The 1973 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic issues in the vintage era of the 1950s-1970s. It marked the 20th anniversary of Topps’ famous baseball card line that had grown to be a staple of the hobby. The 1973 set contains photos from the 1972 season and rookies of future Hall of Famers like Dave Winfield and Jim Rice. With its classic design and historical significance, 1973 Topps cards remain highly collectible and their prices have grown steadily over the decades. Here is an in-depth price guide to help collectors value some of the key cards from this set.
The base rookie card of Dave Winfield is one of the true gems from 1973 Topps. As a Hall of Famer who went on to have an outstanding 22-year career, Winfield’s rookie is among the most desirable in the set. In top mint condition, a PSA 10 grade 1973 Dave Winfield rookie can fetch over $10,000. Even in excellent near-mint to mint (NM-MT 8) condition, it regularly sells for $1,000-$2,000. Another star rookie is Jim Rice, who had a great career winning the MVP award in 1978. Rice’s 1973 Topps rookie has gained value over the years and a PSA 10 now sells for $3,000-$5,000, with an 8 grade bringing $500-700.
Superstar veterans like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Roberto Clemente also have valuable cards in the 1973 set since it was during their Hall of Fame careers. An Aaron or Mays in gem mint condition could sell for $1,000 or more. Their cards tend to grade poorly so most average around a PSA 6 which sells for $100-200. Roberto Clemente’s card is especially collectible since it was issued shortly before his tragic death in a plane crash in 1972 at age 38. A PSA 10 Clemente could reach $3,000 while a PSA 8 is $500-800.
Two of the most iconic cards in any vintage set are the rookie cards of Nolan Ryan and George Brett. Ryan’s electric arm made him a superstar and he went on to break numerous pitching records. In a PSA 10 grade, his 1973 Topps rookie has sold for as much as $25,000 in recent years. Even a PSA 8 will fetch $3,000-5,000. Future Hall of Famer George Brett’s rookie is also highly sought after by collectors. A PSA 10 has reached $10,000 while a PSA 8 sells around $2,000-3,000.
Other star players like Johnny Bench, Tom Seaver, and Reggie Jackson have valuable high-grade rookie or star cards as well. Bench and Seaver were both in the prime of their careers in 1973. A PSA 10 of either future Hall of Famer could reach $1,000-2,000. Reggie Jackson had already established himself as one of the game’s best power hitters by 1973. His card typically sells for $200-500 in PSA 8 condition. While not rookies, these were iconic players at the time which adds to the collectibility of their 1973 Topps issues.
Beyond the star players, there are also several other notable subsets and parallel variations that increase the value of certain 1973 Topps cards. The photo variation subset contains 36 alternate action shot cards within the base 660-card set. High numbers cards over #500 also tend to be scarcer and thus more valuable. The “3-D” cards featuring players with no photo background were also inserted throughout the set in very low print runs. These variants can fetch 10x or more than the base issue. Errors, oddball stats on the back, or unique photo poses make certain common player cards quite valuable as well.
The 1973 Topps set remains one of the most collectible issues from the vintage era. With its memorable design on the 20th anniversary of the Topps baseball line and the inclusion of so many all-time great players, the 1973s hold strong appeal for collectors. While the mega-stars will always be the most expensive, there are also bargains to be had in high grades of solid role players or variations. For researchers, the 1973 Topps set provides a historical snapshot of the game during a transition period after many 1960s stars had retired. It’s a great vintage set for both casual collectors and serious investors alike.
