The 1979 Kellogg’s 3D baseball card series was arguably one of the most innovative promotions in the history of baseball card collecting. Marketed as “living baseball cards” due to their three-dimensional pop-out effect when opened, the 1979 Kellogg’s 3D baseball card set featured over 120 full-color cardboard cards featuring the biggest stars of Major League Baseball at the time.
To obtain the cards, cereal enthusiasts would have to clip box tops and proof of purchase seals from packages of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, and other Kellogg’s cereals. Box tops could then be mailed in along with $1 for postage and handling to receive a random assortment of 8 cards. Additional box tops could be redeemed for more cards as the collector completed sets featuring specific teams or the entire master checklist.
The 120 card checklist featured players from all 26 Major League Baseball teams of 1979. Each team was featured with a separate mini checklist containing the biggest stars and key players for that franchise. Some notable individual mini checklists included:
Atlanta Braves (7 cards): Dale Murphy, Jeff Burroughs, Andy Messersmith
Baltimore Orioles (6 cards): Eddie Murray, Ken Singleton, Jim Palmer
Boston Red Sox (6 cards): Carl Yastrzemski, Fred Lynn, Rick Burleson
Chicago Cubs (7 cards): Bill Buckner, Dave Kingman, Bruce Sutter
Chicago White Sox (6 cards): Greg Luzinski, Rich Gossage, Jorge Orta
Cincinnati Reds (6 cards): Joe Morgan, Dave Concepcion, Tom Seaver
Cleveland Indians (6 cards): Von Joshua, Dennis Eckersley, Rick Waits
Detroit Tigers (7 cards): Ron LeFlore, Lance Parrish, Jack Morris
Houston Astros (6 cards): Jose Cruz, Ken Forsch, Joe Niekro
Kansas City Royals (7 cards): Amos Otis, Hal McRae, Larry Gura
Los Angeles Dodgers (7 cards): Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Don Sutton
Milwaukee Brewers (6 cards): Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, Ted Simmons
Minnesota Twins (6 cards): Rod Carew, Lyman Bostock, Butch Wynegar
Montreal Expos (6 cards): Andre Dawson, Warren Cromartie, Steve Rogers
New York Mets (7 cards): Steve Henderson, John Stearns, Craig Swan
New York Yankees (7 cards): Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Ron Guidry
Oakland A’s (6 cards): Mike Norris, Vida Blue, Bill North
Philadelphia Phillies (7 cards): Pete Rose, Greg Luzinski, Larry Christenson
Pittsburgh Pirates (6 cards): Dave Parker, John Candelaria, Willie Stargell
San Diego Padres (6 cards): Dave Winfield, Ozzie Smith, Gaylord Perry
San Francisco Giants (6 cards): Jack Clark, Johns Montefusco, Johnnie LeMaster
St. Louis Cardinals (7 cards): Keith Hernandez, Garry Templeton, Lou Brock
Seattle Mariners (6 cards): Gaylord Perry, Rupert Jones, Tom Paciorek
Texas Rangers (6 cards): Bump Wills, Jon Matlack, Doc Medich
Toronto Blue Jays (5 cards): Alfredo Griffin, Roy Lee Jackson, Jerry Garvin
In addition to the team checklists, 11 “League Leaders” cards highlighted some of the top statistical performers of 1978 such as home run champion George Foster and batting champion Dave Parker. There were also 5 all-time great legends cards featuring Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Bob Gibson, Stan Musial, and Sandy Koufax.
Visually, each player card featured a vibrant full-color player photo and team logo on the front. The true 3D element came when the card was opened, revealing a three-dimensional mini stadium scene with that player’s likeness standing or posed within it. Scenes included home plate, the outfield, dugouts, and more. Statistics like batting average, home runs, and RBI from the previous season were also included on the back of each card along with a brief career recap.
While collecting the 1979 Kellogg’s 3D baseball card set offered an exciting new experience for fans, it also proved very challenging due to the large checklist size and random pack distribution. With over 120 different cards to collect and redeeming packages for just 8 random cards at a time, completion of full team sets or the master checklist required redeeming hundreds of cereal boxes. As a result, many of the cards from this innovative yet ambitious promotion have remained tough to find in high grade for collectors in modern times.
Despite the difficulties, the 1979 Kellogg’s 3D baseball cards hold a special nostalgia for those who grew up watching baseball in the late 1970s. They represented a cutting edge concept when originally distributed and remain a unique piece of sports card history three decades later. Though not the most accessible set to complete, examples that surface today still excite collectors with their retro yet vivid 3D designs honoring some of the biggest stars and moments from an exciting era in Major League Baseball. The 1979 Kellogg’s 3D cards truly were “living baseball cards” that brought the action of America’s pastime to life in three dimensions.
