The 1972 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic issues in the entire history of the hobby. It was the 21st series issued by Topps and featured 660 total cards including player, manager, rookie, and team issue cards. While the entire set holds value for collectors, there are several key rookie cards and stars of the era that stand out as being among the most valuable from 1972 Topps.
Perhaps the single most valuable card from the ’72 set is the rookie card of Hall of Famer George Brett. Brett made his major league debut in 1973 and went on to have a truly remarkable career with the Kansas City Royals spanning from 1973 to 1992. In that time, he batted .305 with 317 home runs and over 1,500 RBI while winning three batting titles and being named the MVP of the American League in 1980. Brett was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999 in just his first year of eligibility. Considering his legendary career and status as one of the greatest third basemen ever, it makes sense that his rookie card is one of the most coveted. In top mint condition, a PSA 10 graded Brett RC can fetch $15,000 or more at auction given its rarity and significance. Even well-centered near mint to mint copies in the PSA 7-9 range bring over $1,000.
Another extremely valuable card from the ’72 set is the rookie card of Hall of Fame pitcher Rich “Goose” Gossage. Gossage made his MLB debut in 1972 and went on to have a 22-year career spanning from 1972 to 1994 where he compiled a 3.01 ERA, 310 saves, and was selected to 7 All-Star games. He was elected to Cooperstown in 2008, his first year on the ballot. Like Brett, Gossage’s status as a legend of the game and a true Hall of Famer translate to high demand for his rookie card. Examples that grade PSA 10 in pristine condition can sell for over $10,000 today. More common PSA 7-9 copies still range from $500 to $2,000 based on centering and condition. His card is always in high demand from both vintage collectors and those focusing specifically on all-time great relievers.
Another young star and future Hall of Famer whose card holds great value is Johnny Bench. Bench had debuted in 1967 and was already well on his way to superstardom by 1972, having batted .275 with 23 home runs and 80 RBI as a 22-year old in 1971. He would go on to have a truly dominant 17-year career spent entirely with the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 where he was named the NL MVP twice and became perhaps the greatest offensive catcher in baseball history. Bench was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1989 in just his first year of eligibility. Unsurprisingly, collectors covet any card showing the iconic catcher in his prime years with the Big Red Machine. High grade PSA 8-10 copies of Bench’s ’72 Topps card can sell for $500 to $1,000 or more based on centering, sharpness of image, and overall appeal.
Along with young future Hall of Famers, the 1972 set also features several veteran superstars who were in the midst of incredible careers at the time such as Hank Aaron. Aaron was already well on his way to breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record, having hit 40 or more home runs in each of the previous 3 seasons including a league-leading 47 in 1971. He would go on to break the record in 1974 and retire with 755 career home runs. As one of the true icons of the game during a dominant era for the Atlanta Braves franchise, Aaron’s ‘72 Topps card remains a highly sought after piece for collector’s of all areas. PSA 9-10 copies in pristine condition rarely sell for under $1,000 when available on the secondary market. Even well-centered examples grading PSA 8 still command six-figure prices. No vintage baseball collection is complete without at least one card paying tribute to the immortal Hammerin’ Hank Aaron during his march towards baseball immortality.
While rookie cards and future Hall of Famers clearly top the Pop charts, the ’72 set also features several other unique short-print and error cards that have gained tremendous popularity over the years due to their scarcity. A notable example is the Billy Grabarkewitz short-print card, which is widely considered one of the true “holy grails” for collectors of the set due to its elusiveness. Grabarkewitz himself was an unremarkable player who appeared in just 80 career major league games, but his card was printed in extremely short order, believed to be around 10-20 copies produced. As a result, even well-centered examples that grade PSA 6 in worn condition can sell for $3,000 or more. Finding one that grades higher is an incredibly rare feat.
Another peculiar card holding immense value is the unofficial “blank back” N.L. Team issue seen by some collectors as the true short-print of the set. While Topps intended to feature statistics and records on the verso, early print runs saw the back left completely blank in error. These scarce test prints rarely trade hands privately, but a PSA-graded example did sell for a stunning $18,000 at public auction in 2019, emphasizing its legendary status among ’72 collectors. The Steve Garvey card featuring an upside-down photograph is a popular error that routinely fetches $500 – $1,000 depending on condition. Tales of these obscure printed anomalies are part of what fuels the mystique behind the hobby’s oldest and most beloved issues.
The 1972 Topps baseball card set endures as one of the most iconic in the history of the hobby, partly thanks to the treasure trove of valuable rookie cards, stars, and errors it features. While condition is always king when appraising value, mint examples of cards like George Brett, Rich Gossage, Johnny Bench, and Hank Aaron will likely always be top of the want lists for collectors from all eras due to their significance in baseball history and culture. Paired with other short-prints and anomalies, it cements the ‘72 issue as one of the most hunted and collected in the vintage realm.
