The 1972 Topps #309 Roberto Clemente represents the final card issued during the lifetime of the Pittsburgh Pirates icon, and this example has earned a superb PSA MINT 9 grade. Clemente entered 1972 fresh off his legendary performance in the 1971 World Series, where he hit .414, homered twice and was named Series MVP as the Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles in seven games.

The card features a smiling Clemente in Pirates home whites, tossing a ball in front of a packed stadium crowd. The colorful, psychedelic "tombstone" design of the 1972 set frames the image, with "Pirates" in bold arched lettering across the top. The reverse displays his complete batting record through 1971, including a .341 average that season and a career total of 2,882 hits, just 118 short of the 3,000-hit milestone he would reach that September.

Graded MINT 9 by PSA (Cert. #06525464), this example presents with sharp corners, vivid color and clean, bright borders. The 1972 Topps design, with its colorful borders that readily reveal wear, has always challenged collectors seeking high-grade examples, and PSA 9 copies of the Clemente are a true condition rarity.

Just months after collecting his 3,000th hit, Clemente was lost on December 31, 1972, while on a humanitarian mission to Nicaragua. This card stands as a lasting tribute to one of baseball's most beloved figures. PSA MINT 9.