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Buy 1978 Topps Baseball Cards on eBay
We’re taking a step back in time to look at some of the best cards from the 1978 Topps Baseball set.
It’s a collection packed with some of the greatest talents from the era, including a number of players who were unlucky to miss out on a place in the Hall of Fame.
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Here’s everything you could possibly need to know about 10 of the best cards from the set, as well as investment advice for the next few years.
10 Best 1978 Topps Baseball Cards
A simple set with an understated design, it’s all about the images in this 1978 release. 66 were also double printed, as Topps moved from 660 cards in 1977 to 726 in 1978, but kept the size of its printing sheets the same at 132 cards.
- Record Breakers (1-7)
- League Leaders (201-208)
- Playoff and World Series highlights (276-277)
- Rookie stars (701-711)
The set contains cards from 20+ Hall of Fame players including three from Yankees slugger, Reggie Jackson. However, condition-related issues cause the majority of cards to be held back from achieving the highest grades.
1978 Paul Molitor & Alan Trammell Topps RC #707
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We’ll start with an RC that has to be seen as the most valuable card from the set. Featuring Mickey Klutts, Paul Molitor, Alan Trammel, and U.L. Washington, the ‘78 Rookie Shortstops collection feature small images of each player on the front.
[irp posts=”8844″ name=”Chipper Jones Rookie Card – Top 3 Cards and Investment Outlook”]Popularly known as the Trammell/Molitor rookie card, it’s renowned for smudging on the front of the card in the area where it says “Rookie Shortstops.” It’s almost impossible to find gem mint versions, hence the exceptionally high asking price.
1978 Lou Whitaker Topps Rookie 2nd Basemen RC #704
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Another quad RC featuring four players, Garth Iorg, Dave Oliver, Sam Perlozzo, and Lou Whitaker are found on the Rookie 2nd Basemen card. It follows the same basic design, with small squares for each player, set across a red and white background.
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I’m terms of value, it’s easier to find in good condition compared to the card seen above, so it makes for a more affordable investment price overall (Best Luka Doncic Cards Under $100).
1978 Nolan Ryan Topps #400
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Nolan Ryan is always a popular pick, with a stellar 27-year MLB career in which he struck out 5,714 batters, a record which still ranks 1st for most all-time career strikeouts.
“Pro-Tip: Mostly avoid buy cards that are not graded with the hopes of receiving a top grade (i.e. PSA 10, BGS 9.5). We have been down the road dozens of times and mostly disappointment has followed.”
His card from the 1978 set is another decent pick, featuring an image of the player with both hands held aloft. “The Ryan Express” is always valued by collectors, given the longevity of his time at the top. Even PSA 9 copies of this card tend to outperform gem mint versions of lesser-known players.
1978 Jack Morris Topps Rookie Pitchers RC #703
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Jack Morris is joined by Larry Andersen, Tim Jones, and Mickey Mahler for a card that celebrates the best rookie pitchers from 1978. Morris is undeniably the star, amassing five All-Star appearances, five top-five finishes in Cy Young voting, and four World Series rings, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Modern Era Committee in 2018.
[irp posts=”7210″ name=”Card Chronicles: 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card”]Despite the HoF entry, his RC was one of the 66 to be double-printed in the set, leading to lower values.
1978 Eddie Murray Topps RC #36
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Hall of Famer Eddie Murray is another great pick from the set, being the only player to make their first appearance on a Topps card and also earn the All-Star Rookie Cup.
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Print residue and centering are two of the most common flaws found with this rookie card, making it another difficult version to find at higher grades. Even PSA 9 versions will sell for a low four-figure sum.
1978 Mike Hargrove Topps #172
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1974 Rookie of the Year Mike Hargrove is arguably best known for being a target during 10-Cent Beer Night. 1978 was his last year with the Rangers before moving to San Diego, and the card features the player at the ready with a glove in hand. This time, the card is given a blue-lined finish.
1978 Pete Rose Topps #20
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Pete Rose (Read Best Pete Rose Cards To Buy Now) is a name that is synonymous with baseball card collecting, best known for being the all-time MLB leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053), singles (3,215), and outs (10,328). It won’t match up to the value of his 1968 RC, but there’s still decent interest in his Topps card released a decade on.
Rose is seen sitting on the bench in a more personal card, although there is a bat that slightly obscures the image.
1978 Fergie Jenkins Topps #720
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The first Canadian to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991, Fergie Jenkins is next up on the list. There’s a close-up image of the player, with one arm raised as he stares off-camera.
Gem mint copies are more affordable than you might expect, but there’s a significant drop-off when looking at PSA 9 grades and below.
1978 Dick Tidrow Topps #179
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Dick Tidrow is a two-time World Series champion who recorded back-to-back wins with the New York Yankees. The first win came in 1977, with the second coming in ‘78. His card features a posed profile shot of the player, sporting a Yankees cap and a massive mustache.
A great collectible from the second year he won the World Series, only gem mint versions will be troublesome to find.
1978 Rich Gossage Topps #70
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Rich Gossage is the final player to make the list. A nine-time All-Star and a World Series winner in ‘78, ‘Goose’ recorded the final out to clinch a division, league, or World Series title seven times. His card from the set has an action shot, featuring Gossage after a pitch.
“By this point, many gem mint copies of cards from the 1978 set are similarly priced, coming in just under the four figure range.”
1978 Topps Baseball Error Cards
23A Bump Wills ERR: Black circle
23B Bump Wills COR: Black circle no longer present
374A Jose Morales VAR: Red laces on position baseball
374B Jose Morales VAR: Black stitches (over red stitches) on position baseball
Most Expensive 1978 Topps Baseball Cards
The most valuable 1978 Topps Baseball Card is the 1978 Topps Paul Molitor & Alan Trammell RC #70 which sold for $51,101 via eBay auctions on 2/15/2021.
If you are looking for advice in regards to buying a 1978 Topps Baseball error card or rookie card please email advice@goldcardauctions.com.
Found your old Topps Baseball Cards and want an estimated value? Email value@goldcardauctions, comment below this article or visit the Gold Card Auctions Facebook Page.
1978 Topps Baseball Cards: Buyers Rating and Investment Outlook
The 1978 set has to be seen as a vintage collection. Over 40 years have passed since it was originally released, and condition-related issues have led to increased values in the present day. It’s helped by the fact that it’s one of the nicest looking sets from the era, packed to the brim with major stars.
Investment Rating: Buy (4.3 out of 5)
Ownership Disclosure: None
Best 1978 Topps Baseball Card: 1978 Topps Paul Molitor & Alan Trammell RC #70
Of course, it’s worth mentioning that there’s a major drop-off in values when it comes to anything under gem mint grades. This means that it’s relatively easy to build a complete set of 1978 Topps baseball cards, as long as you don’t mind sticking to slightly less impressive versions.
From an investment standpoint, any gem mint card from the set is fairly valuable and should retain its value over the next decade or so. It’s a viable long-term option, as evidenced by the higher prices seen for recent sales of PSA 10 grades.
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