I Tried to Make a CLE Topps Card HOF List...

[OscarOne]

Side collection is grabbing up all the Cleveland Topps base sets over the years. It's fun. Easy. Depressingly cheap.

Decided to try and figure out what a list of the very best CLE flagship cards are from 1952 until now. Figured using the PSA weights is not the stupidest strategy--then added a couple more for good measure. I ended up landing on any card with a +3 weight made the list...with a couple of exceptions.

If you think there are any glaring omissions, I would be interested in hearing them!

1976 Topps Dennis Eckersley #98 (10.0)
Rookie card.

1958 Topps #47 Roger Maris (7.0)
Rookie card.

1953 Topps #54 Bob Feller (6.0)
Not his rookie card–that is his 1948 Bowman.

1967 Topps Rocky Colavito #580 (6.0)
Not his rookie card–that is his 1958 Topps. But this is from the high-number series, consisting of cards #534 to #609. It also, I think, one of Colavito’s best-looking Topps cards.

1977 Topps Rookie Catchers #476 [Gary Alexander/Rick Cerone/Dale Murphy/Kevin Pasley] (5.5)
Dale Murphy’s rookie card. Murphy had a great 18-season career that included seven All-Star selections and two NL MVP.

1953 Topps #61 Early Wynn (5.0)
Not his rookie card–that is his 1951 Topps. But a great-looking card of a HOF player from an iconic set.

1953 Topps #23 Al Abner (5.0)
His career spanned six seasons, and he retired with a 24-25 record and 0.6 Wins Above Replacement (WAR). So nothing crazy. But this card is a short print.

1956 Topps #105 Al Smith (5.0)
Not his rookie card–that is his 1954 Topps. I am happy to see Al Smith here, though. Spent 15 seasons in the big leagues, including five great seasons with Cleveland from 1953-1957, where he had a 117 OPS+ and 10.9 WAR. In 1955, he placed third in the MVP vote.

1969 Topps Lee Maye #595 (5.0)
Not his rookie card–that is his 1960 Topps. However, this card is from the final series of high numbers (#589-664), which are considered to be the rarest in the set.

1963 Rookie Stars #466 [Nate Oliver/Tony Martinez/Jerry Robinson/Bill Freehan] (4.5)
Rookie card of Detroit Tigers great Bill Freehan, who was selected to 11 All-Star games during his 15-year career.

1973 Topps Rookie Outfielders #614 [Alonza Bumbry/Dwight Evans/Charlie Spikes] (4.5)
Rookie card of Boston Red Sox great Dwight Evans, who was a three-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove winner over his 20-year career.

1955 Topps #7 Jim Hegan (4.0)
Not his rookie card–that is his 1948 Leaf. Most older sets, like the 1948 Leaf, have had nice reprint sets produced, which is a way to fill in collection holes until I win the lottery. But…that is not the case with 1948 Leaf.

1955 Topps #24 Hal Newshouser (4.0)
Definitely not his rookie card—that was in 1941 Play Ball. Hal Newhouser spent 15 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, where he was a six-time All-Star, two-time MVP, and four-time 20-game winner—a résumé that earned him a place in the Hall of Fame. He wrapped up his career with two seasons in Cleveland, pitching out of the bullpen.

1956 Topps #85 Cleveland Indians (~4.0)
Team card from a club that went 88-66. The pitching staff was insane, with three 20-game winners, and overall, the team allowed the fewest runs scored in the league. While they had an above-average offense, so did most of the American League. Their 4.6 runs per game was a full run less than the Yankees (5.6).

1956 Topps #140 Herb Score (4.0)
Not his rookie card–that was his 1955 Topps. In 1956, Score won 20 games and led the league with 263 K’s. Let’s finish that story here and move on.

1956 Topps #200 Bob Feller (4.0)
Nice card of the Cleveland Hall of Fame pitcher.

1957 Topps #212 Rocky Colavito (4.0)
Nice card of the Cleveland fan favorite.

1963 Rookie Stars #228 [Max Alvis, Bob Bailey, Ed Kranepool, Pedro Oliva] (4.0)
Max Alvis spent nine seasons with Cleveland and had a solid career, finishing with a 97 OPS+, 8.3 WAR, and two All-Star selections. Sharing the card with him is another rookie, Pedo (Tony) Oliva, who had a slightly more decorated résumé: 15 seasons, eight All-Star selections, three batting titles, and a Hall of Fame induction.

