Baseball cards were hugely popular with collectors in the 1970s. Kids across America swapped, traded, and added to their collections of these colorful cardboard commodities. The 1970s saw the rise of several huge stars in the game of baseball that became highly sought after on the collecting market.
One of the most iconic players of the decade was Reggie Jackson. Jackson burst onto the scene in the late 1960s with the Oakland A’s and quickly became one of the premier power hitters in the league. In the 1970s, Jackson was traded to the Baltimore Orioles and then signed a huge free agent deal with the New York Yankees prior to the 1977 season. This move to one of baseball’s marquee franchises in New York put Jackson squarely in the spotlight. His mammoth home runs in the 1977 World Series coined him the nickname “Mr. October” and turned him into a true superstar. Naturally, any Reggie Jackson cards from the 1970s, especially ones showing him in his Yankees pinstripes, are extremely valuable today.
Another slugger who exploded onto the scene in the 1970s was George Brett of the Kansas City Royals. Brett made his MLB debut in 1973 and quickly established himself as one of the best all-around third basemen in baseball. Brett was known for his hitting prowess and ability to consistently hit for both power and average throughout his career. His rookie cards from 1973 are considered key cards for any 1970s collection. Brett went on to have a Hall of Fame career and remain with the Royals his entire career, making his cards especially desirable for Royals fans and collectors.
In addition to stars like Jackson and Brett, the 1970s also saw the rise of pitchers who became card collecting favorites. One of those was Nolan Ryan of the California Angels. Ryan entered the league in 1966 but didn’t find superstardom until the 1970s when he began racking up no-hitters and strikeouts at a record pace. Ryan’s electric 100 mph fastball made him a must-see on the mound and one of the first true “flamethrowers” in baseball history. Any Nolan Ryan card from his early Angels days, especially ones showing his blazing heat, are highly coveted by collectors.
Another 1970s pitching great who is a card collecting favorite is Tom Seaver of the New York Mets. Seaver burst onto the National League scene in 1967 and quickly established himself as one of the premier power pitchers in baseball. Seaver led the “Miracle Mets” to a shocking World Series title in 1969 and became the face of the franchise. Throughout the 1970s, Seaver continued pitching with pinpoint control and a devastating sinking fastball. His rookie cards as well as any showing him in his Mets pinstripes are very valuable, especially in high grades.
Beyond just star players, the 1970s also saw the rise of several expansion teams that generated new cards for collectors. In 1977, the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays joined Major League Baseball as expansion franchises. This meant a whole new crop of rookie cards hitting the market from these teams. Players like Alan Trammell, Willie Horton, Rod Carew, and Dave Nicholson had early career cards that are still popular with collectors interested in complete 1970s team sets.
The 1970s saw the introduction of several innovative new card designs that became instant classics. In 1975, Topps introduced the first “photo variation” cards that featured different action photos on the fronts compared to the standard issue cards. These photo variations became hugely popular with collectors. In 1976, Topps began using color photos on the fronts of cards for the first time instead of black and white images. This made for very visually striking cards that collectors loved.
The late 1970s also saw the rise of the private label card market. Companies like Fleer and Donruss entered the baseball card scene in direct competition with longtime leader Topps. This new competition led to innovative new designs like the “fielding position” cards produced by Fleer in 1978 that showed the player in action at their specific defensive spot. The private label boom opened up new collecting opportunities beyond just Topps cards.
The 1970s was a transformative decade for baseball cards. New stars, teams, and innovative designs made for a booming market. Any collection focusing on 1970s cards would want to include the stars and rookies mentioned that dominated the decade like Reggie Jackson, George Brett, and Nolan Ryan. Key rookie and early career cards as well as cards showing players with their iconic 1970s teams are most in demand. The 1970s truly represented the golden age of baseball cards in terms of popularity, innovation, and the emergence of all-time great players.
