Collecting cards isn't always about the guys who hit 500 home runs or threw 100-mph fastballs. Sometimes, it’s about the guys who lived in the broadcast booth for thirty years and became the voice of your summer. That’s basically the deal with the jerry remy baseball card. If you’re a Red Sox fan, or even just a fan of 70s-era Angels baseball, you probably have a soft spot for the "Rem Dawg."
Jerry wasn't a power hitter. He hit seven home runs in his entire ten-year career. Seven! Most modern shortstops hit that in a single month of May. But what he lacked in pop, he made up for in hustle, 208 stolen bases, and a batting average that hovered around .275. When he passed away in 2021, the market for his cardboard saw a spike that hasn't really settled down. People weren't buying for the stats; they were buying for the memories of those NESN broadcasts and his iconic laugh.
The Big One: The 1976 Topps Rookie Card
If you’re looking for the definitive jerry remy baseball card, you’re looking for 1976 Topps #229.
Technically, he made his debut in 1975, but Topps didn't give him his own real estate until the '76 set. It’s a classic mid-70s design. You’ve got Jerry in that vibrant California Angels jersey, sporting a look that can only be described as "peak 1970s ballplayer." The card features the "Topps All-Star Rookie" gold cup in the bottom right corner—a badge of honor for anyone who had a solid debut season.
Values for this card are all over the place because condition is a nightmare with 1976 Topps. The centering is usually terrible. You’ll find cards where the border on the left is a mile wide and the right side is non-existent.
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- PSA 10 (Gem Mint): These are incredibly rare. One sold a while back for over $345.
- PSA 9 (Mint): You can usually snag these for around $90 to $100.
- PSA 8 (Near Mint-Mint): This is the sweet spot for collectors, usually landing between $40 and $50.
- Raw/Ungraded: Honestly? You can find a decent-looking one at a card show for $5 or $10.
It’s not a "get rich quick" card. It’s a "this looks great in my display" card. There’s also an O-Pee-Chee version from Canada. It looks identical but has a different card stock and some French on the back. Those are a bit tougher to find but don't always command a huge premium unless you’re dealing with a die-hard set completionist.
The Red Sox Years and Those Oddball Sets
In 1978, Jerry was traded to Boston for Don Aase. This was the turning point for his legacy. His first jerry remy baseball card in a Sox uniform is the 1978 Topps #478. He’s an All-Star that year, though the card still lists him with the Angels because of Topps' lead times back then.
By 1979, he was fully decked out in Boston gear. These cards—from 1979 through his final 1985 Topps #761—are generally "commons." You can find them in the 50-cent bins.
But check out the oddballs. Those are way more fun.
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Have you ever seen the 1982 Topps Squirt card? It was a tiny card that came with soda. Or the 1977 Kellogg’s 3-D Super Stars? Those 3-D cards always curl up like a potato chip if they aren't kept in a heavy-duty holder. They are quirky pieces of history that show how much of a "guy" Remy was in the late 70s. He was a legitimate star, even if he wasn't a superstar.
Why Values Are Climbing (Sort Of)
Collecting is emotional. Since Jerry’s death, the jerry remy baseball card has become a memorial piece.
Most people aren't looking to flip a 1981 Fleer Jerry Remy for a profit. They want it because it reminds them of sitting on the couch with their dad, listening to Jerry and Don Orsillo lose their minds over a lamp or a fan eating popcorn.
There’s also the "Tiffany" factor. In 1984, Topps started making a limited run of high-end, glossy cards called Topps Tiffany. The 1984 Topps Tiffany Jerry Remy #445 is much rarer than the standard cardboard version. If you find one with sharp corners and no yellowing, that’s a legitimate prize.
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Scarcity and Misconceptions
People often think old cards are automatically worth a fortune. They aren't. Millions of 1982 Topps were printed. You could probably build a house out of 1982 Jerry Remys if you had enough time and glue.
The real value lies in the "Pop Report." If you have a card that is a PSA 10, and there are only 11 of them in existence, then you have leverage. If you have a wrinkled 1980 Topps Jerry Remy with a coffee stain, you have a bookmark.
How to Handle Your Collection
If you find a stack of jerry remy baseball card variants in your attic, here’s what you actually do:
- Check the 1976 Rookie: Look at the corners. If they are fuzzy, don't bother grading it. If they are sharp enough to cut paper, put it in a penny sleeve and a top loader immediately.
- Look for the "Gold Cup": On the '76 card, that little trophy adds a lot of "curb appeal" to collectors.
- Check for Autographs: Jerry was a prolific signer. A 1976 Topps card with a certified on-card autograph is worth significantly more than a base card. He had a very clean, readable signature—"Jerry Remy" with a big, loopy J.
- Identify the Brand: Donruss and Fleer started making cards in 1981. Their early stuff is often plagued by "ink hickeys" (little circles of missing ink) and bad cuts. A clean 1981 Donruss Remy is actually harder to find than the Topps version just because their quality control was so bad.
Collecting Jerry is about the man. He represented a specific era of New England sports that felt personal. Whether it’s the 1975 SSPC set or a late-career 1985 Fleer, these cards are snapshots of a guy who simply loved being at the ballpark.
Actionable Next Steps:
If you want to start a Jerry Remy collection, begin by sourcing a 1976 Topps #229 in a PSA 7 or 8 grade. It provides the best balance of visual appeal and historical significance without breaking the bank. From there, hunt for the 1982 Topps "Wrong Back" error card, which sometimes features Jerry’s back on a different player's front—a true oddity for the advanced collector.