1979 Topps #350 Garry Templeton
About Garry Templeton
The 211 hits Templeton collected in 1979 led the National League, and he became the first player with 100 hits from each side of the plate. His 19 triples led the league for the third year in a row. Passed over as the NL's starting shortstop, he was named a reserve and declined to go; the line often credited to him, "If I ain't startin', I ain't departin'," was broadcaster Jack Buck's. His Cardinals card appeared at #350.
Garry Templeton was a switch-hitting shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres and New York Mets, playing 2,079 games from 1976 to 1991 with 2,096 hits and a .271 average. The Cardinals drafted him in the first round in 1974 and had the right-handed hitter become a switch-hitter in the Gulf Coast League because of his speed. He was a three-time All-Star and won Silver Slugger Awards in 1980 and 1984. After the 1981 season the Cardinals traded him to San Diego in a six-player deal that brought Ozzie Smith to St. Louis. A knee injury just before Opening Day in 1982 cut into his production, and he had seven knee surgeries over his career. He was the shortstop on the 1984 Padres, the first San Diego team to win a National League West title and pennant, and hit .324 in that postseason. Manager Larry Bowa made him team captain in 1987. After his playing days he managed in the Angels organization and in independent leagues, winning the 2010 Golden Baseball League championship with the Chico Outlaws. The Padres inducted him into their Hall of Fame on August 8, 2015. His cousin gave him the nickname Jumpsteady, saying he jumped more than he danced to an Aretha Franklin song.
Sources: Wikipedia · SABR BioProject · Baseball-Reference · BaseballCardPedia
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 108 | 9 | 54 | 29 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| SGC | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 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: #192 St. Louis Cardinals / Ken Boyer
More St. Louis Cardinals cards:
- #32 Jerry Mumphrey
- #59 John Denny
- #87 Pete Falcone
- #111 Roger Freed
- #143 Tony Scott
- #175 George Hendrick
- #230 Bob Forsch
- #258 Mike Phillips
- #304 Steve Swisher
- #319 Wayne Garrett
- #324 Mike Tyson
- #407 Pete Vuckovich
- #414 All-Time Record Holders: Batting Average
- #415 All-Time Record Holders: Stolen Bases (Lou Brock)
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1979 Topps #350 card?
It is card #350 of the 726-card 1979 Topps Baseball set, picturing Garry Templeton of the St. Louis Cardinals.
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.