The candidates for the 2024 Baseball Hall of Fame Classic Era ballot were recently announced, with eight players appearing on the ballot.
The names getting their chance at joining the Hall of Fame in 2025 include Dick Allen, Ken Boyer, John Donaldson, Steve Garvey, Dave Parker, Vic Harris, Tommy John and Luis Tiant.
Who might get elected is not yet clear, but one name stands out as someone whose Hall of Fame moment may have finally arrived, unfortunately, mere weeks after he passed away.
That is of course former hurler Luis Tiant. But who is Luis Tiant? What is his rookie card? And is Tiant’s rookie card worth adding to your collection? Let’s dive into the 1965 Topps Luis Tiant Rookie Card Guide.
Shop for 1965 Topps Luis Tiant Rookie Cards on eBay
Luis Tiant, nicknamed El Tiante, was a Cuban-born MLB pitcher whose career spanned 19 seasons from 1965-1982. He played for 6 teams during that time but is best known for his time with the Cleveland Indians (for who he played the first 8 years of his career) and the Boston Red Sox (who he pitched for 6 seasons).
The only child of Luis Tiant Sr., a Negro League pitcher, Tiant made his way to the US via Mexico and was unable to see family for 14 years due to tensions between the US and Cuba.
Tiant made his big-league debut for the Cleveland Indians in 1964 and quickly became a solid contributor. In 1968, the “Year of the Pitcher” he put up one of the best seasons ever, with a 21-9 record and a 1.60 ERA (186 ERA+).
After some injury issues, Tiant moved on to the Boston Red Sox where he put together a strong string of seasons, which saw him finish in the top 6 of the CY Young voting 3 times and help pitch the Red Sox to the 1975 World Series. Tiant continued to pitch productively into his late 30s and early 40s.
Tiant was an All-Star three times, won two ERA titles, and won 20+ games four times and led the league in shutouts three times. For his career, he was 229-172 with a 3.30 ERA (114 ERA+).
He was worth 66.1 WAR in his career. Tiant is surrounded on the list by several Hall of Famers, from Bob Feller (63.4) and Roy Halladay (64.2) to Ed Walsh (66.5), Don Sutton (66.7) and Don Drysdale (67.1).
Tiant debuted on the Hall of Fame ballot in 1988 and received 30.9% of the vote. Usually that strong of a debut number suggests a future inductee, but it ended up being Tiant’s high-water mark. He fell off the Hall of Fame ballot in 2002 and has appeared on several Veterans Committee ballots since.
Tiant will again appear on the Veterans ballot this year, which is bittersweet as he passed away on October 8, 2024, at the age of 83. His recent passing, plus decades of changing views of Tiant’s career value, suggest he may finally get elected this year.
It is unfortunate that as baseball fans will be denied the acceptance speech of the gregarious, larger-than-life Tiant. Regardless of when and if the Hall of Fame comes calling, Tiant has made his mark on the history of the game, as a cigar-chomping, entertaining personality who was a force on the mound.
His pitching for the Red Sox in the 1975 World Series, including the epic Carlton Fisk home run game, was among his many highlights.
Shop for 1965 Topps Luis Tiant Rookie Cards on eBay
Luis Tiant has his rookie card in the classic 1965 Topps set, on card #145 in the set. Unlike many rookie cards in the set, Tiant appears solo on his card, perhaps a nod to his strong debut in 1964.
The card has been graded a total of 1,065 times by PSA. That’s a surprisingly low number compared to other star and rookie cards from the set. For example, the Steve Carlton RC from the 1965 Topps set has been graded over 7,500 times, and the Joe Morgan RC over 5,000.
Of those PSA-graded copies, 5 copies are in PSA 10 slabs. The last sale of a PSA 10 was back in March of 2023 for just over $5,900. In PSA 9, there are more copies, but not a LOT more, with 48 copies. The last sale of a PSA 9 was for $1,675 back in December of 2023.
In a PSA 8, we finally see the population creep upwards, with 284 copies graded. In a PSA 8 slab, the only two recent sales were both for $860.
At a PSA 7 level, though, population counts stay low, but prices drop significantly. The total PSA population at that grade is 226, with recent comps in the $90-100 range. That feels like an incredibly reasonable price for a rookie card of a potential Hall of Famer who is approaching 60 years old.
In a PSA 6, where the population is under 180, the price drops to $50-60. In a PSA 5 slab, where the population is 110, they drop to $30-40. That’s “blaster money” for a rookie card in solid condition for the age of the card.
Tiant also appeared in the 1965 O-Pee-Chee set, also on card #145 in that set. The card has been graded only 33 times by PSA. That includes no PSA 10 examples and only two PSA 9s, and 8 PSA 8s. The only sale within the last four years is of a PSA 5 for around $40.
Shop for 1965 Topps Luis Tiant Rookie Cards on eBay
| Card | PSA Grade Pop | Recent Comp Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 Topps Luis Tiant RC #145 PSA 10 | PSA 10 = 5 | PSA 10 = $5,900 |
| 1965 Topps Luis Tiant RC #145 PSA 9 | PSA 9 = 48 | PSA 9 = $1,675 |
| 1965 Topps Luis Tiant RC #145 PSA 8 | PSA 8 = 284 | PSA 8 = $860 |
| 1965 Topps Luis Tiant RC #145 PSA 7 | PSA 7 = 226 | PSA 7 = $90-100 |
| 1965 Topps Luis Tiant RC #145 PSA 6 | PSA 6 = 179 | PSA 6 = $50-60 |
| 1965 Topps Luis Tiant RC #145 PSA 5 | PSA 5 = 110 | PSA 5 = $30-40 |
| 1965 O-Pee-Chee Luis Tiant RC #145 PSA | PSA 5 = 7 | PSA 5 = $40 |
Luis Tiant was an iconic pitcher who may finally be getting his Hall of Fame due. While his rookie card has always been respected and valuable, if he is elected to the Hall of Fame we can expect a temporary jump in value, with a new, higher floor once the initial bump subsides.
Regardless of whether he makes the Hall of Fame or not, it is a great vintage rookie card of an iconic pitcher, and well worth adding to your collection. In PSA 7 and below, it feels downright affordable, and the O-Pee-Chee version offers up an interesting alternative chase.
What are your thoughts on Luis Tiant’s rookie card? Do you own one? Covet one? Or do you prefer one of the over 850 other cards Tiant has appeared on since 1965? Tell us what’s on your mind at Cardlines on Twitter.
Shop for 1965 Topps Luis Tiant Rookie Cards on eBay
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