TOPPS 75 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AUCTION
797. 1977 Topps Reggie Jackson (HOF) Baltimore Orioles Unissued Cyan Progressive Proof - SGC MINT 9 The 1977 Topps Reggie Jackson Baltimore Orioles card is quite possibly the most famous of all unissued Topps proof cards. The blank-backed card features Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson in an Orioles uniform, the team with which he spent 1976, batting .277 with 27 home runs and 91 RBI. Jackson was traded to
798. 1977 Topps Dynamite Magazine 6-Card Insert Panel Pair w/Brett MINIMUM BID: $50
799. 1977 Venezuelan League Stickers #149 Sparky
Baltimore at the very beginning of the 1976 season, and signed with the Yankees as a free agent in November. Ultimately, Jackson was, of course, pictured with the Yankees on his 1977 Topps card, but Topps initially used an image of him in his Orioles uniform for their first run of proof sheets, and as such, a small number of proof cards featuring the original image of Jackson exist in the hobby. It is speculated that fewer than ten full-color Jackson proofs exist. In the 1989 Topps/Guernsey’s auction, a complete group of uncut progressive proof sheets were sold, the original purchaser subsequently had the cards professionally cut, apparently under the watchful eye of SGC. All nine progressive proofs were offered at auction before the start of the pandemic, each graded as “sheet cut” by SGC, but none of the progressive proofs met their reserves. Our consignor purchased this beautiful cyan proof directly from the consignor to that auction. The card has been graded MINT 9 by SGC, with the “sheet cut” designation, and is quite lovely. Of the nine progressive proofs, the cyan version is one of the finest, presenting a clear, monochrome image of the future Hall of Famer, resembling a black-and-white image with clear detail. The team name, which included no cyan, is missing, but the position banner (which is blue, outlined in black on the final version) is entirely legible. The card is sharp and clean, obviously diligently cut. In that same auction, nearly eight years ago, the full-color Jackson proof, graded MINT 9, sold for $66,000. It is worth considerably more today, after the post-Pandemic hobby boom. We are unaware of additional progressive proofs in existence, but given the incredible rarity and extreme popularity of the Jackson card, this may be the hobby’s best shot at acquiring the card at anything resembling an affordable price.
Lyle - PSA GOOD 2 MINIMUM BID: $25
800. 1978 Topps Complete Set (726) MINIMUM BID: $100
801. 1978 Topps Print Variations Collection (50) MINIMUM BID: $50
802. 1978 Topps #23 Bump Wills (Black Circle) - CGC EX/NM 6 MINIMUM BID: $25
MINIMUM BID: $1,000
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