The 1977 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic releases in the history of the hobby. While it may lack some of the star rookies and big names of other years, the 1977 Topps set stands out for its classic designs, fun theme, and several highly sought after cards. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the biggest standouts and most valuable from the 1977 Topps baseball card collection.
The cornerstone card and most revered in the entire set is the #55 Reggie Jackson card, featuring the slugger in his New York Yankees uniform from his historic 1977 season where he earned World Series MVP honors. Not only does this card perfectly capture “Mr. October” in the middle of his legendary run, but it also stands out for being one of the sharpest and most aesthetically pleasing artistic designs in the entire set. While many cards from the 70s have had aged poorly, the Jackson card maintains it’s crisp colors and layout that immediately catches the eye of collectors. Not surprisingly, high grade specimens of this iconic card can fetch thousands of dollars.
Another absolute standout from 1977 Topps is the #38 Nolan Ryan card, which pictures the flamethrower in mid-windup for the California Angels. As one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball history, Ryan cards from the 1970s are always in high demand. What makes this card so special is that it captures an action shot showing off Ryan’s intimidating delivery that contributed to his record 5,714 career strikeouts. With his Hall of Fame talents and the card featuring such a perfect moment in time, graded mint versions of this Ryan routinely sell for well over $1000.
Aside from superstars, one of the quirkiest and most sought after inserts in the set is the ‘Turkey Red’ parallel subset featuring 18 additional player cards printed entirely in red foil. These stunning red parallels immediately stand out in a collection and became some of the scarcest chase cards for collectors upon the set’s original release. The most valuable Turkey Red is argued to be #18 Reggie Jackson, whose scarlet shiny card takes on an entirely new appeal compared to the standard issue version. In high grades, this rare parallel can command prices upwards of $2000 due to its iconic player, striking design, and incredibly low original print run.
Another strong suit of 1977 Topps were its rookie cards, headlined by the debuts of future Hall of Famers Dave Parker, Jim Rice, and Rick Reuschel. Of these, the #636 Dave Parker rookie is perhaps the most visually compelling, showcasing the young outfielder striding confidently towards the plate in mid-swing. Parker went on to a stellar 21 year career and his rookie card remains one of the more coveted and valuable from the 1970s, with high grade specimens selling in the $500+ range. Not to be outdone, the #654 Jim Rice rookie card also features a closeup action shot and tends to hover in the $300-400 range for top conditioned copies, as Rice himself was one of the game’s most feared sluggers through the late 70s and 80s.
Beyond starring rookie cards and inserts, 1977 Topps also introduced fun aesthetic themes that gave each card a unique pop. Among these was the ‘Cards in Action’ photographic inserts peppered throughout the base set. These featured larger action shots breaking out of the traditional baseball card borders. Two of the most wildly popular from this subset are #19 Nolan Ryan’s windmill windup and #81 Mike Schmidt’s epic follow-through on a mammoth home run swing. Even run-of-the-mill examples of these dramatic snapshot cards bring a premium, as they capture each superstar legend in their element perfecting skills that would cement their Hall of Fame legacies.
While star power and chase cards receive top billing, average Joe collectors also appreciate more attainable key cards that are fun for team and player collection building. For National League fans, the #59 Chicago Cubs checklist card that lists the entire 1977 North Side roster brings affordable Cubs nostalgia. Likewise, the #162 inaugural Seattle Mariners team card commemorating the exciting expansion franchise’s first season is an budget-friendly civic pride pickup.
In summarizing, while it lacks marquee rookies of other years, the 1977 Topps baseball card set endures as a certified classic among collectors thanks to iconic photography, fun inserts like Turkey Reds, exciting rookie debuts, and legendary moments captured of future Cooperstown honorees. Whether seeking franchise heritage pieces, star studded headliners, or just overall vintage cardboard charms – the 1977 collection has enduring appeal that makes it a benchmark year for the hobby. Properly maintained high grade examples of its best cards will surely retain and grow in value as one of the most aesthetically beautiful and historically significant annual issues from the golden era of baseball cards.
