Introduction
The 1979 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic issues from the 1970s. Packaged as wax paper wrappers containing 5 random cards, the 1979 set had great visual designs and featured some of the biggest stars in the game at the peak of their careers. In this article, we will provide an in-depth guide to the 1979 Topps baseball card set including details on the most valuable and sought after cards, factors that influence card value, and price ranges collectors can expect to pay for graded and ungraded examples in various states of preservation.
Key Details About the 1979 Topps Set
The 1979 Topps set contains 792 total cards including base cards, stars, rookie cards, and multi-player/team issue cards.
Design features an orange border with a blue player photograph and white borders. Front design is very similar to the 1978 and 1980 issues.
Rosters include both American and National League teams from the 1978 season.
Several Hall of Famers and all-time greats featured including Nolan Ryan, Reggie Jackson, Mike Schmidt, and Dave Winfield.
High profile rookie cards include Gary Carter, Eddie Murray, Ozzie Smith, and Shane Mack.
Factors That Impact 1979 Topps Card Values
There are several variables that collectors should understand when evaluating the value of different 1979 Topps cards:
Grading – Professionally graded examples through services like PSA or BVG will always demand a premium vs. raw, ungraded cards due to verification of centeredness, corners, edges and surfaces. Higher grades (8+ for commons, 7+ for stars) bring a multiplier to any given card’s raw prices.
Autographs/Memorabilia – Signed or autograph cards, as well as traded/player-used varieties holding game-used relics, exponentially increase value vs. factory issued unsigned copies. Higher end examples could fetch thousands or even tens of thousands.
Scarcity – Star players, especially pitchers, generally had lower print runs which makes specimens of their cards rarer and hence more desirable on the secondary market. Rookie cards also retain scarcity premiums relative to veteran player cards.
Condition – Heavily worn, damaged or poorly centered raw cards realize just a fraction of the value that Near Mint or better examples can command. Even small condition differences represent hundreds or thousands in price divergences.
Popular Teams/Players – Cards of star sluggers or popular historically successful franchises hold intrinsic nostalgia and collectability that pushes their market costs above statistical performance alone.
Top 1979 Topps Cards – Then and Now Values
Let’s explore some key individual cards from the 1979 Topps set and how their values have evolved over the decades:
Nolan Ryan (#177) – Then: $5-10. Now: PSA 8 $150, PSA 10 $600+. One of the greatest pitchers ever and one of the set’s most iconic images. Consistently one of the most in-demand 1970s cards.
Ozzie Smith (#660) – Then: $1-2. Now: PSA 8 $50, PSA 10 $250. This rookie card of the Wizard grew to be prized by collectors for its subject’s defensive wizardry and all-time great career.
Mike Schmidt (#555) – Then: $3-5. Now: PSA 8 $50, PSA 10 $200. Perennial MVP winner Schmidt was a fan favorite and cornerstone of Philadelphia’s success for decades after.
Dave Winfield (#710) – Then: $1-2. Now: PSA 8 $30, PSA 10 $125. Power-hitting outfielder went on to have Hall of Fame career and remained a star for many seasons after his 1979 depiction.
Gary Carter (#591) – Then: $1-2. Now: PSA 8 $30, PSA 10 $150. The Expos catcher established himself as a superstar after this rookie card through the 1980s and cemented his Hall of Fame status.
Nolan Ryan/Tom Seaver Dual (#559) – Then: $2-5. Now: PSA 8 $150, PSA 10 $750. Extremely rare dual card featuring two of the era’s pitching elite makes it a mammoth rarity. Only card higher is the Reggie Jackson error.
How to Find Values for Your 1979 Topps Cards
When evaluating how much a specific 1979 Topps card in your collection is worth, here are some recommended sources to check:
Online auction sites like eBay – Search “sold listings” to see actual closing prices for comparable recently sold copies in various grades.
Price guide/database apps – Beckett, PSA SMR, or Cardboard Connection are respected standard references listing average retail prices for most all notable cards from that year.
Online card shops – Sites like SportsCards.com, SteelCityCollectibles.com provide “buy it now” listings for graded examples to compare against.
Local card shops – Bring cards to a reputable brick and mortar store for their expertise and assessment of current market values if you need cash in hand.
Conclusion
The 1979 Topps set holds incredible nostalgia and desirability for collectors even decades after production. With a talented roster of future Hall of Famers and all-timers highlighted, key rookie cards, and popular designs, demand remains strong. Proper preservation, authenticity verification and holding cards long-term maximizes opportunities for appreciation over the following generations.
