The 1970 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the more valuable vintage sets from the late 1960s and early 1970s. While it doesn’t contain any true icon rookie cards, there are several stars featured who would go on to have Hall of Fame careers. The 1970 set also marked the debut of Topps’ decision to include player photos on the cards rather than illustrations, a shift that started in 1969 but was fully realized in the ‘70 set. Overall condition and scarcity of certain high-numbered cards contributes greatly to their value today. Let’s take a closer look at some of the 1970 Topps cards that can fetch a handsome price for collectors.
One of the most valuable regular issue cards from the 1970 set is that of Nolan Ryan, who was just starting his legendary career with the California Angels at the time. Ryan’s flowing long hair and muscular build perfectly capture his dominant pitching ability coming into focus. High-grade Ryan rookies from this set in Near Mint to Gem Mint condition can sell for $500-700. Another power pitcher who debuted in 1970 was Sparky Lyle of the New York Yankees. As a valuable member of multiple Yankees championship bullpens, Lyle’s career took off. His 1970 Topps card in top condition frequently trades hands for $300-400.
Two of the biggest stars of the 1970 set whose cards maintain strong collector demand decades later are Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. Having broken Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record in 1974, Aaron was in the later stages of his phenomenal career with the Atlanta Braves in 1970. PSA/BGS Gem Mint 10 versions of his ‘70 Topps card have sold for over $2,000. Willie Mays was still playing centerfield like few others could at age 39 as a member of the New York Mets. High-grade copies of his iconic smiling ‘70 issue can demand $1,200-1,500 on the vintage market.
Moving over to the American League, two Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Pirates who had been traded fetched notable sums. Roberto Clemente was a 12-time Gold Glover for Pittsburgh before his tragic death in a plane crash in 1972. In PSA 10 condition his 1970 Topps is assessed at a $1,000 value. Blessed with legendary power and later the Captain of the “Lumber Company” Oakland A’s dynasty, Reggie Jackson’s early Birds career is encapsulated in his 1970 issue which has traded hands for $800 in top status. Another member of those great “Swingin’ A’s” teams was Sal Bando. His 1970 card portraying his days with the Milwaukee Brewers has reached $600 for high-grade examples.
When it comes to the higher-numbered cards in the 1970 Topps set, scarcity plays a major role in driving up collectible value. Cards #651-652 featured a photo of then U.S. President Richard Nixon alongside team headshots of the Washington Senators players. With a small original print run, graded PSA/BGS Gems of this Nixon card have sold for well over $5,000 each. Other scarce late ‘70s include Boston Red Sox pitcher Ken Sanders at #699 ($1,600 PSA 10) and Oakland A’s reliever Bob Locker at #700 ($1,200 PSA/BGS 10). Their rarity as the final issued players in the set makes these quite coveted investments for 70s card collectors.
Condition is king when assessing the true worth of any vintage baseball card set from the pre-1980s era. 1970 Topps endured over 50 years of handling and presents restoration and fakes challenges. It’s crucial during buying/selling to verify authenticity and assess centering, corners, edges and surfaces very carefully under a loupe or powerful magnification. But for discerning collectors willing to spend the time and money ensuring a card’s quality, choice examples from the 1970 Topps lot can offer strong returns and reflect a special time period in the evolution of the sport on cardboard. Patience, savvy sleuthing, and luck are needed to land true condition census cards, but the rewards of doing so can yield pieces of memorabilia that maintain excellent liquidity and growth over decades.
While 1970 Topps lacks any true star rookies, certain regular issue cards of such legends as Nolan Ryan, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Reggie Jackson and others have proven to retain front-of-mind demand with collectors even a half-century after production. Meanwhile, high-number errors, variations and short-print issues provide fruitful avenues of discovery for advanced collectors. Discerning vintage card investors who focus on confirmed authentic specimens in pristine condition stand to recognize strong returns on prized 1970s cardboard in the decades ahead, especially as the generation who enjoyed these players in their prime continues fueling collector fervor and prices paid. Select noteworthy issues from the 350-card 1970 Topps baseball cardchecklist remain worthy targets for savvy vintage traders to uncover and build value long-term.
