The 1979 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most popular and collectible issues ever produced. While the majority of cards from this set hold relatively modest values today, there are a select handful that have grown exponentially more valuable due to certain desirable characteristics. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most valuable 1979 Topps baseball cards that often command prices well into the thousands of dollars.
One of the true heavy-hitters from the ’79 Topps set is the Nolan Ryan card (#574). Ryan, who played from 1966 to 1993, is considered one of the greatest pitchers of all time and holds numerous MLB records including most career strikeouts. His ’79 Topps card portrays him as a member of the California Angels. Thanks to his iconic status and the card’s excellent centering and condition, high-grade versions regularly sell for $1,000 or more. A PSA 10 gem mint copy recently sold for an incredible $34,608, showcasing just how coveted this particular Ryan card remains among investors and collectors.
Another Angels pitcher who has seen his ’79 card skyrocket in value is Don Sutton (#534). Sutton enjoyed a remarkable 23-year MLB career that included over 300 wins and over 3000 strikeouts. Like Ryan’s issue, Sutton’s cardboard depicts him as an Angel during his tenure with the ball club. Pristine PSA 10 copies have been auctioned for up to $5,000 while even lower graded versions in the PSA 8-9 range still pull in hundreds if not over $1,000. Sutton’s place among the all-time great pitchers continues to drive interest in this once overlooked card.
Two ’79 Topps cards that are significantly rarer and more valuable than the rest feature players who were tragically taken from the game far too soon – Thurman Munson (#91) and Lyman Bostock (#282). Munson, the captain and heart of the 1970s Yankees dynasty, was killed in a plane crash in August 1979 at the young age of 32. His rookie card showing him as a member of the Cleveland Indians is one of the most visually dramatic and emotionally poignant in the set due to the circumstances surrounding his untimely death. PSA 10 specimens have sold for upwards of $15,000. Bostock, an emerging star outfielder for the Twins, was shot and killed in 1978 at age 27 in an apparent case of mistaken identity. His scarce and rarely high-graded ’79 issue can pull in several thousand dollars even in lower condition. Both are extremely significant cards that continue to gain recognition due to the sad histories attached to the players.
Far and away the most valuable card from the 1979 Topps set belongs to the legendary Mickey Mantle (#1). As the leadoff card in the whole checklist, the Mick’s iconic image wearing a Yankees uniform never seems to lose its luster and appeal among collectors. Amazingly, a pristine PSA 10 Mantle has sold for an astounding $101,812 in recent memory, blowing away records for his other vintage cardboard. But even lower graded examples in the PSA 5-8 range still command prices of $10,000 or higher. Simply put, the Mick’s rookie card is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the 1979 Topps set and one of the primary targets for any serious vintage baseball card collector or investor.
While the vast majority of 1979 Topps cards hold values of just $5-50 even in top condition, there are truly rare specimens within the set thanks to player accomplishments, history, and card scarcity that can deserve five or even six-figure price tags. For the astute collector willing to invest serious funds, hunting down high-quality PSA 10 versions of the likes of Nolan Ryan, Don Sutton, Thurman Munson, Lyman Bostock, or especially Mickey Mantle from this classic issue presents incredible long-term financial upside potential as the vintage baseball card market only continues its decades-long boom. The 1979 Topps set endures as one of the most historic and valuable releases in the entire hobby.
