How did Roberto Clemente die?

On December 31, 1972, Clemente's cargo plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean shortly after takeoff from San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was delivering earthquake relief supplies to Nicaragua.

1955 Topps Roberto Clemente #164 Value Guide (2026)

Name: 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente #164 Rookie Card
Brand: Topps

Sports Cards

Roberto Clemente collected exactly 3,000 hits. Not 2,999. Not 3,001. Exactly 3,000 - as if he knew he was writing an ending. On December 31, 1972, he boarded a cargo plane in San Juan, Puerto Rico, loaded with relief supplies for earthquake victims in Nicaragua. The plane crashed into the ocean shortly after takeoff. Clemente was 38 years old. His 1955 Topps rookie card, #164, is one of the most emotionally significant cards in the hobby. In PSA 9, it's worth nearly $478,000.

Quick Value Summary


Item	1955 Topps Roberto Clemente #164
Year	1955
Category	Sports Cards - Baseball
Set	1955 Topps
Card Number	#164
Design	Horizontal format
Condition Range
PSA 2-3 (Good to VG)	$2,000 – $5,000
PSA 4-5 (VG-EX to EX)	$5,000 – $12,000
PSA 6 (EX-MT)	$15,000 – $25,000
PSA 7 (Near Mint)	$25,000 – $40,000
PSA 8 (NM-MT)	$100,000 – $200,000
PSA 9 (Mint)	$478,000+
Record Sale	$478,000+ (PSA 9)
Rarity	Common in low grades / Extremely Scarce in PSA 8+

The Story

Roberto Clemente arrived in Pittsburgh in 1955 as a 20-year-old from Carolina, Puerto Rico. He'd been selected by the Pirates in the Rule 5 Draft after spending one season in the Dodgers' farm system. Nobody knew what they were getting.

Over the next 18 seasons, Clemente became one of the greatest right fielders in baseball history. He won four National League batting titles. He was a 15-time All-Star. He won 12 Gold Glove Awards for his defensive brilliance - his arm was a weapon, and baserunners learned quickly not to test it. He was the 1966 NL MVP. He was the 1971 World Series MVP, carrying the Pirates to the championship with a performance that announced his greatness to a national audience that had overlooked him for too long.

Clemente was also the first Latin American superstar in Major League Baseball, and he navigated that path with pride and purpose in an era when Latin players faced significant prejudice. He spoke openly about discrimination and used his platform to advocate for his community.

On September 30, 1972, Clemente got his 3,000th hit - a double off the Mets' Jon Matlack. It would be his last regular-season at-bat. Three months later, on New Year's Eve, he boarded a DC-7 cargo plane at San Juan's airport. The plane was overloaded with relief supplies bound for earthquake-devastated Managua, Nicaragua. It crashed into the Atlantic Ocean moments after takeoff. Clemente's body was never recovered.

The Baseball Hall of Fame waived its five-year waiting period. Clemente was inducted in 1973, becoming the first Latin American player in the Hall. MLB's annual humanitarian award now bears his name.

How to Identify It

Key Visual Markers

Horizontal format - The 1955 Topps set uses a horizontal (landscape) orientation, unusual for baseball cards
Card #164 on the back
Young Clemente in Pittsburgh Pirates uniform
Color photograph with artistic background typical of 1955 Topps design
Standard card size (2 5/8" x 3 3/4")

Centering - The Critical Factor

The horizontal format of 1955 Topps cards creates severe centering challenges. Because the card is oriented sideways, both left-right and top-bottom centering can be off. This is the primary reason high-grade examples are so scarce - even cards with perfect surfaces and corners often fail on centering.

When evaluating centering, check all four borders. For a PSA 8 or higher, centering needs to be close to 50/50 on both axes.

Set Context

The 1955 Topps set also includes rookie cards of Sandy Koufax (#123) and Harmon Killebrew (#124). If you have a 1955 Topps Clemente, check the rest of your collection for these other valuable rookies from the same set.

