Baseball cards from the 1970s hold a special place in the hearts of many collectors. The designs were colorful and creative, capturing the fun, flashy styles of the disco era. For collectors, some 1970s cards can also be worth serious money depending on the player, the condition of the card, and other factors. Let’s take a look at some of the top baseball cards from the 1970s that could fetch a high price from collectors today.
One of the most valuable 1970s baseball cards that can sell for thousands is the 1975 Nolan Ryan rookie card. Ryan went on to have one of the greatest pitching careers in MLB history, striking out over 5,000 batters. His rookie card was produced by Topps and is the one card that truly launched his stardom. High grade examples in near-mint to mint condition can sell for $15,000 or more. Even well-worn copies in played condition still sell for $1,000+. The rarer 1975 Nolan Ryan rookie card produced by Fleer is also highly coveted, with mint condition copies valued around $20,000.
Another highly sought after 1970s rookie card is the 1979 Cal Ripken Jr. RC produced by Topps. Ripken went on to break Lou Gehrig’s iconic streak of most consecutive games played and is considered one of the greatest shortstops ever. Near-mint BVG 9 condition 1979 Cal Ripken Jr. rookie cards can fetch $7,000-$10,000. Well-centered copies in mint condition have even sold for over $15,000. This is one of the most iconic cards from the late 70s/early 80s era.
The 1971 Roberto Clemente rookie produced by Topps is also an extremely valuable card for collectors. Clemente was already an established star by the early 70s but still holds rookie status for collectors. Tragically, he died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Near-mint copies of his 1971 Topps RC in BVG 8.5-9 condition can sell for $4,000-$6,000. Pristine mint copies have even sold for well over $10,000.
Two other notable 1970s rookie cards that can be worth big money include the 1975 George Brett rookie card and the 1977 Eddie Murray rookie card, both produced by Topps. Brett went on to have a Hall of Fame career and is considered one of the greatest third basemen ever. High grade examples of his 1975 Topps RC in BVG 8.5-9 condition sell for $2,000-$4,000. Murray also had a long and productive career hitting over 500 home runs. His 1977 Topps rookie in similar top-notch condition sells in the $1,500-$3,000 range.
In addition to rookie cards, there are also several key 1970s stars whose iconic cards hold significant value. One of the most expensive is the 1972 Topps #50 Mike Schmidt card, commonly referred to as the “Schmidt Back”. This features a unique action shot of Schmidt swinging from behind. High grade copies in BVG 8.5-9 condition command $2,500-$4,000. Another highly coveted 1970s star card is the 1973 Topps #20 Johnny Bench. As arguably the greatest catcher ever, his classic action pose makes this a true icon. Near-mint copies sell for $1,000-$2,000.
Two other 1970s star cards that regularly sell for four figures include the 1975 Topps #126 Reggie Jackson (“October Hero”) and the 1978 Topps #500 Dave Parker (“Slide”). Jackson’s iconic home run pose from Game 6 of the 1977 World Series is treasured by collectors. BVG 8.5-9 copies sell between $1,200-$2,000. Parker’s dramatic headfirst slide is also a fan favorite from the late 70s. Near-mint examples sell in the $800-$1,500 range. Both capture these sluggers at the peak of their stardom.
In addition to rookie cards and stars, there are also several key short print and error cards from the 1970s that can be worth a substantial amount of money. One of the most valuable is the 1975 Topps #646 Lenny Randle Short Print. This card was printed in extremely low numbers and finding high grade copies is very difficult. Pristine mint condition examples in PSA/BGS 10 have sold for over $10,000. Another notable short print card is the 1979 Topps #770 Larry Little. Near-perfect BGS/PSA 9.5 copies have sold for $2,500-$4,000.
Two other 1970s error cards that can bring big bucks include the 1975 Topps #646 Wayne Garland Error and the 1978 Hostess #34 Rod Carew Error. The Garland error features an extra stripe on his uniform not seen on any other card that year. High grade copies sell for $1,000-$2,000. Meanwhile, the Carew error features a blank back without any stats or information about the player. Pristine PSA/BGS 10 copies have sold for over $3,000. These rare production mistakes make them particularly special finds for collectors.
When it comes to condition, the obvious mantra is that the higher the grade from services like PSA or BGS, the more valuable the card will be. There are still plenty of 1970s cards that can hold value even in rougher shape. Complete common cards from the era in played/good condition can still sell for $50-$100 raw. Higher end stars and key rookie cards in similar lower grades still sell for several hundred dollars. And for popular vintage sets like the 1975 or 1976 Topps issues, even complete common runs in fair-played condition sell in the $500-$1,000 range.
While 1970s baseball cards may not fetch the same astronomical prices as their 1950s/1960s predecessors, there are still many valuable gems to be found. Sought after rookie cards, iconic stars, and rare errors/variants have the potential to sell for thousands or even tens of thousands in top grades. Meanwhile, even more played copies still retain value for collectors. For those who came of age in the 1970s, these colorful cards also hold immense nostalgia. With the vintage baseball card market as strong as ever, select 1970s issues will surely continue increasing in value for years to come.
