The Top 10 Best Roberto Clemente Cards

When it comes to vintage baseball cards, the great Roberto Clemente resides in the inner circle of collectability. Who better to take us through 10 dream Clemente cards than Theo of the Clemente Collector YouTube channel. Here’s Theo:

I’m a Roberto Clemente super collector and I wanted to make a list of the Clemente cards that make me drool. You won’t see any base Topps cards on this list. These are 10 Clemente cards that most Clemente collectors dream about. The order isn’t solely based on scarcity, but also based on the card’s importance to the overall sports card hobby.

#10 – 1971 O-Pee-Chee

This is the one card on my list, that I’ll admit, is a homer pick! The 1971 Topps set is my favorite set of all-time and the Clemente card from the set is my favorite card of his. Beyond the color match of the set, and the iconic ‘71 Pirates uniforms, the photographer took an amazing photo of Clemente laying out the lumber! This was the first season in 3 Rivers Stadium for the Buccos. The iconic part of the ‘71 O-Pee-Chee set, is the yellow backs. Unlike the low numbers, that feature a floating head of the player, the high numbers have the same design as the American version. Don’t underestimate this card, it’s rare as PSA has only graded 75 total copies.

#9 – 1968 Bazooka

You can’t have a Clemente countdown without one Bazooka card on it! As easy as it would be to place a Bazooka box in this spot, I wanted to be true to the list and not include a full box as a card. The 1968 Bazooka set, is so iconic in my opinion. The narrow cards that sat on the gum’s side panel are so unique and cool. This image of Clemente, out in the field and ready to snag a fly ball is absolutely perfect. Clemente won 12 gold gloves in right field and far too often that isn’t seen on his cards. This hand cut card is very rare, with PSA only grading 29 individual cards.

#8 – 1969 Topps Super

Every Clemente collector knows that the 1969 Topps Super Clemente card is rare. This is the first Topps test issue card on the countdown. Although the image is also used on the ‘69 Topps card and ‘69 Topps Poster, it’s still a very desirable card. This is baseball’s first Topps Super set and just like the other ones they have rounded corners and are smaller than traditional Topps cards, and a lot smaller than the ‘70 and ‘71 Super versions. The card’s PSA pop is 146.

#7 – 1967 Topps Punch Outs

Another Topps test issue card on the countdown, is the 1967 Topps Punch Out cards. Clemente has two versions, a plain background and stadium background. The plain background is more scarce. This was a game designed by Topps and distributed in the Maryland area. The game instructions are on the backs of the cards. The player pictured at the front of the card is considered the “team captain.” This is near and dear to me, because as a kid growing up, we would create so many fun games with our baseball cards. PSA has only graded 7 with stadium background and 4 with the plain background.

#6 – 1967 Venezuela Topps

Not the most eye-appealing card of the countdown, but one of the rarest! The 1967 Venezuela Topps cards are the most scarce of any of the years Clemente was in the sets. The backs had a different design, than their American counterparts and were written in Spanish. Collecting the Venezuela Clemente cards is one of my favorite chases and this is the white whale. PSA has graded only 13 copies!

#5 – 1962 Sugardale Wieners

Sugardale followed Kahn’s lead and produced a Clemente card in 1962. It’s not the most eye-appealing baseball card, but they were inside packs of hot dogs for heaven’s sake! Because of that, you won’t find a high graded example of this card. Unlike a lot of the Kahn’s cards, the 62 Sugardale cards are a lot scarcer. When you see this one, it’s probably at a big auction house. This card has only 24 graded PSA examples.

#4 – 1962 Pittsburgh Exhibits

Not having this dream card of mine in the top 3 was very tough. I was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area and every single summer my family would go to Kennywood Park. Kennywood is a famous amusement park in the Pittsburgh area that has been open for over 100 years. At the park, they had a machine to buy Exhibit cards, but unlike the rest of the country, they had unique ones, exclusive to the park. As you see, the cards had a playing card design on the borders. As expected, with how exclusive these were, they are extremely scarce. PSA has graded 5 total examples!

#3 – 1967 Topps Stand-Up

The top 3 Clemente cards are all showstoppers, and the 1967 Stand-Up is no exception. This is the rarest card on the list and only card that was probably never distributed. The card has two versions: proof (uncut) and a die-cut version. It’s believed the 24-card proof set was never to leave the factory, but some have hit the market of each player. Imagine if the set did get released and you got a giant head of your favorite player in a one card pack! A guy can dream, right? The Clemente card has only had 3 copies graded by PSA.

#2 – 1958 Kahn’s Wieners

The 1958 Kahn’s Clemente card was a sleeping giant for many years, but now everyone that collects food issue cards is aware of it. The 1958 Kahn’s set is the most scarce of any Kahn’s set with Clemente present. The Kahn’s cards were a regional release, which is one of the major reasons for its scarcity. My favorite part of the card, is the back, which sounds ridiculous. But as shown above, it details Clemente’s special relationship with his mother and it really humanizes him, such a cool and unique touch to a historic card! PSA has graded 9 total copies.

#1 – 1968 Topps 3-D

Here it is, the granddaddy of them all! Not the rarest card in this countdown, but the most iconic! The 1968 Topps 3-D is the grail card of more Clemente collectors than any other card, and for good reason. The card first and foremost is bad ass, and super unique. The card is scarce, because it was a Topps test issue card with a limited release in a Brooklyn area store. It exists with 3 different backs – blank back (most common), black printed back and red back (rarest). The card looks way better in person, with the 3D effect Topps used for the first time. The card is normally in higher grade than most scarce cards from the period due to the rounded corners and thicker card stock. The PSA total population is 83 graded examples.

If you love collecting Clemente cards, like I do, please check out my YouTube Channel!