The 1979 Topps baseball card set is considered by many collectors to be one of the more visually appealing designs from the 1970s. Produced during a transition period where the “modern era” of baseball cards had not yet quite fully emerged, the 1979 Topps set blended classic aesthetics with a few early innovations that pointed toward the future of the hobby. Now over 40 years old, the 1979 Topps cards have developed their own nostalgic appeal while still containing many rookie cards and other valuable pieces that maintain interest from collectors.
The set includes 792 total cards comprising all 26 Major League teams at the time. Notable rookies included Dave Stieb of the Blue Jays, Bucky Dent of the Yankees, Dan Quisenberry of the Royals, Ozzie Smith of the Cardinals, Donnie Moore of the Angels, and Joe Charboneau of the Indians, who would go on to win the American League Rookie of the Year award. The design featured a largely simple white border around each photo with team colors accenting the borders. Player names and positions were printed at the bottom in blue or red typefaces depending on the team. Statistics were given on the back along with a brief career summary.
While retaining conventional visual aspects collectors had come to expect, the 1979 Topps set began integrating little touches that point to the impending graphic modernizations of the coming decades. Close-up headshots were now the norm rather than full body poses of past years. Solid colors were popping up more prominent than they had been previously to complement uniforms. A transparent “Topps” logo watermark was subtly placed across each image rather than a solid block at the bottom. These small evolutions helped keep the cards feeling fresh despite sticking to a fairly standard framework.
Part of what makes the 1979 Topps set intriguing to both casual collectors and investors even today is the star power and future Hall of Famers it features. Some examples of highly valuable vintage cards from that year include a rookie card of Ozzie Smith currently grading near Mint condition selling for over $10,000. A Ken Griffey Sr. rookie that has seen around $3,000 in recent years. High-grade examples of a Dave Winfield or Eddie Murray rookie around $1,000 each as well. Even common cards of established stars like a Nolan Ryan can fetch $50-100 in top shapes thanks to his widespread popularity.
One card that commands attention like few others from the 1970s is the rookie of “The Kid” himself, Ken Griffey Jr. Coming off back-to-back Rookie of the Year awards in the 1980 and 1981 seasons with the Mariners, demand for Griffey’s first cardboard was already growing by the late 80s. In pristine Mint condition, a 1979 Topps Griffey Jr. rookie today can sell for astronomical sums ranging between $25,000 up to and sometimes exceeding $100,000 depending on auction. Even well-centered near Mint copies often trade hands for $5,000-10,000. Such a valuable piece makes picking through 1979 Topps sets in hopes of finding one an exciting possibility for collectors.
While the superstar rookie cards tend to suck up the spotlight, there is value to be found throughout the entire 1979 Topps set if premium quality and eyes for potential gems are applied. Team and player subsets that could yield finds worth hundreds to low thousands include the Yankees, Orioles, Dodgers, Reds, and Athletics teams of the late 1970s. Players like Rick Monday, Bobby Grich, Steve Garvey, Gary Carter, and Lou Brock maintained excellent careers making any sharp examples potentially valuable to hobbyists. Even veterans past their prime like Willie McCovey or Willie Stargell can gain interest from completists seeking high-grade older HOFers.
Of course, like all vintage sports cards, condition is king when it comes to 1979 Topps and the prices various cards can demand on today’s auction markets. While the designs and production materials of the late 1970s weren’t conducive to enduring decades perfectly intact, examples that have survived since in near pristine regards can become quite scarce. As such, they are highly prized by the collector community. Aside from superstar rookies, even more common cards found in near perfect shape can outperform their population percentages.
So in conclusion, while the 1979 Topps baseball card set doesn’t have quite the same first-issue cachet as some of its late 1950s/early 60s predecessors, it retains plenty of appeal and financially motivating pieces for enthusiasts of the collection hobby. Featuring both iconic players young and old plus subtle innovations to its classic aesthetic, the 1979 design has developed a loyal vintage following. With goldmine rookie cards, Hall of Fame veterans, and the potential for untouched condition surprises still existing after over 40 years, the 1979 Topps set makes for an intriguing investment prospect for savvy collectors today.
