The 1972 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic issues in the hobby’s history. While it may lack the star power of some previous years, the ’72 Topps set contains several highly valuable rookie cards that continue to excite collectors decades later. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable gems from this 660-card vintage release.
Heading the list is the rookie card of Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver, who debuted with the New York Mets in 1967 but is featured in his first Topps card in 1972. Seaver went on to have an illustrious 20-year career highlighted by 311 wins, three Cy Young Awards, and a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame. In near-mint to mint condition, his 1972 Topps rookie card can sell for between $20,000-$30,000. The combination of Seaver’s on-field success and the iconic imagery used on his rookie make it one of the most desirable cards in the set.
Another rookie which has soared up the value charts is Reggie Jackson’s 1972 Topps debut. Known as “Mr. October” for his postseason heroics, Jackson slammed 563 home runs over 21 seasons and earned enshrinement in Cooperstown. High-grade copies of his rookie now demand $4,000-$6,000 at auction. What makes it particularly rare is the absence of any photo variation, as Topps only produced one version of Jackson’s rookie card image.
Rookie cards for Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan and elite third baseman Brooks Robinson also command big numbers from collectors. Morgan’s first Topps card, issued during his breakthrough 1971 season with the Houston Astros, fetches $2,000-$3,000 in mint condition. Meanwhile, Robinson’s ’72 card has increased in value to $1,500-2,000 despite being the Baltimore Oriole great’s 12th Topps issue. Both players had already established themselves as superstars by 1972.
While not rookies, the 1972 Topps cards of Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente have taken on additional significance in recent years. Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record in 1974 with 755 career round-trippers, transcending baseball to become an American icon. Near-mint copies of his ’72 Topps card trade in the $600-$900 range. Clemente, meanwhile, was killed in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. The outpouring of sympathy following his untimely death at 38 elevated his 1972 Topps card to $400-$600.
Among the set’s biggest rarities is the 1972 Topps card featuring iconic pitcher Nolan Ryan in an Angels uniform but with an aberrant photo showing him wearing a Pirates cap from a previous season. Only a small number are believed to exist with this photo error, making mint condition versions highly valuable at $8,000-$10,000 each. Another major photo variation occurs with Dick Allen’s card, which exists with either a Philadelphia or Chicago White Sox photo. The rarer Sox version fetches over $1,500.
While it may lack some of the headliner rookie cards of previous years, the 1972 Topps set endures because it captures future Hall of Famers like Seaver, Morgan, and Jackson in their earliest Topps cards. Factors like on-field achievements, unique photo variations, and untimely deaths have driven certain cards in this set to higher values over time. For dedicated collectors, hunting down a complete ’72 Topps set in stellar condition remains a prized and prestigious achievement.
