The 1977 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most valuable issues from the 1970s. While it lacks the truly rare rookie cards of 1976 like George Brett and Fred Lynn, the ’77 set does feature several early careers of future Hall of Famers as well as short prints that are highly sought after by collectors. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most valuable 1977 Topps baseball cards.
Perhaps the most valuable regular issue card from the set is the Nolan Ryan (#166) card. Still in the early years of his remarkable career, Ryan’s card has steadily increased in price due to his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame and status as one of the game’s all-time great strikeout pitchers. In gem mint condition, unattained PSA 10 copies of the Ryan ’77 Topps card can fetch over $1,000. Another Pitcher who was just starting out in ’77 was Steve Carlton (#159). Known as “Lefty,” Carlton would go on to notch over 4,000 career strikeouts and earn his own spot in Cooperstown. High grade versions of his ’77 Topps card sell for $300-400.
A trio of superstar position players that have maintained their value from ’77 are Reggie Jackson (#1), Rod Carew (#99), and Joe Morgan (#395). “Mr. October” Reggie Jackson was already a hero from his ’71-75 Oakland A’s days and the start of his Yankees career. Mint condition copies of his flagship #1 card have sold for $700+. Carew, a career .328 hitter and future Hall of Famer, also tends to sell in the $500 range for pristine specimens of his ’77 issue. Joe Morgan, a key member of the Big Red Machine era Cincinnati Reds, has seen strong demand for his often off-centered card, which fetches $300-400 in top grades.
One of the biggest short prints and thus rarest cards in the ’77 set is that of Ron Reed (#368). Only 17 copies of Reed’s card were printed, sending it to the top of want lists for vintage set collectors. Just about any grade of the Reed short print commands over $1,000, with gem mint examples hitting $3,000 or more at auction. Other scarce short prints that bring big money include Reggie Jackson’s backup photo (#547) at $800+, and Gaylord Perry’s “turned” head variation (#551), of which under 50 are known to exist, auctioning in the $2,000 range.
Rookie cards in the 1977 Topps set are generally not as coveted as those from 1976, which featured George Brett and Fred Lynn. A few starters that debuted in ’77 have gained long term appeal. Don’t Mike Schmidt’s (#574) first card consistently fetches $150-250 across grades. Schmidt would go on to win 10 Gold Gloves and 3 NL MVP awards during his Hall of Fame career, giving collectors reason to hold onto his rookie. Pitchers Mike Norris (#563) and Mark Fidrych (#492), nicknamed “The Bird,” also debuted in the ’77 set. Norris made an All-Star team in 1980 while “Fidrychmania” swept the country in 1976. Respectable grades of their rookies sell for $75-150 each. Another rookie of note is that of Cal Ripken Jr. (#557), who was just starting his record-setting consecutive games played streak. Ripken rookie cards from ’77 have continued their steady climb and recently have been auctioning around the $300-400 range in top condition.
As with any vintage set, the condition and eye appeal of the card plays a huge factor in its value. Near-mint to mint copies of the aforementioned key ’77 Topps cards can easily sell for 2-5 times the prices of well-loved, played examples. For true condition nuts, PSA/BGS gem mint 10 specimens that warrant pristine “black label” or gold label status push values much higher, often into the thousands for the true blue-chip issues. On the whole, condition sensitive collectors are willing to pay top dollar for their favorite stars preserved in time within the borders of a 1977 Topps baseball card.
While it may lack some of the major rookie debuts of 1976 Topps, the 1977 issue remains an iconic set that launched the careers of future Hall of Famers while also featuring short prints that drive set completionists wild. Top graded examples of stars from the era like Nolan Ryan, Steve Carlton, Reggie Jackson, and Rod Carew will likely hold their premium prices for committed collectors. Meanwhile, choice condition rookie cards of Cal Ripken Jr. and Mike Schmidt seem poised to appreciate further as their playing careers recede further into the past. For藏愛 vintage baseball and investors alike, select issues from the 1977 Topps set remain a relatively affordable pathway to owning classic cardboard from the “Golden Era” of the 1970s.
