1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente - PSA 9 | Rookie Card

This PSA 9 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente is among the finest ever graded. At the time of cataloging, of the more than 7,000 graded by PSA, it is one of just 11 PSA 9 examples in the world with only one PSA 10.

The card commemorates Clemente’s 1955 rookie season with the Pittsburgh Pirates in which he played 124 games for the “Bucs” at just 20 years old. The description on the back of the card prophetically highlights Clemente’s “powerful throwing arm and extra base hitting ability” which would help make Roberto a 12-time Gold Glove recipient in right field, a mark only matched by three players regardless of position, and the most prolific triples hitter in baseball since integration.

The 1955 Topps set was innovative and comparatively small. At 206 subjects, the smallest Topps baseball checklist except 1951 Topps, it was the first Topps set where every card was horizontal. In addition to Clemente, the rookie card debuts of Hall of Famers Harmon Killebrew and Sandy Koufax can be found in the set. Innovative in its design and highly desirable thanks to its eye appeal and rich coloration, this set remains a favorite of collectors to this day. 

This card has been authenticated and deemed to be in Mint condition, receiving a grade of 9 from Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). 

The PSA certificate number for this card is: 05023070.

Going Deeper - Roberto Clemente

The Great One

A true hallmark personality in baseball history, Roberto Clemente’s image and legacy are enduring.

The Carolina, Puerto Rico native began his American baseball journey signing with the Dodgers in 1954. Brooklyn paid $10,000 for the phenom’s signature, the highest bonus the team had committed to an amateur since signing Jackie Robinson nine years earlier. The substantial contract came with complications and left Clemente’s outsized talent available for selection in baseball’s Rule V draft, where the Pirates took a chance on the young outfielder. The bet would pay off, eventually.

Initially, Roberto found the adjustment to the major league game and American life, not least the constant racism he suffered, challenging, and through his first five seasons dealt with a variety of ailments that resulted in lackluster statlines. In 1960, however, Clemente found a new gear.

Powering the Pirates to their first National League pennant in over thirty years, Clemente carried a .314 batting average and was named to his first of fifteen All-Star teams. In the World Series, one of the most dramatic in history, Clemente batted safely in each game as Pittsburgh took home their first title since 1924.

Clemente would come to define baseball in the 1960s alongside stars like Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays as he won the batting title four times and was named the National League MVP in 1966.

In his final start of the season on September 30, 1972 Clemente recorded his 3000th hit on a double in the 4th inning of a game against the New York Mets, becoming just the eleventh player in major league history to reach the lofty milestone. 

Tragically, it would be his last as his life was claimed in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve of that year, as Clemente was en route to Nicaragua to deliver aid for victims of a recent devastating earthquake. Roberto has been celebrated as much for his boundless enthusiasm for social equality and good deeds as for his bat, glove, or speed and made a difference through both words and actions throughout his life. A vocal supporter of equal rights, treatment, and respect in a time of substantial social turmoil, Clemente’s “more than an athlete” instincts have aged gracefully in a world where athletes play a more substantial role in societal change than ever.

Clemente is honored annually by MLB through the Roberto Clemente Award which recognizes players who best exemplify the game, sportsmanship, and community involvement. Each year on September 15th, teams around the league celebrate Roberto Clemente Day by supporting various charities and donning his famous “21” through jersey patches.

One of the first Latin American superstars in the sport, Roberto is second only to Albert Pujols all-time in WAR from a player born outside the United States. Clemente, alongside fellow Hall of Famers such as Minnie Miñoso, Luis Aparicio, and Juan Marichal, helped to introduce the American public to the talent rich players in Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic. In their wake all-time greats and current stars such as Pedro Martínez, Miguel Cabrera, and Ronald Acuña Jr. have followed. A significant tribute to his impact, the first All-Latino lineup in MLB history was fielded on Roberto Clemente Day in 2022.