The 1977 baseball season was one of transition in Major League Baseball. New stars were emerging while legends of the 1960s were beginning to fade. This changing of the guard was reflected in the baseball cards produced that year as well. Several of the top rookies from 1977 and young stars on the rise had spectacular rookie or early career cards that have stood the test of time.
One of the most iconic and valuable baseball cards ever printed came out of the 1977 set – the George Brett rookie card. Brett had just finished third in American League Rookie of the Year voting after batting .282 with 17 home runs and 77 RBI for the Kansas City Royals in 1976. It was in 1977 when Brett truly announced himself as a superstar, batting .308 with 23 home runs and 102 RBI while leading the AL in hits. His rookie card captured Brett in the prime of his early career and is one of just a handful of cards to earn a true mint grade of Gem Mint 10. Even well-worn copies in good condition fetch thousands of dollars today.
Another rookie who had a breakout 1977 season and a coveted first card was Eddie Murray of the Baltimore Orioles. Murray won the AL Rookie of the Year award after batting .283 with 13 home runs and 71 RBI in his debut season. His sweet left-handed swing and slick fielding at first base marked the arrival of a surefire Hall of Famer. Murray’s rookie card remains one of the most iconic and valuable from the late 1970s era. Graded mint copies can sell for over $10,000.
While Brett and Murray had rookie cards, Nolan Ryan’s early career continued to gain momentum in 1977 despite playing for a struggling Angels team. Ryan led the AL with a 2.77 ERA and 301 strikeouts and appeared on the cusp of superstardom. His 1977 Topps card showed Ryan mid-windup, his long hair blowing as he geared up to fire another fastball. High-grade versions of this classic Nolan Ryan card can reach the $5,000 price point.
Two of the biggest stars of the 1970s saw their legendary careers begin to wind down in 1977 but still had iconic cards from the set. Reggie Jackson’s 1977 card featured him in a Baltimore Orioles uniform, his last season with the team before a trade to the New York Yankees. Meanwhile, one of the best pitchers of all time was immortalized on his 1977 Topps card as he entered his final season with the Cincinnati Reds – Tom Seaver. Both cards retain value as pieces of baseball history from two first-ballot Hall of Famers.
Rookies and young stars weren’t the only storylines of 1977. Veterans like Steve Garvey and Ron Cey helped lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to the NL pennant. Garvey’s 1977 card showed him in the midst of his hitting streak while Cey’s featured his smooth fielding at third base. The powerful Cincinnati Reds lineup was powered by future Hall of Famers Joe Morgan and Johnny Bench. Their 1977 cards highlighted Morgan’s speed and Bench’s rifle arm behind the plate.
While the 1977 Topps set had no shortages of stars both young and old, the rookie cards of Brett and Murray as well as the early career gems featuring Ryan, Seaver, and Jackson stand out as the most historically significant and valuable from the set over 45 years later. The transition period of the late 1970s is well represented by these cards, capturing the emergence of new superstars and the enduring greatness of those who would cement their legends in the years to follow. The 1977 Topps set ensured those pivotal seasons would be preserved in the memories of collectors for generations.
