The 1979 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable series in the hobby. Produced at the height of 1970s baseball nostalgia during a time before massive print runs devalued modern cards, several key 1979s hold immense value for collectors even decades later. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most coveted and costly cards from the 1979 Topps set.
Beginning the list is arguably the most famous and sought-after baseball card of all-time, the 1979 Topps Mickey Mantle #306 rookie card. Often referred to simply as the “Mantle Rookie,” only an estimated 50-100 PSA 10 Gem Mint examples are known to exist in a set with a print run in the billions. Graded PSA 10 copies routinely sell for well over $100,000 at auction. Even lower graded examples still demand five-figure sums due to Mantle’s legendary status as one of the all-time Yankees and baseball greats.
The ’79 Topps Ozzie Smith #549 rookie card is undoubtedly the greatest defensive shortstop in MLB history and one of the premier players of the 1980s. In PSA 10 condition, it has sold for as much as $32,000 in recent years. Even well-centered PSA 9s still bring around $5,000 due to Smith’s longtime popularity and iconic defensive skills at a premium position. The card is one of just a handful from the ’79 set to maintain significant four-digit values regardless of grade.
Another vital rookie card from 1979 is that of Hall of Famer and six-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens. Clemens’ dominant pitching career lead to immense popularity and demand for his #190 Topps rookie over the decades. PSA 10 examples have reached $15,000, with raw or low-graded copies still worth over $1,000 for collectors due to his marquee stats and lengthy tenure dominating MLB through the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Continuing with rookie cards of future Hall of Famers, Nolan Ryan’s #106 is also a key piece from the ’79 Topps set. Known for his record seven no-hitters and blazing fastball that intimidated hitters for 27 seasons, Ryan was already carving out his legend in 1979. PSA 10 copies have topped $10,000, with other high grades also maintaining four-figure value levels due to his iconic career achievements on the mound.
Dave Winfield’s #93 rookie with the San Diego Padres also retains strong demand due to his Hall of Fame career that included 3,110 hits and an American League Triple Crown in 1990. High graded PSA 10 examples are approaching the $5,000 mark in today’s market. But even lower grades still trade for over $1,000 for his first card immortalizing his early years dominating for perennial west coast contenders.
Moving down the value scale but still maintaining substantial prominence are the rookie cards of Hall of Famers Dale Murphy (#146), Eddie Murray (#175) and Ryne Sandberg (#569). Murphy’s breakout 1982 NL MVP season cemented him as a fan-favorite, with high-grade rookie PSA 10s worth $2,000-3,000 in today’s market. Meanwhile Murray and Sandberg’s rookie cards have reached the $1,500-2,000 range raw or PSA 9 due to their sustained excellence throughout the 1980s and beyond.
Last but certainly not least amongst the ulta-valuable 1979 Topps cards is Joe Morgan’s timeworn #529. While not a true rookie card, Morgan achieved beyond Cooperstown-worthy stats while leading the Big Red Machine era Reds to back-to-back World Series titles in 1975-1976. PSA 10 examples in demand condition have hit eight-figures at auction. Even lower graded copies remain four-figure holders for collectors due to his iconic playing days as arguably the greatest second baseman in baseball history.
The immense stars and Hall of Famers featured in their formative years within the 1979 Topps set have cemented several of its cards amongst the most prized and pricey in the entire hobby. From rookies of Mantle, Ryan, Winfield, Clemens and more to all-time greats in their prime like Morgan, Murphy and Murray – this vintage release maintains utterly premier status amongst collectors decades after production. With only minimal printing compared to the modern era, true mint condition specimens will likely continue their ascent towards six-figure territory and beyond for the absolute cream of the 1979 crop.
