The 1978 Topps baseball card set holds a special place in the hearts of collectors as it came out during a transitional period for the hobby. While the 1970s saw the rise of serious card collecting as a mainstream pastime, 1978 marked one of the last true “junk wax” era sets before the spike in scarcity and prices of the late 1980s and onward.

Thanks to the large print runs of cards from the late 1970s, most 1978 Topps commons can be acquired fairly easily and cheaply. Hidden among the sea of readily available cards are a select few that have stood the test of time and maintained strong demand and valuations compared to their peers. Let’s take a look at some of the 1978 Topps cards that have proven to be the most valuable from the set over the decades since.

At the very top of the 1978 food chain sits the coveted Mickey Mantle rookie card. Of course, the Mick never had a true rookie card in Topps as he debuted in the early 1950s, well before Topps became the sports card behemoth. The 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle is widely considered his most iconic and valuable card. The 1978 version pays tribute to the Yankee great with a photo from later in his career, showing him in the midst of his powerful swing. Only about 50 PSA 10 Gem Mint examples are known to exist, commanding prices upwards of $100,000 when one crosses the auction block.

Another star Yankee from days past with a hugely valuable 1978 issue is Babe Ruth. Similar to Mantle, Ruth’s prime playing years predated the first Topps baseball cards of the 1950s. His 1952 Topps is regarded as his premier card, though the ‘78 shows an aged but smiling Bambino. Receiving the highest grade of PSA 10, it has reached over $50,000 at auction. Solid PSA 8 copies still bring $5,000+.

Staying in the realm of all-time greats, the 1978 Nolan Ryan is a card frequently cited as one of the most aesthetically pleasing from the entire set. It features a close-up action shot of the flamethrower windting up, with his Express jersey and intense stare capturing collectors. High-grade examples in the PSA 8-10 range will set you back $3,000-5,000 today. For a PSA 10 gem, be prepared to pay north of $10,000.

A 1978 card that truly exploded in value over the past decade is Ozzie Smith’s. Known as “The Wizard” for his otherworldly defensive skills at shortstop, Ozzie’s rookie card had mostly stayed under collectors’ radars for years. As his Hall of Fame induction brought renewed attention and younger generations entered the scene, demand grew exponentially. PSA 10s are now routinely priced above $15,000, with one setting an all-time record auction price of over $27,000 in January 2022. Even well-centered PSA 8s trade hands for $4,000+.

Though the three superstar Yankees and Nolan Ryan’s iconic card top most 1978 want lists, there are other singles that have shown immense appreciation over the long run as well. George Brett’s rookie ranks very high, with a PSA 10 going for $7,000. Ken Griffey Sr’s is another rarity that commands $3,000 PSA 10 due to his relation to Jr.

Some dark horse valuable cards from ‘78 include Don Baylor’s ($1,500 PSA 10), Ron Guidry’s ($1,000 PSA 10), and Joe Morgan’s ($750 PSA 10). Guidry and Morgan exemplify how factors beyond just being a star player can raise certain cards above the rest – Guidry for his breakout 1978 AL Cy Young season, and Morgan for having one of the sharpest action photos of the set.

While the glut of available common ‘78s means profit is difficult on baseline copies, there are clearly specific high-grade singles that hold true blue chip status. For serious collectors, hunting down pristine examples of Mantle, Ruth, Ryan, Smith, Brett, and others is where the 1978 Topps set really shines in today’s market. When it comes to the cards that have proven most resilient through changing tastes and times, this particular vintage delivers some true heavy hitters.