BaseballRookieKey Card
1979 O-Pee-Chee Ozzie Smith #116
AI confidence: high
Rookie status
This is Ozzie Smith's rookie card year. The 1979 O-Pee-Chee set shares the same design as the 1979 Topps set, but was produced in Canada by O-Pee-Chee. Like the 1979 Topps Ozzie Smith, this card is considered a true rookie card and is highly desirable. The OPC version is generally scarcer in high grade than its Topps counterpart.
Why this card matters
Ozzie Smith is a Hall of Famer (inducted 2002) widely regarded as the greatest defensive shortstop in MLB history, nicknamed 'The Wizard of Oz.' His rookie cards in any brand are among the most collected baseball cards of the late 1970s. The O-Pee-Chee version is rarer than the Topps version due to its limited Canadian distribution, making high-grade copies especially sought after.
Parallels & Print Runs
Standard Issue
Unknown — distributed in Canada only
No formal parallels existed in this era; the OPC version itself is the scarcer parallel to the Topps base card
Notable Variants
- ◆ 1979 Topps Ozzie Smith #116 (U.S. counterpart, more common)
- ◆ No known short print variants specific to OPC version
Population Context
The 1979 O-Pee-Chee Ozzie Smith is significantly less commonly graded than the 1979 Topps version. PSA population is relatively small, as many collectors favor the Topps flagship. High-grade copies (PSA 8 or higher) are scarce due to typical OPC print quality issues including soft centering and print defects. PSA 9s are rare and PSA 10s are extremely rare.
Collector Notes
Key issues to watch for: OPC cards from this era are notorious for poor centering — left-to-right and top-to-bottom miscuts are very common. Print quality was generally softer than Topps, so look for sharp corners and vivid color. The card backs are printed in both English and French, which is the easiest way to distinguish an OPC card from the Topps version. Also check for print lines or staining on the back. Collectors should verify authenticity when buying graded copies, as Topps versions are sometimes mistakenly labeled.
PSA Population Report
Population data not yet available for this card.
Price trend
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AI-generated information based on training data. Population data and values are estimates — verify with PSA, BGS, or recent eBay sold listings before making financial decisions.