The 1970 baseball card season featured some of the most iconic and valuable cards in the entire hobby. While 1969 is often considered the pinnacle year for baseball cards due to the first appearance of stars like Reggie Jackson and Thurman Munson, 1970 had several highly coveted rookie cards and memorable cards of all-time greats that have shattered price records at auction. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most expensive 1970 baseball cards.
Perhaps the most legendary and valuable baseball card of all-time is the 1970 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie card. Only two specimens have ever graded Mint 9 or higher by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), making it incredibly rare in top condition. In 2021, a PSA Gem Mint 9.5 example of the Ryan rookie sold for an astonishing $900,000, setting the record as not only the most valuable 1970 card but the highest price paid for any mass-produced card on the PSA Set Registry. What makes this card so appealing to collectors is that it captures Ryan in his first Major League season with the California Angels before he became the career strikeout king.
Another coveted rookie card from the 1970 Topps set is that of Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, who became arguably the greatest catcher in MLB history. Bench was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1967, so his true rookie card is a bit earlier. His 1970 is still widely collected as one of the iconic cards showing Bench in his prime with the Cincinnati Reds. High grade PSA Gem Mint copies have sold for over $100,000, securing its place among the priciest cards from 1970. Like Ryan, Bench’s career accomplishments and status as a true legend of the game enhance the appeal for collectors.
While the cards above feature future Hall of Famers, one 1970 issue that has surprisingly skyrocketed in value is that of pitcher Dave McNally of the Baltimore Orioles. McNally had a solid 16-year career, but was never considered an all-time great. His card has become a trophy piece for advanced collectors for a few key reasons. First, it features a bizarre off-centered design that is both unexplainable and visually striking to obsessive collectors. Even more valuable are copies with the so-called “Striking Error”, where the card number is missing the number 1 – making it simply “13” instead of “113.” An example grading PSA Gem Mint+ 10 with the Striking Error sold in late 2021 for a record $186,000, upending predictions for what a 1970 McNally could be worth.
Continuing with the theme of oddball 1970 cards that have achieved six-figure prices, the Joe Rudi card holds a special distinction. The California Angels outfielder had a long, productive career, but like McNally is not considered an inner-circle Hall of Famer by any means. What puts Rudi’s 1970 Topps card in such high demand is that it features a highly off-center design that cuts off portions of his face, bat, and pants legs. This prominent “Top Loader Error” has attracted condition collectors willing to spend big bucks. Recently a Near Mint-Mint (PSA 8) example with the error sold for $108,000 despite Rudi being a non-superstar player. His card again shows how unique production errors can trump on-field accomplishments in the pricing of vintage cardboard.
Among the most expensive 1970 cards of true baseball icons are those featuring Boston Red Sox legends Carl Yastrzemski and Ted Williams. Yaz captured the AL Triple Crown and MVP award in 1967 and his 1970 Topps card beautifully captures him in a Red Sox uniform, mid-swing. High grades have sold for over $75,000. Meanwhile, the 1970 Topps card of Ted Williams, who was then in retirement, portrays him wearing a Red Sox throwback jersey. Near Mint copies in the PSA 7-8 range have topped $50,000. Both Hall of Famers spent their entire careers in Boston, increasing regional interest in their cards that are key pieces of Red Sox collecting history.
While the 1970 Topps set had many memorable and valuable commons, uncommons and stars, it’s the unusual errors, iconic rookies, and renowned veterans that have achieved truly record-breaking prices in recent years. Collectors are willing to pay top dollar for one-of-a-kind presentations of legends like Nolan Ryan and Johnny Bench, as well as oddities surrounding players like McNally and Rudi. The 70s vintage remains a popular area to discover classic designs and find overlooked gems before they gain appreciation. Where prices for 1970s issues will top out is anyone’s guess, but significant rarities and historically significant subjects will likely retain blue-chip status among paper collectors.
