The Best 1977 Topps Baseball Cards
More action, please.
That was one finding of the research team before production began on 1977 Topps Baseball cards, so the company’s photographers and art department delivered more action photos across the 660-card set than it had in previous years. That’s because while the bubble gum packaged with the baseball cards was still the most important piece of business to Topps, company executives knew that baseball card collecting was on the rise.
- Shop for 1977 Topps Baseball Cards on Amazon
“In the company philosophy,” long-time company spokesperson Norman J. Liss said in 1977, “baseball cards are considered an editorial product that enable us to better sell gum.”1
“Each year, the art department comes out with something different and something better,” Liss added. “Topps has a rather extensive research team, and we can determine exactly what the kids will enjoy in our product.”2
The bulk of the 1977 Topps set still features posed photography, but the company sprinkled in several action shots throughout the checklist, which was released as one full series for the first time.
As for which cards from the set would become iconic pieces of cardboard, only time could determine that.
And time was very friendly to the 1977 Topps checklist.
Two Hall of Famers made their cardboard debuts in the 1977 set, and several other cards continue to be held in high regard by collectors half a century later.
What Are The Best 1977 Topps Baseball Cards?
From iconic rookie cards to big-time superstars, the 660-card 1977 Topps Baseball set has it all. As the set came back into the spotlight when the design was used for 2026 Topps Heritage Baseball, we are presenting the best 1977 Topps Baseball cards.
1977 Topps #473 Andre Dawson RC
Dawson was a September call-up at the end of the 1976 season for the Montreal Expos, and after showing some promise, he proved he could hold his own in ’77. He edged Steve Henderson in a tight race for National League Rookie of the Years honors to jumpstart a 21-year career that ended with a plaque at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Dawson shares his rookie card with three other outfield prospects from around the majors. Both Richards and Walling enjoyed decent careers, but Scott never made the majors again after the 1977 season. Luckily for collectors, Topps placed Dawson in the upper left corner where the eye naturally wanders when looking at one of these quad rookie cards.
Shop for Andre Dawson’s 1977 Topps rookie card:
1977 Topps #10 Reggie Jackson
Despite already being a three-time World Series champion, Reggie Jackson hadn’t earned the “Mr. October” moniker when he came to the Yankees on November 26, 1976. That would come over the next two years when he lifted the Yankees to back-to-back titles over the Los Angeles Dodgers and homered on three consecutive pitches in the title-clinching Game 6 of the ’77 World Series.
With the new set of Topps cards slated to come out right around the start of spring training, Topps had to get a little creative when it came to Jackson’s first Topps card as a Yankee. Many Topps cards from throughout the 1970s are known for the “airbrushing” of new logos and uniforms, and Jackson’s 1977 Topps card fits the bill. Another player can just barely be seen in the background with a green and gold sleeve, meaning this photo certainly originally showed Jackson in his Oakland uniform.
Shop for Reggie Jackson’s 1977 Topps card:
1977 Topps #476 Dale Murphy RC
Did you know that Dale Murphy didn’t play the outfield until his fourth season in the major leagues? The well-known power threat and Gold Glove centerfielder from the 1980s actually got his start as a pro as a catcher, and he also had two years as a first baseman before moving to the center garden. Murphy’s career opened with brief stints in 1976 and 1977 before he became a regular in ’78.
As such, Murphy lands among catching prospects on his rookie card. He is joined by Gary Alexander and Rick Cerone, who went on to solid major-league career, and Kevin Pasley, who only played 55 career games across four seasons. Murphy has been up for Hall of Fame consideration a few times but has yet to make the cut. If he ever does, the 1977 set would join 1963, 1975, and 1978 as vintage Topps sets with multiple Hall of Famers within the quad rookie card subset.
Shop for Dale Murphy’s 1977 Topps rookie card:
1977 Topps #144 Bruce Sutter RC
After 4+ seasons in the minor leagues Sutter finally cracked the major-league roster in May 1976, and he quickly became the Cubs closer. He didn’t have the longest career by big-league standards, but Sutter was among the most dominant relievers of the early 1980s, leading the National League in saves five times between 1979 and 1984 and winning the Cy Young Award in ’79. He retired in 1988 with the third-most saves of all-time to that point (300) and was eventually enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2006.
