1979 Topps #424 California Angels / Jim Fregosi
Hall of Famers on the 1978 California Angels roster: Nolan Ryan.
About this card
This is one of the 26 team cards, one for each club, and each also carries the club's manager - there are no separate manager cards in 1979.
The story on this card
The 1978 Angels won 87 and lost 75, tying for second in the American League West, their first winning season since 1970. They had led the division on May 26, then lost five straight, including a 17-2 loss on May 31. Gene Autry fired Dave Garcia and had the Pirates release Jim Fregosi, who took over as manager; the club went 62-55 under him. Nolan Ryan, whom the Angels had gotten for Fregosi from the Mets in December 1971, struck out Buddy Bell for his 2,500th career strikeout on May 12. Outfielder Lyman Bostock was murdered in Gary, Indiana, on September 23. Topps #424 is the Angels team card with Fregosi as manager.
Jim Fregosi was a six-time All-Star shortstop with the Angels before playing for three other clubs. He later managed four major league teams, guiding California to the postseason and Philadelphia to a National League pennant.
Sources: Wikipedia (1978 California Angels season) · Wikipedia (Jim Fregosi) · SABR BioProject · BaseballCardPedia
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 189 | 23 | 86 | 57 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| SGC | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1979 Topps #424 card?
It is card #424 of the 726-card 1979 Topps Baseball set, picturing the California Angels. This is one of the 26 team cards, one for each club, and each also carries the club's manager - there are no separate manager cards in 1979.
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.