1978 Topps 525 Appraisal

1978 Topps Tommy John Baseball Card (#525)

This is an original 1978 Topps baseball card featuring Tommy John of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The card measures a standard 2.5 by 3.5 inches and is printed on typical 1970s lightweight cardboard stock. The front features a vertical profile portrait of John wearing a blue Dodgers jacket and cap against an out-of-focus background. The design is characteristic of the 1978 Topps set, featuring a thin double-line red border and a white outer margin. The team name 'Dodgers' is rendered in a stylized purple cursive font in the lower left corner, while the player name 'TOMMY JOHN' appears in bold black block lettering in the lower right. A small circular icon in the top right contains a baseball graphic with the letter 'P' for Pitcher. Observed condition shows some minor surface wear and slightly soft corners, which is expected for an item of this vintage. The centering appears slightly heavy toward the left and bottom margins. These cards were mass-produced in the late 1970s, making them a staple of the 'bronze age' of sports card collecting. Tommy John is a historically significant player, most famous for being the first subject of the 'Tommy John' elbow ligament surgery.