The 1979 baseball card set was a pivotal year in the hobby. Stars like Nolan Ryan, George Brett, and Dave Parker were entering their primes while legends like Hank Aaron and Willie Mays were in their final seasons. The designs featured on the cards from Topps, Fleer, and Donruss were some of the most creative of the 1970s. Now over 40 years later, these vintage 79s hold significant value, especially when sent to Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) for independent grading.
Topps led the way in 1979 with their standard design of a headshot on the left and action photo on the right. The gray borders surrounding the images gave it a clean, classic look. One of the more notorious aspects of the set were the printing errors on some stars like Mike Schmidt and Steve Garvey, whose photos were flipped upside down!
While Topps reigned king as the largest baseball card company, Fleer broke through that year with their innovative card stock and centering focus close-ups instead of body shots. It was met with mixed reviews but helped launch Fleer as a serious competitor. They also included enticing uncorrected proofs and original artwork cards that added collector value.
Donruss ventured into the baseball card market strong as well in 1979. Known for crisp photos against a white backdrop, their designs had a simple elegance. The front captured the player while fun facts and stats populated the back. Donruss paralleled the quality and popularity of Topps in their inaugural baseball card printing.
The Condition Census is an important tool created by PSA to provide collectors context on the population reports for vintage cards in various grades. For example, the 1979 Topps Nolan Ryan PSA 10 POP is just 61 cards, showing how difficult and rare it is to achieve the absolute highest score of gem mint. Cards like that carry premium value today.
At PSA, all 1979 baseball cards undergo a meticulous authentication and grading process. First, authenticators inspect for telltale signs of doctored examples like trimmed borders or glued-on signatures. Then, graders assess each card across 5 criteria – centering, corners, edges, surface, and color/clarity – on a 1-10 scale. Only flawless specimens deemed in pristine “mint” condition achieve the coveted PSA 10 designation.
As the leading third-party grading service, PSA slabs establish pedigree, provenance and bring clarity to a marketplace that trades significant dollars. Their modern encapsulation technology also protects valuable vintage cardboard treasures for future generations to admire. Some highly regarded 1979 PSA graded gems include George Brett rookie PSA 8, Robin Yount rookie PSA 9, and Dave Parker PSA 10.
As vintage collectors pursue conditioned examples of their favorite stars, 1979 Topps, Fleer and Donruss baseball rookies have exploded in value over time. George Brett’s rookie selling for over $100,000 PSA 9 proves how far the hobby has come. But savvy investors know that lower graded common rookie cards from PSA 7 down still offer upside appreciation potential compared to pristine mint examples out of reach for most budgets.
Thick plastic-protected case shots found in online auction inventories make1979 graded baseball cards highly liquid, bankable assets as well. Eager collectors display prized key rookies and stars in display boxes to relive childhood memories or pass down family heirlooms. And investors turn to slabbed vintage paper as a reliable store of value superior to typical stocks, bonds, cash savings accounts over the long run.
Of course, not all highly regarded vintage 1979 cardboard gets sent to PSA – it would bankrupt the authentication company! Among ungraded examples still to be rediscovered in attics or basements include rare proof prints, artist signatures, or oddball promotions that bring huge finds. But PSA certification raises the integrity, universal respect and financial worth for vintage paper sports collectibles trading hands. It’s why savvy collectors target 1979 Topps, Fleer and Donruss stars with the iconic PSA brand for long-term portfolio pieces. The history and memories attached to graded vintage gems from the hobby’s golden age endure forever.
