The 1970 Topps baseball card set was issued during a time of great change in Major League Baseball. The year marked the inaugural season of divisional play and the League Championship Series, ushering in a new era of postseason play. Topps’ checklist reflected the sport’s shifting landscape with several rookie cards and career seasons worth noting.
The set totals 660 cards and features all 26 Major League teams from 1970. The design employs a photo in a horizontal layout with stats and details below. Topps continued its run of innovation by being the first card maker to feature players’ home teams in full color jersey logos on the fronts. Card backs contained stats, career highlights and fun facts about the players.
Some notable rookie cards from the 1970 Topps set include Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson, Bert Blyleven, and Sparky Lyle. Jackson’s explosive talent was beginning to emerge with the Athletics as he smacked 13 home runs in his debut season. Blyleven made his mark by going 13-9 with 180 strikeouts as a Teenage sensation for the Minnesota Twins. Lyle emerged as a stellar reliever, saving 15 games for the New York Yankees in his rookie campaign.
Other rookie standouts included Dave McNally, who went 22-9 for the Baltimore Orioles and Vida Blue, who dazzled with a 8-5 record and 157 strikeouts for the A’s in only 21 starts. The set also featured Cesar Geronimo’s first card from his solid career patrolling center field. Future 300-game winner Ross Grimsley had his rookie issue in 1970 as did starters Jon Matlack and Don Gullett.
The 1970 set contains many stars having incredible individual seasons. Johnny Bench captured his first NL MVP award while bashing 45 home runs and driving in 148 runs for the Cincinnati Reds. Bench’s backup, 34-year old legendsionalcatcher, hit an astonishing .363 that year with 24 home runs and a league-leading 109 RBIs en route to winning the NL batting title.
Pitching standouts include Dock Ellis hurling a no-hitter for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Bob Gibson winning 23 games for the St. Louis Cardinals. Gibson’s ERA of 3.12 was a career-best and he amassed 28 complete games. Tom Seaver put together another Cy Young season, going 22-12 with a 2.82 ERA and 210 strikeouts for the New York Mets.
The Orioles’ McNally and Mike Cuellar both won 20+ games each, bolstering Baltimore to their third straight World Series title. Carl Yastrzemski continued his superb play, batting .329 with 21 home runs and 89 RBIs for the Red Sox. The set also contains stars like Pete Rose, Hank Aaron, Harmon Killebrew and many more legends of the era in the prime of their careers.
Topps’ 1970 release commemorated the end of the 1960s, a turbulent decade that saw cultural shifts across America. In sports, it marked a transition to divisional play that added fan interest. The cards featured many talented rookies and stars enjoying career seasons as baseball began a new phase. Collectors can find Hall of Famers, milestones and memorable individual efforts amongst the 660 cards in the 1970 Topps set. It stands as an important historical snapshot of baseball during a period of change and evolution for the National Pastime.
