The year 1979 produced some very desirable baseball cards that collectors seek out. The values of the 1979 cards can vary quite a bit depending on the player, the card’s condition and grading, and other factors. Some key things to know about 1979 baseball card values include:
Top rookie cards from 1979 that can be quite valuable include Keith Hernandez, Robin Yount, Buddy Bell, Steve Carlton, Paul Molitor, Eddie Murray, and George Foster. A mint condition rookie card of these players could range in value from $50-$200 for lesser names up to $500-$1000 for stars like Yount and Murray. True gem mint 10 graded cards of their rookies could fetch $2000+ each.
Superstar hall of famers that had career years in 1979 also have desirable cards. A highlight is the Nolan Ryan card from the California Angels. In 1979 he struck out a record 383 batters. His card in relatively clean condition is worth $10-20 but a graded gem mint version could sell for $500 or more. Dave Winfield’s 1979 card while with the San Diego Padres also holds significant value due to his MVP season, with estimates of $50-100 for a solid copy and $200+ for a high grade.
Other 1979 stars that remain sought after include George Brett of the Royals, who won the batting title that year. His cards in decent shape sell in the $10-20 range but mint could be $50-100. Mike Schmidt’s 1979 Phillies card, depicting his back-to-back MVP campaigns, usually fetches $15-30 average but $100+ for an excellent specimen. Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton also have popular 1979s from their dominant pitching seasons, valued at $10-30 normal or $50-150 graded mint.
Rookies and star players from winning teams tend to carry higher prices. Therefore, cards like Keith Hernandez’ 1979 St. Louis Cardinals rookie are more valuable since they won the World Series that year. Team set collectors also drive prices up for common players from playoff squads like the ’79 Pirates, Orioles, and Reds. Even role players onlosing teams have affordable 1979s around $1-5 each.
The condition and grading of a 1979 baseball card hugely influences its worth. Simply reading “Near Mint” or “Excellent” on a listing is ambiguous – precise grading alleviates uncertainty. The most trusted authorities are Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) and Beckett Grading Services (BGS). Their mint 9 or gem mint 10 slabs exponentially increase values. For example, an average Hank Aaron from 1979 might sell for $10 raw, $30 PSA 9, and $100-200 PSA/BGS 10. Precise grading provides collector confidence.
Some other key points about 1979 baseball card values include:
Error cards are highly sought after by specialty collectors and can sell for hundreds in high grade
Superstars in rare original photo variations are valued significantly above the common version
Complete 1979 team or league sets need all the tough subsets/inserts added and are worth a premium over singles
Cards from the popular flagship Topps, Kellogg’s, Post, and Donruss sets carry the most demand and dollars
Supply also matters – stars on scarce low print run brands are relatively more valuable
In conclusion, 1979 produced many memorable baseball cards as the hobby continued booming in popularity post-1976. Rookies of all-time great players, stars from playoff teams, superstar hall of famers, and high grade or rare specimens continue to attract collectors and command healthy prices decades later. Condition, grading, players, and other specifics strongly impact values, but in general 1979 remains a rich and rewarding vintage for the cardboard collecting community.
