1979 Topps

[deweyinthehall]

So, I either have too much time on my hands or am a bit insane (a little of both is not out of the question).

I am considering developing a web site (adjacent to my other sites) where I can create sort of an illustrated encyclopedia of Topps regular issue sets - yes, there are others with sites similar to this description, but for various reasons none seem to offer what I as a collector would want to see.

We will see where this goes, but I want to work on a prototype and have decided to start with 1979 Topps.

I have collected a lot of imagery from the 1979 set, but have the following requests and questions for anyone to respond to if you are able:

1. On the Bump Wills error - a relatively recent guide places the value of the error at $3 and the correct version at $2 - so we are all comfortable saying that there are fewer Toronto versions produced as Topps likely caught the error well before the halfway mark in their printing? If anything, when I was collecting the set in '79 the Rangers version seemed rarer.
2. Is anyone aware of any other packaging options in 1979 aside from wax, cello, rack, grocery and vending? Images of any would be appreciated.
3. I show 3 wax wrapper variations - bubble gum ad, uncut checklists and sportscard locker - any others known?
4. I have an image of a 3-box rack case - were 6 box cases produced in '79 as in many other years?
5. If anyone has images of the D, E and/or F sheets it would be great if you could post.

In addition any advertising or images of displays in stores would be great.

Thanks for humoring me!

[Cliff Bowman]

Here are sheets D, E, and F.

[deweyinthehall]

Thanks!

I noticed Bump Wills is next to Don Kirkwood, a proper Blue Jay (if by way of a paint job) on the D sheet.

Since, at least in this era, I think two teams next to each other on the same sheet is something of a unicorn, speculating that perhaps whomever was in charge of placing the name plate banners said to himself "Blue Jays", was interrupted, and then looked at his list again and said "ah...Blue Jays" thus mislabeling the Wills card. Since I have no idea how these layouts took place (lo, though I've asked over the years), it's purely a guess.

The Kirkwood itself is an oddity - he was purchased by the Jays on April 11 of 1978, and spent all season (minus two DL stints) with the big club - Topps wasn't able to capture him in an actual Jays uniform for the '79 set? Odd.

[Harliduck]

1979 Topps was my first year in cards as a 9 year old...I opened MANY packs and as a kid I was able to put 2 sets together, so did my brother. We couldn't get enough. Not scientific at all, or have knowledge what so ever, just my kid memories...but we didn't even know a Bump Wills "Rangers" version was a real thing until we bought our first Becket price book and saw the listing. I picked up my first one at a card shop when I was 12ish, 1982ish. So however many boxes throughout an entire year of buying, we had at least 5 or 6 Blue Jay versions, no Rangers. To me the Rangers version was super rare, as in "no way, that exists??". We knew something was off as the team name didn't match the jersey...


I still love the 79s. I did have to buy a new set a few years back as my childhood set was...well...loved. I have both. I can still name the player by memory from just their picture, all 726 of them...I must have sorted and stared at those for HOURS and HOURS.

[deweyinthehall]

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[deweyinthehall]

Originally Posted by Harliduck

1979 Topps was my first year in cards as a 9 year old...I opened MANY packs and as a kid I was able to put 2 sets together, so did my brother. We couldn't get enough. Not scientific at all, or have knowledge what so ever, just my kid memories...but we didn't even know a Bump Wills "Rangers" version was a real thing until we bought our first Becket price book and saw the listing. I picked up my first one at a card shop when I was 12ish, 1982ish. So however many boxes throughout an entire year of buying, we had at least 5 or 6 Blue Jay versions, no Rangers. To me the Rangers version was super rare, as in "no way, that exists??". We knew something was off as the team name didn't match the jersey...


I still love the 79s. I did have to buy a new set a few years back as my childhood set was...well...loved. I have both. I can still name the player by memory from just their picture, all 726 of them...I must have sorted and stared at those for HOURS and HOURS.

1978 was to me what 1979 was to you. When I first saw a bin of '79 cellos in a store in early 1979 I said to myself something like "you mean they come out with a new set EVERY year?"

I have to ask - with me and the 1978s, when I page through them today the ones I looked for all summer and eventually had to get from other friends' extras piles have always had a different 'look' to me - I can't articulate it better than that except maybe to say they look different to me in the same way that a 1972 Topps series one card looks different from a 1972 Topps series 6 card (if you're familiar with that difference). Does this sound at all familiar to you? It's always struck me as odd.

[JollyElm]

My brothers and I were grabbing (the basically nameless) Mets left and right, but when it came to the Yanks, it was really depressing seeing what Topps did to Thurman Munson and Reggie Jackson. They both had great action shots in the 1978 set (with Reg's being one of the best cards ever), but when we started opening packs in '79, they had both been reduced to frickin' Dreadshots (an uninteresting Topps card that features nothing but the noggin of the ballplayer)!!!!! What the heck, Topps!!!!!!!!!!

[Hxcmilkshake]

I collected so much of that I used to be able to tell who everyone was only by the picture.

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[deweyinthehall]

Do we have any ideas as to why Topps decided in 1979 to stop their tradition of placing gold trophies/cups on cards to signify members of the previous seasons' All Star Rookie Team?

They didn't return to this practice until 1987, but they never stopped selecting the members of the Teams.

[deweyinthehall]

Well, I've created a 1979 prototype of some pages I hope to make of other Topps sets - interested in any constructive feedback.

https://mrpekrul.wixsite.com/narcissism/1979

[Bigdaddy]

I like your site for the 1979 Topps. For me, my childhood collection peaked in 1978 after starting out with the 1977 issue. I always have a fondness for those three years. Interesting info on your site about the double printed cards as I can remember always seeing Morgan, Garvey, Bench and Jackson cards in seemingly endless numbers.

A couple of things I noticed:

• The font is kind of small, even on my desktop monitor. At least for these old eyes.
• The All-Star cards listings should include Bench and Fisk.

BTW, I still have a grocery 3-pack of those '79 wax packs, along with a single '78 wax pack. Been in my possession since they left the store.

[deweyinthehall]

Ack! How could I forget those 2! I know I need to go back and make some other editorial changes as well.

I understand about the text/font - will try to do something.

Thanks for the feedback!

[Hxcmilkshake]

Johnnie LeMaster?

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[deweyinthehall]

Think LeMaster was taller and skinnier.