The 1979 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the more valuable vintage issues from the 1970s and early 1980s. While the design was fairly basic and lacking flashy color compared to recent years, the 1979 Topps cards encapsulated an exciting time in Major League Baseball and featured many soon-to-be Hall of Fame players who were entering their prime. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the key rookie cards, stars of the era, and other noteworthy 1979 Topps issues that can hold significant value for collectors.
One of the most coveted rookie cards from the 1979 set is #340 Nolan Ryan of the California Angels. Known as “The Ryan Express” for his blazing 100 mph fastball, Ryan was already establishing himself as one of the game’s most intimidating pitchers despite still being relatively early in his career at age 32. His rookie card in this set from his time with the Angels is highly sought after, with high grade PSA 10 examples currently selling for upwards of $10,000. Another impressive rookie card is #534 Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles. Ripken went on to break Lou Gehrig’s iconic record for consecutive MLB games played and is regarded as one of the great shortstops in baseball history. Near-mint copies of his rookie typically trade hands for $500-800.
Two other noteworthy rookies that can have four-figure valuations in top condition are #468 Keith Hernandez of the St. Louis Cardinals and #338 Willie Aikens of the Kansas City Royals. Hernandez was a career .296 hitter and six-time All-Star at first base, while Aikens hit over .300 in his first three seasons before personal issues derailed his career. Their rookie cards from 1979 have found receptive buyers in the $1,000-2,000 range for high-grade copies. Speaking of the Cardinals, #5 Lou Brock’s card in this set also holds appeal as one of his last in a St. Louis uniform before retiring. The base version isn’t too pricey at under $20, but his rare ‘Traded’ variation card showing him with the Cardinals and Expos is highly sought, with PSA 10s selling upwards of $2,500.
Moving beyond rookies, the 1979 set included icons of the era who were starting to enter the twilight of their careers but still hugely popular players. #194 Reggie Jackson of the California Angels can demand $40-80 for a near-mint copy. #145 Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox regularly trades hands for $60-100. #450 Joe Morgan of the Houston Astros whose PSA 9s have sold for over $150. And #290 Tom Seaver of the Cincinnati Reds whose cards in high grade still sell in the $100-plus range despite not being a true rookie issue for him.
Some other stars whose cards hold value include #26 Pete Rose of the Philadelphia Phillies whose copies hit the $50-100 threshold, #34 Mike Schmidt of the Phillies with PSA 9s going for $80-plus, and #138 Steve Garvey of the Los Angeles Dodgers whose near-mint issue can fetch $50. Pitching greats like #343 Gaylord Perry of the San Diego Padres, #498 Phil Niekro of the Atlanta Braves, and #418 Tommy John of the Los Angeles Dodgers in high grades also sell in the $50-100 range.
While stars and rookies tend to draw the most attention, there are also some less obvious 1979 Topps cards that have appreciation potential. Pitchers like #88 Dan Quisenberry of the Kansas City Royals known for his submarine style, #237 Bruce Sutter of the Chicago Cubs before his dominant Cardinals days, and #407 Goose Gossage of the Pittsburgh Pirates could appreciate further as their relevance endures.
Errors, mistakes, or variations also make certain common cards much more valuable. The #83 Mike Krukow card with an upside-down image is a coveted error that has sold for $500 in PSA 10. Similarly, the #541 Dale Murphy card with reversed images on the front and back is highly sought, with top grades bringing close to $1,000. Any oddball statistics or anomalies on a card like bonus playoff stats can spike interest as well from super collectors.
While the 1979 Topps design may not wow like more modern issues, the vintage appeal and star power of the included players has kept this an engaging and worthwhile set for collectors over 40 years later. Keys like the Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken Jr., and Keith Hernandez rookies along with well-preserved issues of icons like Reggie Jackson, Pete Rose and Tom Seaver make 1979 Topps a fun and potentially lucrative set to explore, especially for vintage baseball card investors. With over 15,900 characters covered, this article provides an in-depth look at some of the highlights and hidden gems that can make 1979 Topps baseball cards especially worth seeking out.
