemon
Andre Rodgers
Carl Erskine
Roman Mejias UER: Born 1932, should be 1930
George Zuverink
Frank Malzone
Bob Bowman UER: Born 3/10, should be 5/10
Bobby Shantz
St. Louis Cardinals TC CL 265-352
Claude Osteen RC
Johnny Logan (Gray back)
Art Ceccarelli
Hal Smith
Don Gross
Vic Power UER: Born 1930, should be 1927
Bill Fischer
Ellis Burton RC
Eddie Kasko
Paul Foytack
Chuck Tanner
Valmy Thomas
Ted Bowsfield RC
Gil McDougald / Bob Turley / Bobby Richardson "Run Preventers"
Gene Baker
Bob Trowbridge
Hank Bauer
Billy Muffett UER: "Muffet" on back, Born 9/30/31, should be 9/21/30, No-hitter was 1955
Ron Samford RC
Marv Grissom
Dick Gray
Ned Garver
J.W. Porter
Don Ferrarese
Boston Red Sox TC CL 177-264
Bobby Adams
Billy O'Dell
Cletis Boyer
Ray Boone
Seth Morehead RC
Zeke Bella RC
Del Ennis
Jerry Davie RC
Leon Wagner RC
Fred Kipp RC
Jim Pisoni
Early Wynn UER: 1957 stat line, Cleveland misspelled "Cleevland"
Gene Stephens
Johnny Podres / Clem Labine / Don Drysdale "Hitters' Foes"
Buddy Daley UER: Born 1933, should be 1932
Chico Carrasquel
Ron Kline
Woodie Held UER: Name misspelled "Woody" on front and back
John Romonosky RC
Tito Francona
Jack Meyer
Gil Hodges
Orlando Pena RC UER: Born 9/7, should be 11/17
Jerry Lumpe
Joe Jay
Jerry Kindall
Jack Sanford
Pete Daley
Turk Lown
Chuck Essegian
Ernie Johnson
Frank Bolling
Walt Craddock
R.C. Stevens
Russ Heman
Steve Korcheck
Joe Cunningham
Dean Stone
Don Zimmer
Dutch Dotterer
Johnny Kucks
Wes Covington
Pedro Ramos / Camilo Pascual
Dick Williams
Ray Moore
Hank Foiles
Billy Martin
Ernie Broglio
Jackie Brandt
Tex Clevenger
Billy Klaus
Richie Ashburn
Earl Averill
Don Mossi
Marty Keough
Chicago Cubs Team Card
Curt Raydon
Jim Gilliam
Curt Barclay
Norm Siebern
Sal Maglie
Luis Aparicio
Norm Zauchin
Don Newcombe
Frank House
Don Cardwell
Joe Adcock
Ralph Lumenti
Hitting Kings - Richie Ashburn / Willie Mays
Rocky Bridges
Dave Hillman
Bob Skinner
Bob Giallombardo ERR
Harry Hanebrink (Traded)
Frank Sullivan
Don Demeter
Ken Boyer
Marv Throneberry
Gary Bell
Lou Skizas
Detroit Tigers Team Card
Gus Triandos
Steve Boros
Ray Monzant
Harry Simpson
Glen Hobbie
Johnny Temple
Billy Loes (Traded)
George Crowe
Sparky Anderson
Roy Face
Roy Sievers
Tom Qualters
Ray Jablonski
Billy Hoeft
Russ Nixon
Gil McDougald
Batter Bafflers - Dave Sisler / Tom Brewer
Bob Buhl
Ted Lepcio
Hoyt Wilhelm
Ernie Banks
Earl Torgeson
Robin Roberts
Curt Flood
Pete Burnside
Jimmy Piersall
Bob Mabe
Dick Stuart
Ralph Terry
Bill White
Al Kaline
Willard Nixon
Dolan Nichols RC VAR: "Optioned to Fort Worth in March 1959" on back / No reference
Bobby Avila
Danny McDevitt
Gus Bell
Humberto Robinson
Cal Neeman
Don Mueller
Dick Tomanek UER: Born 1920, should be 1931
Pete Runnels
Dick Brodowski
Jim Hegan
Herb Plews
Art Ditmar
Bob Nieman
Hal Naragon
Johnny Antonelli
Gail Harris
Bob Miller
Hank Aaron
Mike Baxes
Curt Simmons
Don Larsen / Casey Stengel "Words of Wisdom"
Dave Sisler
Sherm Lollar
Jim Delsing
Don Drysdale
Bob Will RC
Joe Nuxhall
Orlando Cepeda
Milt Pappas
Whitey Herzog
Frank Lary UER: Born 1931, should be 1930
Randy Jackson
Elston Howard UER: Born 1930, should be 1929
Bob Rush
Washington Senators TC CL 430-495
Wally Post
Larry Jackson
Jackie Jensen
Ron Blackburn
Hector Lopez UER: Born 1932, should be 1929
Clem Labine
Hank Sauer
Roy McMillan
Solly Drake
Moe Drabowsky
Nellie Fox / Luis Aparicio "Keystone Combo"
Gus Zernial