Because of how much Sutter pitched in 1976, he couldn’t be considered a prospect going into the 1977 season. Therefore, Topps placed him on his own card instead of one of the quad rookie cards. In the posed photo, collectors can clearly see his jersey number of 42, which was later retired by the St. Louis Cardinals in Sutter’s honor (2006) and by baseball universally (1997) to honor Jackie Robinson, who broke the league’s color barrier in 1947.
Shop for Bruce Sutter’s 1977 Topps rookie card:
1977 Topps #170 Thurman Munson
Thurman Munson, the beloved captain of the New York Yankees, earned American League MVP honors in 1976, and Topps gave him a classic baseball card the following year. While not his best — his 1971 Topps issue usually garners that honor — this card showcases Munson’s personality away from the field, which fans didn’t always get to see in an era before cameras followed everyone everywhere.
Known as a fierce competitor, Munson was also prickly with the media. That being said, Munson was a loving family man and a friend to his teammates, and this card shows his other side as he flashes a big smile in the dugout. Munson is also recognized for fifth All-Star appearance on this card.
Shop for Thurman Munson’s 1977 Topps card:
1977 Topps #650 Nolan Ryan
In five of the six seasons between 1972 and 1977, Nolan Ryan struck out 300+ batters for California Angels. Unfortunately, the Angels were not among baseball’s best teams in that era, so Ryan’s win-loss records suffered, but he was still a fascinating figure to baseball fans across the country and popular among baseball card collectors.
All of his baseball cards from the 1970s are revered by collectors, especially his ’77 issue, which arguably captures his intimidating mound presence better than any of his other cards from the decade.
Shop for Nolan Ryan’s 1977 Topps card:
Bonus Pick: 1977 Topps #265 Mark Fidrych RC
Every so often, a rookie takes baseball by storm, and that was certainly the case in 1976 when the eccentric Mark Fidrych burst onto the scene with the Detroit Tigers. Known as “The Bird,” Fidrych won American League Rookie of the Year honors and finished as the runner-up in Cy Young Award voting after going 19-9 with a league-leading 2.34 ERA and 24 complete games.
Unfortunately, Fidrych’s career was quickly derailed by injuries, and he only made 27 more starts over the next four seasons. He died in 2009, but he’s fondly remembered by fans in Detroit and by baseball fans who experienced the mania surrounding his debut — making his rookie card one of this set’s defining cards.
Shop for Mark Fidrych’s 1977 Topps rookie card:
Bonus Pick: 1977 Topps #232 Minnie Miñoso RB
Miñoso joined the Chicago White Sox as a first base coach in 1976, and in mid-September, he appeared as the team’s designated hitter in a pair of games against the California Angels. On September 12, he ripped a single off Sid Monge, becoming the oldest player to record a hit in a major-league game. He was believed to have been 53 years old at the time, but modern research has found he was actually 52 — still an impressive feat either way.
Miñoso later made a pair of plate appearances with the White Sox in 1980 to appear as a major-leaguer in a fifth decade, though he did not record a hit in either of those games. He stretched his career even further, with two separate appearances for the independent St. Paul Saints in 1993 and 2003, when he walked as a 77-year-old.
Shop for Minnie Miñoso’s 1977 Topps card:
What Are The Most Valuable 1977 Topps Baseball Cards?
Here are the five most valuable 1977 Topps Baseball cards, based upon raw mint values from the Beckett Online Price Guide at the time of publication.
- Andre Dawson RC #473 — $50
- Dale Murphy RC #476 — $50
- Thurman Munson #170 — $50
- Nolan Ryan #650 — $50
- Reggie Jackson #10 — $40
1977 Topps Baseball cards at a glance:
Cards per pack: Wax – 10
Packs per box: Wax – 36
Boxes per case: Wax – 20
Set size: 660 cards
Shop for 1977 Topps Baseball cards on eBay:
Cited Sources
- Lance Evans, “Their House of Cards is Topps,” Scranton Times, April 29, 1977: 19. ↩︎
- Ken Hoffman, “Baseball Cards Are Back,” Florida Today, April 17, 1977: 10-11. ↩︎
Protect Your Collection With:
- Penny Sleeves — Amazon | eBay | Fanatics
- Top Loaders — Amazon | eBay | Fanatics
- Binders — Amazon | eBay
- 9-Pocket Card Pages — Amazon | eBay