1964 Topps Cleveland Indians Rookies #146 [Tommy John, Bob Chance] (4.0)
Rookie card of Tommy John. From 1963-1964, John pitched 114 innings (going 2-11) with Cleveland. In one of the more unfortunate trades in team history, he was used as part of a three-team deal to bring back a washed-up Rocky Colavito. Would win 286 games after leaving.

1966 Topps AL Batting Leaders #216 [Tony Oliva/Carl Yastrzemski/Vic Davalillo] (4.0)
Great card with two Hall of Famers.

1972 Topps Gaylord Perry #285 (4.0)
Not his rookie card–that is his 1962 Topps. Nice card of the Hall of Fame pitcher.

1963 Topps Cleveland Indians #451 (3.5)
This Cleveland team went 79-83. They were not a good team. This card is not classified as a short print, but it is part of the semi-high number series (cards #447–522), which are generally scarcer than the earlier series in the set.

1964 Topps Cleveland Indians Rookies #552 [Tom Kelly, Sonny Siebert] (3.5)
This card is not considered a short print. However, it is part of the high-number series (cards #523–589) in the 1964 Topps set, which are generally more challenging to find. Sonny Siebert was a very solid pitcher who spent 12 years in the majors, compiling a 140-114 record, a 110 ERA+, and two All-Star selections. Had he broken into the big leagues with a better club, he might be a more widely recognized name today.

1965 Topps #380 Rocky Colavito (3.5)
Nice card of the Cleveland great.

1973 Topps Gaylord Perry #400 (3.5)
Nice card of the Cleveland Hall of Fame pitcher.

1984 Topps Julio Franco #48 (3.0)
Honorable mention as the only 1980s Cleveland card weighing in above 1.0 — which, honestly, is depressing.

1990 Topps Albert Belle #283 (3.0)
Honorable mention for his first Cleveland Topps flagship card.

1992 Topps Manny Ramirez #156 (1.5)
Honorable mention for his first Cleveland Topps flagship card.

1992 Topps Jim Thome #768 (1.5)
Honorable mention for his first Cleveland Topps flagship card.

2014 Topps Jose Ramirez #424 (1.0)
Honorable mention for his first Cleveland Topps flagship card.

2015 Topps Update Francisco Lindor #US82 (1.0)
Honorable mention for his first Cleveland Topps flagship card.

2013 Topps Update Corey Kluber #US105 (1.0)
Honorable mention for his first Cleveland Topps flagship card.

2010 Topps Update Carlos Santana #US-330 (1.0)
Honorable mention for his first Cleveland Topps flagship card.

1989 Topps Major League Debut Albert Belle #14 (no score)
Honorable mention for his first Cleveland Topps flagship card.

2003 Topps #675 Brandon Phillips / Victor Martinez (no score)
Honorable mention for his first Cleveland Topps flagship card.

1997 Topps Bartolo Colon #386 (no score)
Honorable mention for his first Cleveland Topps flagship card.

[atk825]

1975 Frank Robinson. A rookie manager card of sorts. Especially for the Jackie Robinson of managers. Fun, colorful card of a great that comes in Topps, mini and OPC.

[OscarOne]

Originally Posted by atk825

1975 Frank Robinson. A rookie manager card of sorts. Especially for the Jackie Robinson of managers. Fun, colorful card of a great that comes in Topps, mini and OPC.

That is...perfect.

[goyder43]

1968 Mike Hegan
1976 Rick Manning

A couple of longtime broadcasters. Though Hegan in Yanks uni.

1969 Rookie Stars Ray Fosse / George Woodson

[goyder43]

1999 Topps Traded CC Sabathia
1999 Topps Traded Dave Roberts
2003 Topps Cliff Lee

[goyder43]

1958 Minnie Minoso
1968 Rookie Stars Lou Pinella / Richie Sscheinblum

[goyder43]

Just realizing you put HOF list. So definitely some of my suggestions won’t apply

[OscarOne]

Originally Posted by goyder43

Just realizing you put HOF list. So definitely some of my suggestions won’t apply

Didn't mean baseball HOF--just critical (Cleveland) Topps flagship cards.

[OscarOne]

Originally Posted by goyder43

1999 Topps Traded CC Sabathia
1999 Topps Traded Dave Roberts
2003 Topps Cliff Lee

Not sure why I didn't think of those. Good ones. Especially Sabathia.

