The 1970s were a pivotal decade for the growth of baseball card collecting. As interest in the hobby boomed during this time period, several iconic rookie cards and rare variations emerged that have achieved legendary status among collectors. While thousands of baseball cards were printed in the 1970s, only a select few have attained value in the millions of dollars due to their scarcity and importance in documenting some of the game’s all-time great players.
At the top of the list from the 1970s is the iconic Mike Schmidt rookie card from 1975. As the first true superstar of the Philadelphia Phillies’ franchise, Schmidt went on to have a Hall of Fame career as one of the greatest third basemen in baseball history. His 1975 Topps rookie card, featuring him in a Phillies uniform during his debut season, is the undisputed crown jewel of 1970s cardboard. In pristine mint condition, examples of Schmidt’s rookie have sold for over $2.5 million, making it not only the most valuable card from the ’70s but one of the highest valued in the entire hobby.
Another ultra-rare 1970s rookie that has achieved unbelievable prices is the Nolan Ryan Express USA commemorative card from 1973. Issued as an incentive to sell magazine subscriptions, the Ryan Express USA features a rookie-era portrait of “The Ryan Express” in his California Angels uniform along with a train-themed graphic recognizing his blazing fastball. Only 415 copies were ever produced, meaning finding one in gem mint condition today is nearly impossible. One received a record-setting bid of $1.2 million in a 2013 auction, standing as another crucial piece of baseball memorabilia from the decade.
Staying with the theme of legendary pitchers, the Orel Hershiser rookie card from 1983 also ranks among the most expensive 1970s issues. Despite being printed a few years after most of the other top cards from the decade, Hershiser’s iconic 1983 Fleer rookie remains wildly scarce and desirable for collectors due to his amazing accomplishments soon after. In 1988, Hershiser set the MLB record for most consecutive scoreless innings in a season and won both the Cy Young Award and World Series MVP honors for the Dodgers. Grading a pristine gem mint 10, one example of his scarce 1983 rookie sold for $561,000 at auction.
A true “holy grail” of 1970s cardboard is the Hank Aaron 1956 Topps rookie card. As one of the game’s all-time home run kings who passed Babe Ruth on the career list, collecting any Aaron rookie is a lifelong dream of many. Sadly, the 1956 Topps set containing Aaron’s first major issued card was short-printed, leaving only an estimated 50-100 surviving copies in high-grade today. A PSA 8 copy sold in October 2016 for $369,000, highlighting Aaron’s status as a collectible icon from his first decade in the league. His earlier Bowman and Topps cards carrying his Milwaukee Braves photos would demand millions in mint condition as well.
If the Aaron rookie is in unattainable territory, another iconic Braves slugger provides a more realistic chase for some collectors – the Dale Murphy rookie card from 1977. Representing Murphy’s breakout rookie campaign with the Braves, the 1977 Topps card became highly sought after as “Murph” went on to win back-to-back NL MVP awards in 1982-83. Numbered to a short-print run even for its time, BGS-graded 9 copies have sold for upwards of $25,000 in recent auction results. Still housed in the original wax packaging and sporting paper-fresh surfaces, examples could conceivably bring six-figure bids.
Moving from players to sets, the 1972 Topps set as a whole is recognized as one of the true gems of the decade and period. Featuring the debut of several all-time pitching talents like Tom Seaver, Steve Carlton, and Nolan Ryan, the ’72s came armed with colorful design, sharp photography, and a true who’s who of baseball at the time. In the midst of the peak of the modern baseball card boom, a complete factory set graded Mint by SGC recently sold for nearly $100,000. Key rookie cards within like Seaver, Carlton, and Ryan can reach $10,000 each in high-end condition.
Beginning what would become a legendary run with the Big Red Machine, the Joe Morgan rookie card from 1968 is another defining piece from the late ’60s/early ’70s period. As the first iteration of “Little Poison” in a Reds uniform, high-grade versions continue to deliver six-figure price tags. One PSA 8 copy hit a staggering $221,230 at auction in 2017. By winning back-to-back NL MVPs in 1975-76 and playing a huge role in Cincinnati’s World Series titles, Morgan cemented his place as a true icon of the decade in baseball annals.
While thousands of affordable collectibles were produced during the 1970s boom, it’s the elite rookie cards, short prints, and true one-of-a-kind items that will forever stand as some of the most prized possessions in the modern collecting realm. Whether it’s the Holy Grails of Mike Schmidt, Nolan Ryan, Hank Aaron or seminal 1970s issues like the 1972 Topps set, these legendary pieces of cardboard continue to define value, scarcity, and the allure of the vintage hobby.
