Joe Leonard Morgan (September 19, 1943 – October 11, 2020) was an American professional baseball second baseman who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Colt .45s / Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the National League Most Valuable Player in each of those years. Considered one of the greatest second basemen of all time, Morgan was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990.he hit between .288 and .327 during his peak years with the Reds. Additionally, he drew many walks, resulting in an excellent .392 on-base percentage. He also hit 268 home runs to go with his 449 doubles and 96 triples, excellent power for a middle infielder of his era, and was considered by some the finest base stealer of his generation (689 steals at greater than 80% success rate). Besides his prowess at the plate and on the bases, Morgan was an exceptional infielder, winning the Gold Glove Award in consecutive years from 1973 to 1977.

During his career, Niekro was selected to five All-Star teams, led the National League in victories twice (in 1974 and 1979), led the major leagues in earned run average once (in 1967), and won the National League Gold Glove Award five times. As of 2023, Niekro ranks 16th on MLB's all-time wins list with 318 career victories;[5] as of 2023, he is the only knuckleballer to win 300 or more major league games. Niekro and his younger brother Joe amassed 539 wins between them; as of 2013, the Niekros had the most combined wins by brothers in baseball history.[6] As of 2023, Niekro also holds the major league record with 121 career victories after the age of 40. Niekro was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997. Niekro led the league with a 1.87 ERA in 1967, earning an 11–9 record with 10 complete games and 9 saves. He began the year as a relief pitcher but had earned a job in the starting rotation during the season. He set a major league record by playing 24 seasons in the major leagues without a World Series appearance. His total of 5,404+1⁄3 innings pitched is the most by any pitcher in the post-1920 live-ball era.

Don Edward Baylor (June 28, 1949 – August 7, 2017), nicknamed "Groove," was an American professional baseball player, coach and manager. During his 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), Baylor was a power hitter known for standing very close to home plate ("crowding the plate") and was a first baseman, left fielder, and designated hitter. He played for six different American League (AL) teams, primarily the Baltimore Orioles and California Angels, but he also played for the Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, and Boston Red Sox. In 1979, Baylor was an All-Star and won the AL Most Valuable Player Award. He won three Silver Slugger Awards, the Roberto Clemente Award, and was a member of the 1987 World Series champion Minnesota Twins. Baylor reached the World Series three times in his career, in consecutive years with three different teams. Baylor played in the World Series with the Red Sox in 1986, the Twins in 1987, and the A's in 1988, and he was on the winning side in 1987. Baylor is one of three players in history to accomplish this feat, along with Eric Hinske and Will Smith. He set the Red Sox team record for most hit by pitches in a season (35 in 1986); in his career, he was hit by pitches 267 times, fourth-most all time. Baylor retired with 285 stolen bases, 2,135 hits, and 338 home runs. After his playing career, Baylor managed the expansion Colorado Rockies for six years and the Chicago Cubs for three seasons. He was named NL Manager of the Year in 1995 and was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame.

The 1979 Hostess baseball set features 150 cards distributed on three-player panels issued on the backs of family sized Hostess products. The cards fronts display a full-color, posed image of the player with his name and team printed across the top in red and blue, respectively, with his position printed in black. 

Each card/panel reveals a dotted cutting line and when the 3-1/4" by 7-1/4" panels are cut properly, cards should measure approximately 2-1/4" by 3-1/4". There are 15 short-printed cards that are far rarer than the rest of the set. There also appears an Ozzie Smith card that is considered more desirable because of his rookie status. Printed horizontally in black-and-white, the backs show the card number, player's name and personal information as well as a yearly and career statistics grid. 

Anchoring this set are Hall of Famers Mike Schmidt (#9), Jim Palmer (#11), Gary Carter (#24), Rod Carew (#38), Robin Yount (#55), Joe Morgan ($#61), Phil Niekro (#62), Tom Seaver (#65), George Brett (#68), Steve Carlton (#71), Gaylord Perry (#83), Don Sutton (#92), Nolan Ryan (#101), Ozzie Smith (#102), Carlton Fisk (#106), Eddie Murray (#115), Reggie Jackson (#120), Dave Winfield (#125) and Johnny Bench (#128). Hostess also issued an album.