[goyder43]

1992 Topps Traded Kenny Lofton
1989 Topps Traded Omar Vizquel

[goyder43]

1987 Topps Cory Snyder
1985 Topps Joe Carter
1987 Topps Traded Steve Carlton
1986 Topps Traded Phil Niekro

[goyder43]

1980 Topps Mike Hargrove
1991 Topps Traded Mike Hargrove MGR
1982 Topps Traded Rick Sutcliffe
1981 Topps Joe Charboneau

[goyder43]

1981 Topps Traded Bert Blyleven

[goyder43]

1972 Topps Chris Chambliss

[Skipscards]

Love the project. Here are some other prominent Indians to consider.

1952 Topps Bob Lemon
1952 Topps Larry Doby
1958 Topps Dick Williams
1960 Topps Joe Gordon
1962 Topps Indians Rookie Parade (Sam McDowell, Dick Radatz, etc RC)
1973 Topps Buddy Bell
1984 Topps Pat Tabler
1987 Topps Greg Swindell
1987 Topps Traded Steve Carlton
1987 Topps Phil Niekro
1989 Topps Terry Francona
1990 Topps Steve Olin
1994 Topps Traded Jack Morris (His final regular issue card)
1994 Topps Dennis Martinez
1995 Topps Dave Winfield (His final regular issue card)
2000 Topps Roberto Alomar (awesome card)

[SaveMeTheGum]

1965 Topps Luis Tiant !!!! (how did even Skip miss this one!)

I have a similar collection around the Red Sox -- so many great players that only played a few years with them -- so many to collect!

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1607322

[Skipscards]

Originally Posted by SaveMeTheGum

1965 Topps Luis Tiant !!!! (how did even Skip miss this one!)

I have a similar collection around the Red Sox -- so many great players that only played a few years with them -- so many to collect!

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1607322

Dang! Good catch. I really thought I was being thorough.

Though I should have also included Andre Thornton and Joe Carter.

[towerymt]

Originally Posted by OscarOne

1953 Topps #54 Bob Feller (6.0)
Not his rookie card–that is his 1948 Bowman.

Just a note: "Feller's 1948 Bowman card is considered his official rookie card in some circles as his earlier Goudey cards had a smaller availability nationally compared to the Bowman sets."
https://www.cardboardconnection.com/...baseball-cards

1967 Topps Rocky Colavito #580 (6.0)
Not his rookie card–that is his 1958 Topps.

*1957:

1957 Topps #212 Rocky Colavito (4.0)
Nice card of the Cleveland fan favorite.

[finfangfan]

Originally Posted by atk825

1975 Frank Robinson. A rookie manager card of sorts. Especially for the Jackie Robinson of managers. Fun, colorful card of a great that comes in Topps, mini and OPC.

I agree this is an amazing card. I collect Orioles retired jersey players and I have this one in my collection.



OP might also want to seek out the auto version of this card from the 2001 set….



In general, I think Frank Robinson cards are undervalued. Maybe because he played for quite a few different teams.

[Archangel1775]

This is a player I remember from the early 2000's. (Edited to Add: Didn't realize it was a HOF list)

2003 Topps Traded & Rookies Travis Hafner (1st Indians Topps card)


This guy too. Really popular in the hobby.



He was a really good player too. The first one is after the 1952 design. 2006 Topps 52'

[Archangel1775]

Here is one beast of a player.

[SaveMeTheGum]

Originally Posted by Archangel1775

This is a player I remember from the early 2000's. (Edited to Add: Didn't realize it was a HOF list)

2003 Topps Traded & Rookies Travis Hafner (1st Indians Topps card)

Pronk!!!!

[atk825]

Originally Posted by goyder43

1968 Mike Hegan
1976 Rick Manning

A couple of longtime broadcasters. Though Hegan in Yanks uni.

1969 Rookie Stars Ray Fosse / George Woodson

Duane Kuiper 1976 RC...would guess Kuiper ends up in the HOF as an announcer.

[atk825]

Originally Posted by finfangfan

I agree this is an amazing card. I collect Orioles retired jersey players and I have this one in my collection.



OP might also want to seek out the auto version of this card from the 2001 set….



In general, I think Frank Robinson cards are undervalued. Maybe because he played for quite a few different teams.

He's really only known for his time with two teams. And between being a 100 WAR player, a triple crown winner, two MVPs, one in each league, a WS MVP, 2 WS rings and being the first black manager, he's a pretty significant part of baseball history.

There's also his 1976 SSPC card (he had no Topps card despite playing that year), which features him in Cleveland.

[smanzari]

Nothing super expensive and not technically the Indians when he played so not sure if it qualifies for your list, but isn't 1973 Topps #477 Cy Young's first Topps card?