The 1979 O-Pee-Chee baseball card set is considered one of the more iconic card issues from the 1970s. While it lacks some of the star power and rookie cards of previous years, the 1979 set holds significance as the second to last O-Pee-Chee printed during the “golden age” of baseball cards prior to the surge of licensing deals in the 1980s that changed the baseball card industry forever. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key details and valuations for individual cards from the 1979 O-Pee-Chee set.
Released in the spring of 1979 by O-Pee-Chee, the Canadian subsidiary of Topps, the set features 652 player and manager cards plus additional checklist, record, and manager cards for a total of 660 cards. The design is largely similar to O-Pee-Chee releases from the mid-1970s, with a colorful team logo at the top, action photo of the player, and stats and brief biography on the back. Some notable rookie cards in the set include Rod Carew’s final year, Robin Yount, Dave Parker, and Ron Guidry in one of his best seasons. Many of the game’s biggest stars like Reggie Jackson, Mike Schmidt, and Nolan Ryan had already appeared in previous sets weakening the star power just a bit compared to the 1970s.
In well-centered, near mint condition, common players from the 1979 O-Pee-Chee set typically sell for $1-3. There are always exceptions. Future Hall of Famers like Rod Carew (#1), Robin Yount (#77), Dave Parker (#151) and Ron Guidry (#424) have more demand due to their status and can usually fetch $5-15 each in top-graded condition, if not more for truly pristine “gem mint” copies. Probably the most valuable “common” card is that of Dennis Eckersley (#284). As one of the game’s greatest relief pitchers, there is strong nostalgia for Eck from his playing days with both the Red Sox and A’s. Near mint and gem mint copies can reach $20-40 each.
Some other notables with higher values include Nolan Ryan’s final year with the Angels (#32). Even though it is near the end of his career, collectors are always seeking out “final year” cards of legends. His ’79 card averages around $15-30. Another power pitcher with solid demand is J.R. Richard (#468) of the Astros. Prior to his near fatal stroke in 1980, Richard was dominating MLB with a blazing fastball. Mint copies can reach $25-50 due to his tragic career cut short.Dave Winfield’s first year with the Yankees is featured in card #544. Even though Winfield had several rookie cards in previous years with other teams, his Yankees debut holds nostalgia. Near mint copies sell around $10-25.
Two of the biggest “chase” cards that can provide a real payday if pulled from a pack or obtained raw are #1 Rod Carew and #77 Robin Yount. Carew battled and won his 7th batting title in 1979 hitting .333, while 21-year old Yount smacked 33 homers and drove in 100 runs earning his first All-Star nod. Both are well on their way to the Hall of Fame at this point in their careers. In pristine gem mint 10 condition, their rookie stars command $300-500 each, but more commonly grade at $75-150 in near mint to mint condition.
There are also several stars featured in their early years like #95 Nolan Ryan (Astros), #235 Mike Schmidt (Phillies), and #490 Cal Ripken Jr. (Orioles) that attract premium collector attention despite being reprints of previously released cards from earlier in the decade. Near mint examples can range from $20-80 depending on demand and grading. Ozzie Smith’s rookie card (#476) is also pursued as he was beginning to establish himself as a defensive wizard.
For the very rare 1979 O-Pee-Chee card varieties beyond simple condition, the biggest keys are errors, omissions and variations. A very scarce error print of Leon Roberts (#597) without a team name fetches thousands in pristine condition. The uncorrected proofs of Mike Schmidt (#235) and Bobby Grich (#397) numbering in the single digits are valuable prospects at auction in the $1,000-3,000 range. But the true “crown jewel” variation is the super short print Darrell Porter (#453) card misprinted without a team logo on the front. Only a handful are confirmed to exist and one in pristine condition sold at auction in 2019 for over $15,000, marking one of the most valuable singles from the entire set.
As one of the latter great vintage 1970s issues with a mix of stars, key rookies, and defining moments for future legends, the 1979 O-Pee-Chee baseball set resonates strongly with collectors today. While unlikely to produce cards with true “investment grade” potential outside the variations and errors, the abundance of All-Stars and pivotal players at varied career stages gives the set a broad and colorful historical perspective for both casual fans and serious card collectors alike. With patience and a watchful eye at card shows and auctions, builders of this classic 700+ card roster can still find reasonably priced copies of even the biggest names to add depth and nostalgia to their collections for years to come.
