The 1979 baseball card season produced several valuable and desirable rookie cards that are highly sought after by collectors today. While the value of any individual card depends on its condition and grade, there are a handful of 1979 rookie cards that generally hold strong value in the collecting market. The 1979 season came at a interesting time for the baseball card industry, as it was right before the peak of the junk wax era in the late 1980s that flooded the market with mass produced cards of lesser quality and scarcity.
Some of the most notable and potentially valuable 1979 rookie cards include Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies, Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees, and Robin Yount of the Milwaukee Brewers. Mike Schmidt is considered one of the greatest third basemen of all time, winning 10 Gold Glove awards and 3 NL MVP awards over his career. His 1979 Topps rookie card in near mint to mint condition could fetch $200-400 or more in today’s market. Don Mattingly is still revered as one of the best hitting first basemen of the 1980s for the Yankees, winning an AL MVP award in 1985. In high grades his 1979 Topps rookie card holds value of $150-300. Robin Yount also had a superb Hall of Fame career primarily with the Brewers, winning two AL MVP awards. Near mint to mint copies of his 1979 Topps rookie can sell for $100-250.
A few other key 1979 rookie cards that bring strong prices depending on condition include Keith Hernandez of the St. Louis Cardinals, Tim Raines of the Montreal Expos, Ozzie Smith of the Cardinals, and Dave Steib of the Boston Red Sox. Hernandez won two World Series titles including one with the 1982 Cardinals and multiple Gold Gloves at first base, making his 1979 Topps RC very sought after at $75-150 in top shape. Tim Raines was one of the fastest baserunners of the 1980s and still holds the all-time stolen bases record for left fielders. Near mint Raines rookie cards sell for around $75-150 as well. Ozzie Smith, nicknamed “The Wizard” for his flashy defensive skills at shortstop that earned him 13 straight Gold Gloves, has a 1979 Topps RC valued at $50-100 in top condition. Dave Stieb’s card draws interest since he was the #1 overall draft pick that year by the Red Sox, but only relatively brief major league career limits it to $25-50 range.
Beyond the star rookie cards, many of the common players from the 1979 Topps set can still hold value depending on the player featured and grading. Near-complete or complete 1979 Topps sets in high grades are still sought after and can sell anywhere from $150-$500, and sometimes upwards of $1000 for true mint condition sets. Notablestars from the 1979 season like Joe Morgan, Nolan Ryan,Dave Winfield,Ted Simmons,Steve Garvey, and others that are in excellent shape can range from $10-$30 each depending on the player pedigree. Even some of the less starry common cards from that year hold a couple dollar value if in pristine condition due to their limited surviving population.
Beyond the flagship Topps set, other 1979 card products like the Fleer and Donruss brands saw smaller print runs and featured different image rights. The 1979 Fleer set, which only featured 86 player cards compared to the much larger Topps release, has become quite valuable especially for the bigger star players. Near mint versions of rookie cards like Keith Hernandez, Robin Yount or Willie Aikens from the scarce Fleer set can demand $50-150 each. The even rarer Laughlin/Danbury Mint release is one of the most desired oddball sets from the 1970s if complete copies surface in top condition.
When assessing the value of any 1979 baseball cards, there are a few key factors to examine besides just the name on the front. First and foremost is the card’s state of preservation or grade. Heavily worn or damaged 1979 cards typically only hold a few dollars of value regardless of the player. Near mint to mint condition copies are what fetch the higher prices. Other things that can affect value are any defects like bent corners, stains or printing issues. The card’s scarcity in high grades over time also plays a role, as stars like Schmidt and Mattingly command top dollar due to fewer pristine specimens surviving 40+ years later. Another factor is how the player’s career and legend have grown since 1979 – a relatively short career can limit a rookie card versus a Hall of Famer. But in the best cases, the star power and condition can make certain 1979 rookie cards quite valuable investments for patient collectors even decades later.
While common 1979 cards have very little monetary worth, there are still a select few true star rookie and key player cards from that season that can retain considerable collector value based on demand and their limited surviving populations in the highest grades. Names like Mike Schmidt, Don Mattingly, Robin Yount, Keith Hernandez and Tim Raines headline the key desirable 1979 rookies that often sell for $100+ in top condition today. Beyond the select star cards, high grade complete 1979 sets or individualNear mint stars from the flagship Topps set provide collectors and investors unique options to profitably “dip a toe” into this very collectible pre-boom vintage cardboard era. With its proximity to the industry’s heyday and myriad star players featured, 1979 remains an annually that produces worthwhile pieces for savvy sports memorabilia connoisseurs.
