Roberto Clemente

Market outlook

Rising Outlook 8/10

Vintage Clemente cards remain supported by Hall of Fame status, historic significance, and limited high-grade population; elite copies continue to set strong auction benchmarks.

Next months. Stable to mildly rising, especially for graded 7 and above if strong auction comps continue.

Long term. Likely to trend upward over 1-3 years, with the strongest appreciation expected in high-grade certified examples and eye-appeal premium copies.

History

Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) was a Hall of Fame right fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, celebrated for elite hitting, a famously strong throwing arm, and major humanitarian work; he became one of baseball’s most respected figures and a cultural icon, especially in Latin American baseball history.

First issued in the 1967 Topps Baseball set in the United States as card #400, released by Topps during the 1967 baseball card season.

• The card is commonly cataloged as 'Bob Clemente' on the front, reflecting Topps' use of Roberto Clemente's nickname.
• 1967 is considered one of Clemente’s key-era cards because it comes from the year he won the National League batting title with a .357 average.
• High-grade examples are strongly value-driven by centering and corner quality, with graded 10 copies extremely rare and historically commanding six-figure prices.

Rarity and print run

Tier

Common

Print run

Very High

First printed in

1967 Topps Baseball

Demand

Very High

Supply

Medium

• It is a base-card issue from a mass-produced flagship Topps set, so raw supply is substantial.
• Scarcity rises sharply in high grade because the card is often found off-center or with corner wear.
• graded 10 examples are exceptionally rare despite common-set origins.

Collector notes

Condition. Check centering first, then corners, edges, surface gloss, and print registration; common flaws include off-centering, corner wear, light surface scratches, wax/stain marks, and color loss on the dark borders.

Storage. Store in a penny sleeve plus rigid top loader or semi-rigid holder, keep in a cool dry environment, avoid sunlight and humidity, and use archival pages or boxes for long-term storage.

Authenticity. 1967 Topps cards should show period-correct paper stock, aging, printing texture, and vintage Topps design details; beware overly bright paper, modern gloss, incorrect font/layout, and suspiciously sharp edges on an otherwise old card. Graded encapsulation from a reputable service is the safest authentication route.