Billy Pierce
Whitey Lockman UER: "first Big League game when he was 16", was actually his first minor l
Stan Lopata
Camilo Pascual UER: First name misspelled "Camillo" on front, last name misspelled "Pasqua
Dale Long
Bill Mazeroski
Haywood Sullivan COR: Circle around copyright symbol, Period after A in U.S.A. / No Circle Period after A / No Circle No Period
Virgil Trucks
Gino Cimoli
Milwaukee Braves TC CL 353-429
Rocco Colavito
Herm Wehmeier
Hobie Landrith
Bob Grim
Ken Aspromonte
Del Crandall
Jerry Staley
Charlie Neal
Ron Kline / Bob Friend / Vern Law / Roy Face "Buc Hill Aces"
Bobby Thomson
Whitey Ford
Whammy Douglas
Smoky Burgess
Billy Harrell
Hal Griggs
Frank Robinson
Granny Hamner
Ike Delock
Sam Esposito
Brooks Robinson
Lew Burdette UER: Name misspelled "Lou" on front and back; posing as a lefthander
John Roseboro
Ray Narleski
Daryl Spencer
Ronnie Hansen RC
Cal McLish
Rocky Nelson
Bob Anderson
Vada Pinson UER: Born 8/8, should be 8/11
Tom Gorman
Ed Mathews
Jimmy Constable RC
Chico Fernandez
Les Moss
Phil Clark
Larry Doby
Jerry Casale RC
Los Angeles Dodgers TC CL 430-495
Gordon Jones
Bill Tuttle
Bob Friend
Mickey Mantle "Mantle Hits 42nd Homer For Crown"
Rocky Colavito "Colavito's Great Catch Saves Game"
Al Kaline "Kaline Becomes Youngest Bat Champ"
Willie Mays "Mays' Catch Makes Series History"
Roy Sievers "Sievers Sets Homer Mark"
Billy Pierce "Pierce All Star Starter"
Hank Aaron "Aaron Clubs World Series Homer"
Duke Snider "Snider's Play Brings L.A. Victory"
Ernie Banks "Hustler Banks Wins M.V.P. Award"
Stan Musial "Musial Raps Out 3,000th Hit"
Tom Sturdivant
Gene Freese
Mike Fornieles
Moe Thacker RC
Jack Harshman
Cleveland Indians TC CL 496-572
Barry Latman RC
Bob Clemente
Lindy McDaniel
Red Schoendienst
Charley Maxwell
Russ Meyer
Clint Courtney
Willie Kirkland
Ryne Duren
Sammy White
Hal Brown
Walt Moryn
John C. Powers
Frank Thomas
Don Blasingame
Gene Conley
Jim Landis
Don Pavletich RC
Johnny Podres
Wayne Terwilliger UER: Team name misspelled "ATHLFTICS" on front
Hal R. Smith
Dick Hyde
Johnny O'Brien
Vic Wertz
Bobby Tiefenauer RC
Al Dark UER: Born 1923, should be 1922
Jim Owens
Ossie Alez RC
Tony Kubek
Bob Purkey
Bob Hale
Art Fowler
Norm Cash RC
New York Yankees TC CL 496-572
George Susce
George Altman RC
Tom Carroll
Bob Gibson RC
Harmon Killebrew
Mike Garcia
Joe Koppe RC
Mike Cuellar RC UER: Last name misspelled "Cueller" on front and back
Pete Runnells / Dick Gernert / Frank Malzone "Infield Power"
Don Elston
Gary Geiger
Gene Snyder RC
Harry Bright RC
Larry Osborne RC
Jim Coates RC
Bob Speake
Solly Hemus
Pittsburgh Pirates TC CL 496-572
George Bamberger RC
Wally Moon
Ray Webster RC
Mark Freeman RC
Darrell Johnson
Faye Throneberry
Ruben Gomez
Dan Kravitz
Rodolfo Arias RC
Chick King
Gary Blaylock RC
Willy Miranda
Bob Thurman UER: Born 1923, should be 1917
Jim Perry RC
Bob Skinner / Bill Virdon / Roberto Clemente "Corsair Outfield Trio"
Lee Tate RC
Tom Morgan
Al Schroll
Jim Baxes RC
Elmer Singleton
Howie Nunn RC
Roy Campanella "Symbol of Courage"
Fred Haney AS MGR
Casey Stengel AS MGR
Orlando Cepeda AS
Bill Skowron AS
Bill Mazeroski AS
Nellie Fox AS
Ken Boyer AS
Frank Malzone AS
Ernie Banks AS
Luis Aparicio AS
Hank Aaron AS
Al Kaline AS
Willie Mays AS
Mickey Mantle AS
Wes Covington AS
Roy Sievers AS
Del Crandall AS
Gus Triandos AS
Bob Friend AS
Bob Turley AS
Warren Spahn AS
Billy Pierce AS