The 1978 Topps baseball card set was issued during an important transitional year for the hobby. While baseball cards were still primarily collected by children at the time, the late 1970s represented the dawn of the modern baseball card collecting era dominated by adults.
Some key things were happening in 1978 that help explain the set’s significance. The population of baby boomers were reaching adulthood and many started actively collecting the cards from their youth. Also, some of the first large baseball card conventions and shows started in this period, showing the blossoming of passionate adult collectors.
Topps released their regular 585 card baseball set in 1978 as they had annually since 1952. Some notable rookie cards included Don Mattingly, Ozzie Smith, and Jay Howell. Stars of the era like Reggie Jackson, Johnny Bench and Ron Guidry also had prominent cards in the set.
Aside from the base cards, the 1978 Topps set included several insert sets. An All-Star card subset included 25 additional cards highlighting the top players from the 1977 midsummer classic. There was also a separate 13 card League Leader subset recognizing statistical champions from the previous season.
For collectors of the time, one of the most interesting aspects of the 1978 Topps issue was the inclusion of black bordered cards numbered 586-591. These were released to make up for errors and variations found in the original release. Known as “bonus” cards today, they have since taken on greater significance as chase cards for completionists.
The late 1970s also saw a boom in production of parallel Topps sets beyond the traditional red backing. In 1978, Topps released baseball cards aimed specifically at the burgeoning hockey and football sports card categories. This included a 792 card Topps Hockey set and 660 card Topps Football collection issued alongside the main baseball offering.
In terms of design and production values, the 1978 Topps baseball cards had a very distinct and recognizable look. The bright solid colored borders were a departure from the woodgrain frames of the previous several years. The team logo appeared more prominently above the player’s name.
The photography and action shots showcased on many of the cards also helped make the 1978 set memorable. Examples include Rick Burleson’s catch for the Red Sox and Milt May stealing for the White Sox. Some of the photos themselves were a bit grainy compared to later sharp imaging technology improvements in subsequent decades.
The back of each 1978 Topps card featured the standard player statistics and brief career highlights. An interesting footnote was included for a handful of players acknowledging they were no longer in affiliated MLB organizations. This provided a little context about marginal former major leaguers trying to continue their careers in independent ball.
In the years since its original release, the 1978 Topps baseball set has grown in popularity with collectors. Rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Mattingly and Smith are greatly sought after. The extensive variations of error cards and parallels also add to the set’s scope for completionists. Prices have appreciated strongly from the original direct marketing costs in the late 1970s.
While not quite as iconic or valuable as some predecessor or successor years, the 1978 Topps issue marked an essential period of transition. It blended the childhood aspects of the earlier post-war era with the seeds of the more serious adult collecting phase that would dominate in following decades. For both casual fans of the time and interested modern collectors, it remains an enjoyable representative set from baseball’s late 70s period.
