Baseball cards from the 1970s can contain hidden gems that are worth a significant amount of money today. While the 1970s may not be considered the golden age of baseball cards like the 1950s and 1960s, there are still many valuable and collectible cards produced during this decade that baseball card collectors seek after. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top baseball cards from the 1970s that could be worth a good amount of cash if found in near mint condition or received high grades from professional grading companies.
One of the most valuable and iconic 1970s baseball cards that can fetch a huge price is the 1975 Cal Ripken Jr. rookie card. Cal Ripken Jr. went on to have one of the greatest careers in baseball history as a shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles, winning two MVP awards and breaking Lou Gehrig’s iconic record of most consecutive games played. His rookie card is one of the most sought after from the 1970s due to his legendary career and the card’s scarcity. PSA 10 Gem Mint copies of Ripken’s 1975 rookie card have sold for over $100,000 at auction. Even lower graded PSA 8s and 9s in excellent condition can sell for thousands.
Another Orioles star with an extremely valuable 1970s rookie card is Eddie Murray. Murray had a Hall of Fame career hitting over 500 home runs and was one of the best hitting first basemen of his generation. His 1977 Topps rookie card is considered one of the key rookie cards from the late 1970s. High graded PSA 10 Murray rookie cards have sold for well over $10,000. Even PSA 8 and 9 copies still demand prices in the multiple thousands of dollars.
Two of the biggest stars from the 1970s Dodgers dynasty have rookie cards from that decade that are highly sought after – Steve Garvey and Ron Cey. Garvey’s 1969 Topps rookie is one of the scarcest from that entire set and high grades in PSA 10 can sell for $5,000 or more. Ron Cey’s 1970 Topps rookie also remains a key Dodgers card from that era. Both of these cards represent the foundation of the legendary Dodgers infield and starting lineups of the 1970s and 1980s.
Nolan Ryan was establishing himself as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history during the late 1960s and 1970s. His 1968 Topps rookie card is a must have for any collection and considered the key card from that set. High graded PSA 10 copies have sold for over $15,000. Even well-centered PSA 9 examples can still sell for $3,000-$5,000. Another valuable Nolan Ryan card is his 1974 Topps issue where he is shown with the California Angels. This represents his first season after being traded from the Mets and a PSA 10 sold for over $6,000.
Two other star pitchers with valuable 1970s rookie cards include Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton. Seaver burst onto the scene winning the 1967 NL Rookie of the Year award and his 1967 Topps rookie is a true gem. PSA 10s have sold for $10,000+, with most graded 9s selling in the $3,000+ range. Carlton followed up his 1968 ROY award winning season with many more great years, and his 1968 Topps rookie remains a key card from that vintage. High graded PSA 10 Carlton rookies have brought in over $5,000 at auction.
The 1970s also saw the rise of power hitting sluggers like Reggie Jackson and Dave Kingman, who each have prized rookie cards from that decade. Jackson’s 1967 Topps issue debuted “Reggie! Reggie!” in Kansas City and a PSA 10 recently sold for over $8,000. Kingman’s 1972 Topps rookie as a San Francisco Giant can reach $2,000+ in top grades as well due to his prodigious home run totals.
Two other stars whose 1970s rookie cards are in high demand include Rod Carew and George Brett. Carew’s 1968 Topps rookie as a Minnesota Twin remains iconic from that vintage. PSA 10s have topped $5,000. Future Hall of Famer George Brett’s 1973 Topps rookie as a Kansas City Royal is also very valuable in top condition, with a PSA 10 recently selling for over $3,000.
There are also some key 1970s team and league leader subset cards that are worth significant money today. The 1975 Topps Hank Aaron team leader subset card commemorating Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record is highly sought after. A PSA 10 recently sold for over $4,000. The 1974 Topps N.L. Batting Average leader card featuring Pete Rose is another valuable subset, with PSA 10s reaching $2,000+.
While the 1970s may not have the same cachet as the 1950s-1960s, there are still many valuable baseball cards produced during this decade worth searching for in collections and at card shows. Rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Ripken, Murray, Ryan, Seaver, and Carew lead the way. But stars like Garvey, Cey, Brett, and Jackson also have prized early issue cards. Even team leader and record breaking cards can carry substantial value. With the right combination of star power and condition, 1970s baseball cards truly have the potential to be worth thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars today.
