The 1972 Topps baseball card set is highly sought after by collectors due to its inclusion of several young star rookies who would go on to have Hall of Fame careers. With 714 total cards issued as part of the set, it provides collectors with numerous valuable and historic options. Several cards have risen well above the rest in terms of monetary worth, given the players depicted and their condition. Below is an in-depth examination of the top five most valuable cards from the 1972 Topps set based on PSA Gem Mint 10 population reports and recent auction prices.
The undisputed gem of the 1972 set is the Nolan Ryan rookie card. Featured as card #130 in the set, it contains one of the most iconic photos in baseball card history showing the fireballing pitcher in his classic high leg kick windup. Ryan would go on to have one of the greatest careers ever for a pitcher, establishing numerous career records including strikeouts and no-hitters. In PSA Gem Mint 10 condition, his rookie has sold for as much as $99,000 in recent auction, with most gems bringing $50,000-$80,000. The combination of subject, photo quality, and extreme rarity in pristine condition (only 12 PSA 10s exist) make this the crown jewel of the ’72 set.
Another true blue chip rookie from 1972 is George Brett’s card, featured as #498. Brett enjoyed a Hall of Fame career primarily with the Kansas City Royals and is considered one of the greatest third basemen ever. His ’72 rookie in PSA 10 condition has achieved prices of $24,000-$35,000 at auction in recent years. Brett consistently hit for both power and average throughout his career and won awards such as MVP in 1980 when he hit .390. With a sharp photo and mid-range Gem Mint 10 population of 31 cards, Brett’s rookie remains very much in demand.
A more recent rise in value has been seen with Graig Nettles’ 1972 card, marked as #629. While not a true rookie since Nettles debuted in 1967, it was his first card as a member of the New York Yankees where he would star for over a decade. A 6-time All Star and 3-time Gold Glover at third base, Nettles helped the Bronx Bombers capture 3 World Series titles in the 1970s. His slick defensive skills and power bat made him a fan favorite. In PSA 10, his ’72 Topps has brought $15,000-$20,000 at recent sales given his Yankee legacy and relative scarcity with a population of just 18 Gems.
Another defensive wizard and Bronx stalwart, Thurman Munson’s 1972 Topps is highly regarded. As card #661, it came early in the legendary catcher’s career before he was named AL Rookie of the Year in 1970. Munson would captain the Yankees for much of the 1970s and was a 7-time All Star and 3-time Gold Glove winner before his tragic death in 1979. His leadership is still revered by Yankee fans today. PSA 10 examples have brought $12,000-$18,000 as one of the harder conditioned cards to find with a census of only 19 Gems.
Rounding out the top five is Willie McCovey’s 1972 card, marked #663. While not quite a rookie, it was one of the slugger’s earliest Topps issues before “Stretch” became a household name. McCovey bashed 521 career home runs primarily with the San Francisco Giants and was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1959. He remains one of the best pure power hitters of his generation. Despite a higher PSA 10 population of 69 cards, pristine ’72 McCoveys still command $8,000-$12,000 due to his iconic stature in baseball history.
While several other standout young players and future Hall of Famers received their first Topps cards in 1972 such as Dave Winfield and Rollie Fingers, the combination of superstar talent, winning franchises, timely debuts and harder conditioned gems make the cards of Nolan Ryan, George Brett, Graig Nettles, Thurman Munson, and Willie McCovey the true heavy hitters of monetary value from the iconic 1972 set nearly 50 years later. With populations still moderately low considering the massive size of the set originally, these keys maintain tremendous desirability for savvy vintage baseball card investors and enthusiasts.
