The 1970s was a transitional decade for baseball cards as the hobby began to take off. While tobacco cards ceased being inserted into packs due to health concerns, Topps maintained their monopoly on the baseball card market. Their annual sets would remain the most coveted issues each year, containing the prized rookie cards of future Hall of Famers.
Some of the most iconic rookie cards of the 1970s debuted in the 1971 Topps set. Future 500 home run club members Reggie Jackson and Johnny Bench had their rookie cards in this series. Jackson’s card featured him as a member of the Athletics, while Bench was already establishing himself as the star catcher for the Big Red Machine Reds. Their rookie cards would go on to become extremely valuable in the decades that followed. Davey Lopes of the Dodgers also had a prominent rookie card in the ’71 Topps set that has endured due to his impressive stolen base numbers throughout his career.
Topps released their 1972 set with a photo of Dick Allen on the cover, celebrating his 1971 MVP season. This was also the rookie card year for legends like Jim Palmer and Carlton Fisk. Palmer’s Orioles were becoming a dynasty in the American League, while Fisk was a young catcher for the Red Sox who would later have an iconic home run in the 1975 World Series. Their rookie cards established each player as one to watch for collectors. Elsewhere, future 300 game winner Bert Blyleven had his rookie card with the Twins, showing his blazing fastball.
In 1973, George Brett, Mike Schmidt, and Ron Guidry all had their first Topps cards. Brett and Schmidt in particular would go on to have Hall of Fame careers defined by their elite hitting. Schmidt’s rookie on the Phillies foreshadowed the prolific home run seasons he would have. Guidry’s card as a little known Yankee prospect hinted that one day he would be winning 25 games in a season. Other noteworthy rookies included Dusty Baker for the Braves and Rick Reuschel, who was just starting his pitching career with the Giants.
The 1974 set had one of the most coveted rookie cards of the decade with Dodgers pitcher Don Sutton. Sutton cemented himself as one of the most durable starters in baseball history, appearing on the ’74 rookie and many subsequent Topps issues. Joining him was Andre Dawson, whose Expos rookie showed off his athleticism in the outfield. Dawson’s card gained appreciation as he developed into one of the premier sluggers of the 1980s. Elsewhere, Sparky Lyle brought his unique windup to the Yankees as a rookie reliever, with his card gaining notoriety.
In a star-studded 1975 Topps set, future Hall of Famers Eddie Murray, Dave Parker, and Dan Quisenberry all had their rookie cards. Murray was a young prodigy for the Orioles and his aggressive style was on display. Parker emerged for the Pirates in ’75 and continued Pittsburg’s outfield tradition of power hitters. Quisenberry was a quirky submarine reliever for the Royals seen on his initial Topps issue. Other notable rookies included Ken Griffey Sr. and Keith Hernandez, who both went on to have solid MLB careers.
Rickey Henderson proved to be one of the most dynamic talents in baseball history from the time of his 1976 Topps rookie card with the A’s. Even in his earliest days, Henderson showcased his blazing speed and base stealing acumen that would make him a career leader in steals. Future 300 game winner Jack Morris also had his rookie card in the ’76 set as a Tigers pitcher. Philadelphia got a glimpse of their future home run leader with 1977 rookie Mike Schmidt absolutely crushing a pitch on his card. In Cincinnati, future Reds star Dave Concepcion had his initial Bowman and Topps cards in 1977.
Heading into the late 1970s, Royals star Frank White had a standout rookie season captured on his 1978 Topps issue. White would anchor second base for Kansas City throughout the decade. The Montreal Expos had their own core forming with the rookies of Warren Cromartie and Steve Rogers in 1978 Topps as well. In 1979, Donruss began to challenge Topps’ stronghold on the baseball card market by launching their inaugural set. For Topps that year, Cal Ripken Jr. debuted as an unpolished shortstop that foretold an eventual Hall of Fame career. Also in 1979, Ozzie Smith emerged for the Padres showing why he would evolve into a premier defensive wizard.
As the 1970s drew to a close, the rookie cards of the decade provided a glimpse at the legends that were beginning to make their mark in Major League Baseball. Future Hall of Famers like Reggie Jackson, Mike Schmidt, and Rickey Henderson had their introductions to the card collecting hobby through these early rookie issues. The 1970s established legendary names for collectors and fans alike, as a new generation of stars took the field to drive the evolution of baseball through the next several decades. Rookie cards from the 70s remain some of the most cherished in the hobby today due to memorializing the early careers of all-time greats.