Value by Condition

PSA Graded

Grade	Value
PSA 1 (Poor)	$1,000 – $2,000
PSA 2 (Good)	$2,000 – $3,500
PSA 3 (Very Good)	$3,500 – $5,000
PSA 4 (VG-EX)	$5,000 – $8,000
PSA 5 (Excellent)	$8,000 – $12,000
PSA 6 (EX-MT)	$15,000 – $25,000
PSA 7 (Near Mint)	$25,000 – $40,000
PSA 8 (NM-MT)	$100,000 – $200,000
PSA 9 (Mint)	$478,000+

The Sweet Spot: PSA 6-7

For most collectors, PSA 6 and PSA 7 copies offer the best combination of quality and value. These are nice-looking cards - sharp enough to display proudly - without the extreme premiums of PSA 8+. A PSA 6 at $15,000 to $25,000 or a PSA 7 at $25,000 to $40,000 is a strong collector piece.

Why PSA 8+ Is So Expensive

The 1955 Topps horizontal format is the enemy of high grades. Centering issues eliminate most candidates. Add 70 years of handling, storage, and rubber bands, and you get a tiny population of truly high-grade survivors. The jump from PSA 7 (~$30,000) to PSA 8 (~$150,000) reflects genuine scarcity.

Authentication & Fakes

What to Watch For

Trimming: Cards trimmed to improve centering or remove edge wear. Will measure smaller than standard dimensions. PSA checks this during grading.
Color enhancement: Faded cards with color added back to improve appearance. Detectable under UV light and magnification.
Re-backed cards: Cards with the original back replaced or repaired. Examine the back carefully for inconsistencies in card stock or printing.
Reprints: Various reprint sets have included the Clemente rookie. Reprints use different card stock and printing methods than the 1955 originals.

Professional Grading

For any copy worth more than a few hundred dollars, submit to PSA, BGS, or SGC for professional authentication and grading. The horizontal format makes the card particularly susceptible to condition issues that benefit from expert assessment.

Where to Sell

Lower Grades ($2,000–$10,000)

eBay - Strong market for vintage baseball cards
Heritage Auctions - Good for certified copies
Local card shows - Bring it graded for best results

Mid Grades ($10,000–$50,000)

Heritage Auctions - Leading auction house for vintage cards
Robert Edward Auctions (REA) - Specialist in pre-war and vintage material
Goldin Auctions - Active buyer base

High Grades ($100,000+)

Heritage or Goldin - Marquee auction platforms with global reach

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Common Questions

How much is a 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente rookie card worth?

From $1,000 for a PSA 1 to $478,000+ for a PSA 9. The sweet spot for most collectors is PSA 6-7, which runs $15,000 to $40,000. Even low-grade copies are valuable - this is a Hall of Famer's rookie card.

Why is this card so valuable?

Three factors: Clemente's incredible career (3,000 hits, 15 All-Star selections, Hall of Fame), his tragic and heroic death delivering earthquake relief, and the scarcity of high-grade copies due to the problematic horizontal format. It's one of the most emotionally resonant cards in the hobby.

Is centering really that important?

For this card, centering is everything at the higher grades. The horizontal format makes centering issues more common and more visible. A card with perfect corners and surfaces but poor centering might grade PSA 6 instead of PSA 8 - and that's a $100,000+ difference in value.

What else is valuable in the 1955 Topps set?

The set includes rookie cards of Sandy Koufax (#123) and Harmon Killebrew (#124), both Hall of Famers. The Koufax rookie is particularly valuable - PSA 8 copies sell for $50,000+. If you have one 1955 Topps card, check for others.

How did Clemente die?

On December 31, 1972, Clemente boarded a cargo plane in San Juan loaded with relief supplies for earthquake victims in Managua, Nicaragua. The overloaded DC-7 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean shortly after takeoff. Clemente and four others were killed. His body was never recovered. He was 38 years old.