The 1970 Topps Super Baseball card set was a subset released alongside the main 1970 Topps baseball card series. At a time when most other mainstream baseball card sets featured photo cards of active MLB players, the 1970 Topps Super set stood out for using artist illustrations instead of photos on each card. Featuring colorful drawings of baseball’s biggest stars, the ’70 Topps Super subset helped distinguished the brand during a decade chock full of card competition from competitors like Fleer and known for its vibrant psychedelic designs.
The 1970 Topps Super set contained 60 total cards and showcased some of the most popular players from both the American and National Leagues at the time. Some of the biggest stars featured included Hank Aaron, Johnny Bench, Harmon Killebrew, Tom Seaver, and Willie Mays. Notable rookie cards in the set included Cards slugger Joe Torre and Astros hurler Don Wilson. Topps selected players at different positions and from various teams to help make the ’70 Super checklist well-rounded and representative of baseball’s top talent league-wide.
Each card in the 1970 Topps Super Baseball set featured a colorful, hand-drawn illustration of the player in action on the front. Artist renderings replaced photos to give the subset a creative, artistic flair different than standard baseball cards of the period. Illustrations ranged from fairly realistic portraits to more expressionistic, abstract interpretations of players. The back of each card showed the player’s stats and career highlights in both paragraphs of text and an illustrated sidebar. Team logos appeared prominently on the fronts and backs to clearly denote each star’s affiliation.
Card numbering in the 1970 Topps Super subset started at 601 and ran consecutively to 660. The checklist was essentially split between the American and National Leagues, with players alternating leagues every few cards for the most part. Some of the biggest draws and most popular players were given early spot numbers like Willie Mays (601), Hank Aaron (602), and Johnny Bench (603) to make them premium “short prints.” Late numbers like 659-660 went to less notable role players to round out the roster.
In terms of condition, high grade 1970 Topps Super cards have increased dramatically in value since the set’s original release over 50 years ago. Top rookie cards for players like Torre and Wilson regularly sell for thousands in near-mint or better condition. Superstars like Mays, Aaron, and Bench can fetch over $10,000 apiece for pristine, gem mint copies. Even more common players increase substantially in price the better their state of preservation. The colorful, hand-drawn illustrations also tend to show wear more noticeably than photos, making condition even more important for 1970 Topps Super valuations.
Beyond their artistic illustrations, another unique aspect of 1970 Topps Super cards was the printed stat lines on the backs. Along with basic career stats through 1969, the backsides included quirky, narrative highlights and factoids about each player. Examples included Johnny Bench’s record of 105 home runs as a catcher through ’69 or Hank Aaron holding the second highest slugging percentage of all time. These fun statistical sidelines added extra personality and pop culture context compared to more sterile rows of numbers on other cards.
When it was released alongside the standard 1970 set half a century ago, the smaller 60-card 1970 Topps Super subset stood out for its creative, hand-drawn player portraits alone. But its alternating checklist structure between leagues, stat tidbits on the reverse, and rise of coveted rookie cards has kept the artistic baseball cards popular with collectors for decades since. Whether appreciated for aesthetic designs or sought after investment specimens, 1970 Topps Super cards remain a true standout from one of the vintage era’s most iconic mainstream issues.
In concluding, the 1970 Topps Super Baseball card checklist highlighted some of the era’s biggest stars through colorful drawings in place of standard photos. Alternating players between the AL and NL with short print big names up front created a balanced, desirable subset. While condition sensitive due to artistic illustrations showing wear, ’70 Topps Super cards remain a vibrant slice of pop culture history cherished by collectors today for creative portraits, quirky stat lines, and strong rookie presence. Over 50 years later, the subset still stands out amongst the mass of vintage issues for its memorable, non-traditional baseball card designs.
