The Dugout│Most Valuable Roberto Clemente Cards

Two-time World Series winner Roberto Clemente has some of the most sought-after cards in the sports collectibles circle. A mint condition Roberto Clemente card is a fantastic collectible that doubles as a solid alternative investment asset.

Roberto Clemente Walker was born on August 18, 1934, in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The baseball icon had made his way in Puerto Rico before making it to the big leagues in 1954. Clemente went pro after signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers for a $10,000 bonus.

Unfortunately, Clemente lost his opportunity with the Dodgers over contract stipulations, but soon found his calling with the Pittsburgh Pirates and, finally, made his Major League debut in 1955.

Roberto Clemente’s shot at the big leagues gave him the boost he needed. He immediately showed just what a talented athlete he was, winning twelve Gold Gloves and four National League batting titles.

Among his accolades are a lifetime average of .317, 3000 base hits, a National League MVP title, and being the first Latin American to win the World Series at a starting position. Clemente eventually became a two-time World Series champion.

Roberto Clemente baseball cards have been making their way to collectors’ shelves since his Major League debut in 1955. A mint condition Roberto Clemente baseball card could go for hundreds of thousands of dollars, like the 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente #164, a PSA 10 copy of which is valued at over $400,000.

Roberto Clemente baseball cards are not only a collector’s item, but also a memorial for fans mourning his untimely passing. Clemente died in a plane crash while traveling to Nicaragua for a humanitarian mission in 1972.

• Price Range: $167 to $43,000
• Highest Sale Price: $43,200
• PSA 10 Supply: 1
• Brand: Topps

Although Roberto Clemente baseball cards from 1955 to 1959 are the most coveted, the 1961 Topps Clemente #388 card is sought after because its release marked the peak of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates—off the heels of numerous home runs and glorious victories.

This portrait-style sports card shows a determined look on Clemente’s face. A rare one-of-a-kind PSA 10 card went for $43,200 at a Memory Lane auction in May 2018, cementing Clemente’s star power and solidifying his cards as valuable high-ticket collectibles.

• Price Range: $350 to $60,000
• Highest Sale Price: $113,731
• PSA 9 Supply: 7
• Brand: Topps

The 1958 Topps Roberto Clemente #52 is among the rarest cards of the Latin American baseball superstar. The beautiful yellow background gives a perfect silhouette of Clemente's swing, but the “Pittsburgh Pirates” printed at the bottom right being is yellow lettering rather than the traditional white. 

This simple color variation turned the card an instant collector’s item, making it a scarce piece that's coveted by collectors.

• Price Range: $850 to $38,500
• Highest Sale Price: $33,600
• PSA 9 Supply: 18
• Brand: Topps

The 1956 Topps Roberto Clemente #33 is another card that's special for its color. This one has two variants: a gray back card and a white back card. But the white back card is the best one to go after if you're looking for the highest investment potential given the previous prices it's fetched.

• Price Range: $500 to $7,700
• Highest Sale Price: $10,278
• PSA 10 Supply: 1
• Brand: Topps

The 1957 Topps Roberto Clemente #76 baseball card is famous, but perhaps for the wrong reason. The Topps Bob Clemente #76 card was the first to call him “Bob” instead of Roberto. Apparently, this upset Roberto a lot, who liked to be called by his full Puerto Rican name.

Regardless of how it made Clemente feel, this card may appeal to collectors as an oddball piece with a unique backstory, thus making it worth money.

• Price Range: $7,100 to $792,000
• Highest Sale Price: $1,107,000
• PSA 10 Supply: 1
• Brand: Topps

The 1964 Topps Roberto Clemente #164 card ranks no. 1 for being his official major league rookie card. Rookie cards are traditionally more valuable than a player’s later cards since they mark their debut, and this is especially true for legends like Clemente. 

The horizontal card illustrates Clemente in his glory, with a portrait in the background and a full-body shot of him ready to swing for the fences in the foreground. The 1964 Topps #164 is the most expensive Roberto Clemente card on this list—but in an unusual twist, the card which fetched the highest price wasn’t even a PSA 10.

At Goldin’s winter auction in March 2021, a 1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente rookie card graded PSA 9 fetched an astounding $1.107 million. That is the most a Roberto Clemente card has ever sold for. 

For comparison, here are five past 1955 Topps #164 card sales that are runners-up for the most expensive Clemente card ever sold:

As far as alternative investments go, baseball cards rank among the best because they’re easy to get appraised, they rarely lose value over time, and they appeal to a broad base of collectors and investors.

In 2021, eBay reported that trading card transactions skyrocketed by 142% from 2020. Whether it was due to more free time or greater disposable income during the pandemic, it certainly helped the baseball card hobby. For example, in 2022, a 1952 Mickey Mantle #311 graded SGC 9.5 sold for a record-breaking $12.6 million at Heritage Auctions.