1979 Topps #488 Bob Owchinko
About Bob Owchinko
San Diego used Owchinko more out of the bullpen in 1979, when he appeared in 42 games and finished 6-12 with a 3.74 ERA. He started 20 of them and went 4-7 with a 4.25 ERA. In relief he went 2-5 with a 2.19 ERA. His 1979 card is #488.
Bob Owchinko was a left-handed pitcher who worked as a starter and reliever across ten major league seasons with the Padres, Indians, Athletics, Pirates, Reds and Expos. At Eastern Michigan he went 29-9 with a 2.15 ERA and a school-record 309 strikeouts, reached the College World Series in 1975 and 1976, and helped the U.S. team to silver at the 1975 Pan American Games. San Diego took him fifth overall in the 1976 draft, and he debuted September 25 against Atlanta. Traded to Cleveland after 1979, he moved on to Pittsburgh in the six-player deal for Bert Blyleven and Manny Sanguillen, then to Oakland, where he pitched 1 2/3 innings in the 1981 ALCS. He finished with a 37-60 record, a 4.28 ERA and seven saves, ending with three starts for Montreal in 1986. Eastern Michigan inducted him into its athletic hall of fame in 1989 and the Mid-American Conference hall of fame in 1992.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 63 | 7 | 33 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| SGC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 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.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Shop 1979 Topps cards Live auctions Buy It Now on eBay Sold prices
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
Related cards
Team card: #479 San Diego Padres / Roger Craig
More San Diego Padres cards:
- #5 1978 Victory Leaders
- #8 1978 Leading Firemen
- #30 Dave Winfield
- #57 Eric Rasmussen
- #116 Ozzie Smith
- #138 Mark Lee
- #164 Mickey Lolich
- #194 Randy Jones
- #247 Tucker Ashford
- #263 Oscar Gamble
- #292 Don Reynolds
- #321 Gaylord Perry
- #342 Dave Roberts
- #364 Gene Richards
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1979 Topps #488 card?
It is card #488 of the 726-card 1979 Topps Baseball set, picturing Bob Owchinko of the San Diego Padres.
How many cards are in the 1979 Topps Baseball set?
726 cards, numbered 1 through 726 with none skipped and issued as a single series, tracked as 727 collectible states: #369 Bump Wills comes with a Rangers or a Blue Jays team banner, and the master set counts both.
Sources: Trading Card Database, PSA, 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.