The 1970 baseball season brought exciting new talent to Major League Baseball like Reggie Jackson and Hall of Famer Tom Seaver. It was also a banner year for the baseball card collecting hobby. While there are no true “rookie cards” from 1970 due to the player eligibility rules at the time, the 1970 card set launched some iconic players to stardom and included several short printed and error cards that make them highly valuable to collectors today. Here are some of the most valuable baseball cards from the 1970 set to keep an eye out for:
Tom Seaver (NYM) – Seaver had already established himself as one of the game’s best pitchers by 1970 after winning the 1969 National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards. His 1970 card shows him in a Mets uniform and is considered one of the all-time classic baseball cards. High grade Seaver ’70s in near mint to mint condition regularly sell for over $1,000. PSA/BGS Gem Mint 10 graded examples have sold for upwards of $5,000. Seaver’s talent, popularity, and Hall of Fame enshrinement make this one of his most coveted vintage cards.
Nolan Ryan (CAL) – While not quite the flamethrower he’d become, Ryan flashed dominant potential in 1970 with the California Angels. He won 15 games and struck out 313 batters en route to finishing 4th in AL Cy Young voting. The 1970 Nolan Ryan is one of the key Angels/California cards for collectors. High grade copies in PSA/BGS 8.5-10 condition range from $300-$1000. Like Seaver’s, Ryan’s signature on a vintage card holds considerable value.
Ron Santo (CHC) – Many collectors consider Santo one of the most underrated players of his era. An excellent defender at third base and a consistent RBI producer, “The Santo” made his fifth and final All-Star appearance in 1970. The 1970 Santo card remains one of the toughest Cubbies cards to find in pristine condition. BGS/PSA Gem Mint 10s sell for $600-800 regularly.
Ted Simmons (STL) – The 1970 Simmons was a short print card and is one of the rarest and most valuable from the set. As a newly installed everyday catcher for the Cardinals, Simmons showed promise by batting .303 in 1970. The low print run makes high grade Simmons cards very difficult to come by. Condition graded versions in BGS/PSA 9.5-10 can sell for over $1,500.
Steve Blass (PIT) – 1971 would become Blass’s career year where he won 19 games and started the All-Star game for the National League. In 1970, Blass was a versatile arm for “The Family” in Pittsburgh. His card is also considered “tougher” than the base cards and often sells for more in auctions. BGS/PSA 9s range from $200-500 depending on the population of high grade examples.
Joe Morgan (CIN) – One of the best second basemen in baseball history, Morgan anchored Cincinnati’s “Big Red Machine” championship squads. The 1970 Morgan provides one of the best looks at “Little Joe” during his early MVP caliber days with the Reds. It’s among his five most valuable cards pre-1975, with PSA/BGS 10s commanding $800-1200.
The 1970 Topps set also featured several notable errors that rank among the rarest cards from the entire run. The “Absentee Back” N.Y. Yankees error card missing the team emblem on the reverse is worth $800-1500 in high grade. Also the legendary “Stargell With Glasses” photo variation where Pittsburgh Pirate slugger Willie Stargell appears with eyeglasses poses for collectors. Just a handful are known to exist in mint condition, with one recently selling for over $15,000 in a PSA 10 grade.
While not true rookie cards, the 1970 Topps baseball issue introduced several future stars to the hobby. High quality examples of the aforementioned key short prints and stars continue to gain value as vintage sports collecting grows in popularity. For dedicated collectors, finding these prized ’70s in pristine condition can provide both immense enjoyment and long-term investment potential. The 1970 set launched iconic careers while also solidifying its place as one of the hobby’s most enduring and valuable yearly issues.
