1978 Topps #439 Ken Kravec
About Ken Kravec
Thirty starts in 1978 brought Kravec an 11-16 record and a 4.08 ERA. He worked 203 innings and struck out 154, and from 1977 through 1979 he led all White Sox pitchers in strikeouts. His ten hit batsmen led the American League. His 1978 card, #439, again carries the White Sox.
Ken Kravec was a left-handed starter who pitched for the Chicago White Sox from 1975 to 1980 and the Cubs in 1981 and 1982. A Cleveland native, he played college baseball at Ashland University and was a third-round pick (69th overall) of the White Sox in 1973. He was called up in September 1975 after posting a 14-7 record and a 2.41 ERA and being named to the Double-A Southern League all-star team. He debuted on September 4 as the starter against the Kansas City Royals, walking seven in 2 1/3 innings and taking the loss in a 7-1 defeat. He finished his career 43-56 with a 4.47 ERA. Of his 160 games, 128 were starts, and he struck out 557. He was the last pitcher to face Thurman Munson, walking him in the first inning and striking him out in the third at Comiskey Park the night before the catcher's death. When Carlton Fisk signed with Chicago in the 1980-81 offseason, he found Kravec in the No. 27 he had worn in Boston and reversed the digits to 72. The White Sox traded Kravec to the Cubs for right-hander Dennis Lamp on March 28, 1981. He later scouted for the Royals, Florida Marlins, Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · BaseballCardPedia
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 172 | 29 | 103 | 31 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| SGC | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Data as of 2026-10-19. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted.
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Related cards
Team card: #66 Chicago White Sox Team
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1978 Topps #439 card?
It is card #439 of the 726-card 1978 Topps Baseball set, picturing Ken Kravec of the Chicago White Sox.
How many cards are in the 1978 Topps Baseball set?
726 cards, numbered 1 through 726 with none skipped and issued as a single series, and 728 collectible states: #23 Bump Wills comes with or without a black circle, and #374 Jose Morales with or without black stitching over the red laces, so the master set counts both states of each.
Sources: Trading Card Database, PSA CardFacts, BaseballCardPedia, Cardboard Connection, Baseball Almanac, Baseball-Reference, the SABR BioProject and the National Baseball Hall of Fame, PSA & SGC population reports. Card data compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-10-25.