Manufacturer: Topps
Set: 1978 Topps Baseball ➡️
Player Name: Bob Knepper
Position/Team: Pitcher for Giants
Card #: 589
Card Size: 2-1/2” x 3-1/2”
Card Values: See Pricing Table Below
Bob Knepper was a highly dependable, smooth-throwing left-handed starting pitcher whose 15-year Major League career spanned from 1976 to 1990. Splitting his peak years almost evenly between the San Francisco Giants and the Houston Astros, Knepper was a regular fixture in National League rotations throughout the late ’70s and the 1980s.
- The Giants Era (1976–1980): Drafted by San Francisco in 1972, Knepper broke into the big leagues in 1976. He quickly established himself as a frontline starter, enjoying a breakout season in 1978. That year, he won 17 games, posted a stellar 2.63 ERA, and led the National League with 6 shutouts, earning his first All-Star nod.
- The Comeback in Houston (1981): Traded to the Astros prior to the 1981 season, Knepper made an immediate impact in the strike-shortened year. He went 9-5 with a microscopic 2.18 ERA and 5 shutouts, winning the NL Comeback Player of the Year award.
- The Peak Astros Years & 1986 Postseason: Knepper was a key anchor for the dominant mid-80s Astros pitching staffs. In 1986, he matched his career-high with 17 wins, pitched 258 innings, threw 5 shutouts, and made his second All-Star appearance. He started two classic games against the New York Mets in the legendary 1986 NLCS, including pitching into the 9th inning of the fateful Game 6.
- Return to the Bay (1989–1990): After struggling in Houston in 1989, he was released and picked up by his original team, the Giants, helping them down the stretch to secure the 1989 NL Pennant. He wrapped up his career with San Francisco in 1990.
This 1978 Topps baseball card is his definitive, true rookie card. It features a young Knepper posing on the field in the classic late-70s script Giants home uniform.
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Pricing Data For This Rookie Card
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Pricing chart includes raw card price & some graded card value estimates.
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Did You Know? When Bob Knepper made his Major League debut for the Giants in September 1976 against the powerhouse Cincinnati Reds, he took the mound completely unaware that his father had suffered a heart attack while driving to the stadium to watch him play.
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