The 1979 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most valuable issues from the 1970s. With 712 total cards, the 1979 design featured a classic look that focused on photography with minimal borders. Several key rookie cards and Hall of Fame players made their debuts in this set that has stood the test of time in the collecting world.
Perhaps the most valuable and sought after card from 1979 Topps is the Rick Monday rookie card #1. As the very first card in the set, Monday’s rookie holds a prestigious slot and significant collector demand. In gem mint condition, a PSA 10 graded Monday rookie has sold for over $10,000 in recent years. Another highly valuable rookie is Vin Scully, who appeared on card #663 in his role as the Dodgers broadcaster. Only about 50 of these scarce Scully cards are known to exist, with PSA 10 examples reaching up to $2,500.
Hall of Fame players like Nolan Ryan and Steve Garvey also debuted in the 1979 set with their early career posing cards. Ryan’s #91 is particularly popular given his expressive photo and later accomplishments. Higher graded versions have sold for $1,000+. Garvey’s #295 remains one of his more aesthetically pleasing vintage cards too, valued around $300-400 in top condition.
The 1979 design highlighted star players through enlarged headshot photos on their respective cards. This made the rookie cards of Robin Yount (#41), Tim Raines (#265), and Ozzie Smith (#356) especially iconic. Even in lower grades, these key first Bowman issues command over $100 each. Raines remains one of the more affordable star rookies from the era, with a PSA 9 bringing $300-500.
Several other highly graded commons and more obscure short prints from ’79 Topps have also gained value among serious collectors. A PSA 10 of Dave Parker’s #138 action shot sells for $250-300. Nolan Ryan’s #560 “headlocked” variation is equally scarce and reaches $500 in gem mint. Other low-print variations like Ron Cey’s beardless photo on card #328 surpass $150 graded PSA/BGS 9-10.
As for the true short prints, few are rarer than Rickey Henderson’s #647 with additional “Baseball” text below the logo. Only about 5 of these are known to exist in pristine condition. In 2013, a PSA 10 “Baseball” Henderson shattered the record for a modern common card by auctioning for $21,000. The highest graded versions of other 1979 short prints like Bruce Bochy (#356), Bruce Hurst (#425), and Milt Thompson (#669) have also exceeded $1,000 sales.
When it comes to team/league leader variations in 1979 Topps, the Mike Schmidt is king. As NL home run leader, Schmidt appeared twice with different statistics listed on the back. Both variations are scarce, but the version with a misspelled “National” has just a handful of PSA 10 examples. One sold in 2018 for over $3,500. Other high-value leader variations include Dave Kingman as AL home run leader (#460) and Bobby Murcer as AL RBI leader (#536).
Beyond the star rookies and key variations, select 1979 commons have achieved considerable additional value through high quality preservation and grading over the decades. Cards like Dave Concepcion (#17), Dave Winfield (#32), and Dwight Evans (#161) routinely bring $150-250 each in PSA 10 condition due to their iconic photos and demand from set collectors. Completing a 1979 Topps master set in top grade presents an immense challenge, further adding to the desirability and investment potential long term for collectors.
The 1979 Topps baseball issue showed rookies and future Hall of Famers that have remained iconic over 40 years later. Short prints, statistical variations, and key stars attract collectors across all levels. Even thoroughly “picked over” by now, pristine examples from this classic design continue appreciating strongly based on rarity, condition, and nostalgia for a pivotal era in the sport. The 1979s established staples that ensured the future viability of the vintage market and memorably captured the best of 1970s on-card imagery.
