The 1973 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most collectible issues from the 1970s. While it lacks the sheer star power of some other vintage sets from that era, the ’73 Topps release does contain several highly sought after rookie cards and short prints that have made some individual cards from the 660-card checklist incredibly valuable to dedicated collectors. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable 1973 Topps baseball cards on the market today based on graded Gem Mint PSA 10 population numbers and recent sales data.
Leading the way is arguably the most prized boxing possession in all of sports memorabilia – the coveted 1973 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie card. Capturing the flame-throwing Houston Astros ace in just his second big league season after making his MLB debut in 1966, this iconic cardboard has become the holy grail for Ryan collectors worldwide. In PSA 10 condition, the Ryan rookie has shattered records, selling for as much as $435,000 at auction in recent years. The flawless surface and sharp corners typically demand a serious five-figure price tag minimum for this card. Its scarcity has only increased demand, with the total PSA 10 population around 50-60 copies. Nothing else from the ’73 set comes close to its immense collector value.
Another career-defining rookie card that fetches huge dollars is that of Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, who broke into the majors in 1967 with the New York Mets. Seaver made his Topps debut in 1968, but his true rookie is the ’73 issue, which portrays “Tom Terrific” in a Mets uniform during his Cy Young Award-winning season. PSA 10 Seaver rookies have reportedly sold for over $150,000 at recent auction, commanding a price rivaling some of the most iconic rookie cards from the pre-war era. With a PSA 10 population of around 25-30 copies, it’s second only to Nolan Ryan among ’73 Topps cards in terms of mint condition rarity and investment caliber.
While not rookies, two other Hall of Famers with incredibly scarce and visually stunning ’73 Topps issues are Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente. Aaron’s PSA 10 has a population of three copies or less, making it plausibly the rarest individual card in the set. Meanwhile, the late Roberto Clemente’s iconic card in pristine condition can bring $10,000 or more due to its lovely eye appeal, legendary subject, and status as one of the tightest PSA 10 populations across all vintage issues, currently sitting at just two gem mint copies verified.
A couple of true rookie cards outside the obvious big names also hold immensely promising long-term value. Dodgers hurler Don Sutton’s first Bowman/Topps issue from 1973, which portrays him in a Dodgers uniform, has seen PSA 10 examples trade hands for $5,000+. Sutton went on to become a Hall of Famer and won more than 300 career games, so his classic rookie maintains appeal. But the real hidden gems could be Pittsburgh Pirates’ rookie cards of Dave Parker and John Candelaria, who both went on to stellar careers yet have tiny PSA 10 populations of just one and two copies respectively. They represent major long shots for finding the proverbial “golden ticket.”
Beyond the Hall of Famers and true rookie cards, other short prints and error cards from the 1973 Topps release can attract strong four-figure prices in top grades as well. Examples include Oakland A’s reliever Rollie Fingers’ short print card, which might yield $2,000-$3,000 in PSA 10 condition. The Steve Carlton Phillies card is also a coveted short print that frequently trades in the $1,000 range in pristine condition. Meanwhile, anyone finding the extremely rare “prototype” variation of the Orioles team card in PSA 10 could have a true Condition Census contender worth potentially five figures or more.
While competition has grown keener over the decades for desirable cards from the inaugural Topps issue of 1952 and subsequent 1950s runs, savvy collectors have begun to recognize the legend-laden 1973 set’s potential as a profitable long-term investment vehicle. From superstar rookie cards like Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver to the unbelievably rare Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente issues, this single-year set released during the dawn of the 1970s decade contains numerous cards that could appreciate exponentially in value as mint condition copies continue disappearing from the remaining population. With smart collecting and patience, the 1973 Topps baseball release still holds the capability of producing future six and even seven-figure auction prices.
