The 1972 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic issues in the entire hobby. The design featured vibrant colors and large photos of the players, which was a major change from the previous few years. The 1972 set also marked the debut of several future Hall of Famers like Steve Carlton and Reggie Jackson. With its historical significance and inclusion of many star players from that era, 1972 Topps cards remain highly popular with collectors today.
The most valuable card in the 1972 Topps set is generally considered to be the #1 rookie card of Reggie Jackson. In gem mint condition, a PSA 10 graded example of this card recently sold for over $500,000. Even lower graded copies in VG-EX condition can still fetch thousands. What makes Jackson’s rookie so desirable is that he went on to have a Hall of Fame career hitting 563 home runs and being named World Series MVP three times. His first card captures him at the beginning of his stellar run with the Athletics.
Another highly sought after card is #556 Steve Carlton of the Phillies. Known as “Lefty,” Carlton won four Cy Young awards and was one of the most dominant pitchers of the 1970s. High grade copies of his 1972 Topps card in PSA 8-10 condition range from $3,000-$10,000. Carlton’s stats, accomplishments, and iconic status as a Philadelphia legend make this a must-have for Phillies collectors.
Aside from rookies and stars, the most valuable common cards (non-rookies, non-stars) tend to be higher numbers from the back of the set. This is because they were produced in lower quantities and are consequently harder to find in top condition today. Two examples would be #660 Don Money of the Brewers and #672 Darrell Porter of the Cardinals, which can reach $150-$300 in PSA 8-9 grades.
Moving down the checklist, the rookie card of Hall of Famer Dave Winfield (#182) regularly sells for $100-300 in EX-MT condition depending on the exact grade. Winfield went on to have a stellar 22-year career, hitting 465 home runs and making 12 All-Star appearances. His rookie card is a must for any collection focused on the 1970s and early stars.
Top stars like Johnny Bench (#1), Tom Seaver (#25), Hank Aaron (#30), and Rod Carew (#80) can reach $50-150 in EX-MT grades as well. These were among the biggest names in baseball throughout the 1970s, so their base cards remain quite popular. Lower numbered cards tend to carry a slight premium since they were produced in fewer quantities.
In terms of the overall population, high grade 1972 Topps cards above a PSA 8 are quite scarce. According to PSA’s population report, only a small fraction of the original print run still exists in pristine condition. For example, there are just 29 PSA 10 copies of the Reggie Jackson rookie out of thousands that were originally printed. This rarity drives up prices significantly for top-graded examples.
When looking at average mid-range copies in EX-MT condition, common players will range from $1-10. These include backups, role players, and pitchers not ranked among the stars of the era. Even commons retain value since the 1972 design is a favorite of collectors. A complete set can usually be acquired for $500-1000 depending on overall condition.
The 1972 Topps baseball card set remains one of the most iconic issues due to its high-quality design, inclusion of several all-time great rookies, and capturing a pivotal era of the sport in the 1970s. Keys cards will always be the rookies of Reggie Jackson and Dave Winfield plus stars like Carlton, Bench, Aaron, and Seaver. But collectors also value the higher numbers and condition scarce examples throughout. Graded gems can sell for thousands, making 1972 Topps a reliable investment even after all these years.
