1979 Topps #489 Larry Cox
Uncorrected error: The photo shows Dave Rader, not Larry Cox.
About Larry Cox
The Cubs traded Cox back to Seattle on March 20, 1979, for Puchy Delgado, though his #489 card lists him with Chicago. He started on Opening Day against California and homered off Frank Tanana on the first pitch he saw. He went 5-for-6 in a May 15 doubleheader with Kansas City and hit .215 in 100 games, throwing out 32 percent of runners.
Larry Cox was a right-handed catcher with a strong throwing arm. Signed by the Phillies as an undrafted free agent in 1966, he spent seven full seasons in the minors before debuting on April 18, 1973. He played 348 major league games for the Phillies, Mariners, Cubs and Rangers over nine seasons, hitting .221 with 12 home runs. Philadelphia tried him on the mound in the low minors until he wrote the club in 1969 that he would not return if he had to keep pitching. His Raleigh-Durham manager said that outside of Johnny Bench, Cox might have the best arm of any catcher in baseball. After his last big league game in 1982 he managed in the Cubs' farm system from 1983 to 1987 and served as bullpen coach on Don Zimmer's staff in 1988 and 1989, the year the Cubs won the NL East. He died of a heart attack at 42 while playing racquetball in Bellefontaine, Ohio.
Sources: Wikipedia · SABR BioProject · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 112 | 31 | 46 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| SGC | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 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: #551 Chicago Cubs / Herman Franks
More Chicago Cubs cards:
- #17 Donnie Moore
- #53 Mick Kelleher
- #86 Rodney Scott
- #98 Ray Burris
- #135 Bobby Murcer
- #153 Dennis Lamp
- #171 Gene Clines
- #240 Rick Reuschel
- #299 Steve Ontiveros
- #323 Lynn McGlothen
- #346 Bill Buckner
- #370 Dave Kingman
- #398 Ivan DeJesus
- #412 All-Time Record Holders: RBI
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1979 Topps #489 card?
It is card #489 of the 726-card 1979 Topps Baseball set, Larry Cox's Chicago Cubs card - but the photograph shows Dave Rader, not Larry Cox.
Does 1979 Topps #489 have an error?
The photo shows Dave Rader, not Larry Cox. It was never corrected, so there is no variation to chase - every copy of #489 reads the same way.
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.