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1973 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS MOST VALUABLE

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The 1973 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most collectible issues from the 1970s. While it lacks the sheer star power of some other vintage sets from that era, the ’73 Topps release does contain several highly sought after rookie cards and short prints that have made some individual cards from the 660-card checklist incredibly valuable to dedicated collectors. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable 1973 Topps baseball cards on the market today based on graded Gem Mint PSA 10 population numbers and recent sales data.

Leading the way is arguably the most prized boxing possession in all of sports memorabilia – the coveted 1973 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie card. Capturing the flame-throwing Houston Astros ace in just his second big league season after making his MLB debut in 1966, this iconic cardboard has become the holy grail for Ryan collectors worldwide. In PSA 10 condition, the Ryan rookie has shattered records, selling for as much as $435,000 at auction in recent years. The flawless surface and sharp corners typically demand a serious five-figure price tag minimum for this card. Its scarcity has only increased demand, with the total PSA 10 population around 50-60 copies. Nothing else from the ’73 set comes close to its immense collector value.

Another career-defining rookie card that fetches huge dollars is that of Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, who broke into the majors in 1967 with the New York Mets. Seaver made his Topps debut in 1968, but his true rookie is the ’73 issue, which portrays “Tom Terrific” in a Mets uniform during his Cy Young Award-winning season. PSA 10 Seaver rookies have reportedly sold for over $150,000 at recent auction, commanding a price rivaling some of the most iconic rookie cards from the pre-war era. With a PSA 10 population of around 25-30 copies, it’s second only to Nolan Ryan among ’73 Topps cards in terms of mint condition rarity and investment caliber.

While not rookies, two other Hall of Famers with incredibly scarce and visually stunning ’73 Topps issues are Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente. Aaron’s PSA 10 has a population of three copies or less, making it plausibly the rarest individual card in the set. Meanwhile, the late Roberto Clemente’s iconic card in pristine condition can bring $10,000 or more due to its lovely eye appeal, legendary subject, and status as one of the tightest PSA 10 populations across all vintage issues, currently sitting at just two gem mint copies verified.

A couple of true rookie cards outside the obvious big names also hold immensely promising long-term value. Dodgers hurler Don Sutton’s first Bowman/Topps issue from 1973, which portrays him in a Dodgers uniform, has seen PSA 10 examples trade hands for $5,000+. Sutton went on to become a Hall of Famer and won more than 300 career games, so his classic rookie maintains appeal. But the real hidden gems could be Pittsburgh Pirates’ rookie cards of Dave Parker and John Candelaria, who both went on to stellar careers yet have tiny PSA 10 populations of just one and two copies respectively. They represent major long shots for finding the proverbial “golden ticket.”

Beyond the Hall of Famers and true rookie cards, other short prints and error cards from the 1973 Topps release can attract strong four-figure prices in top grades as well. Examples include Oakland A’s reliever Rollie Fingers’ short print card, which might yield $2,000-$3,000 in PSA 10 condition. The Steve Carlton Phillies card is also a coveted short print that frequently trades in the $1,000 range in pristine condition. Meanwhile, anyone finding the extremely rare “prototype” variation of the Orioles team card in PSA 10 could have a true Condition Census contender worth potentially five figures or more.

While competition has grown keener over the decades for desirable cards from the inaugural Topps issue of 1952 and subsequent 1950s runs, savvy collectors have begun to recognize the legend-laden 1973 set’s potential as a profitable long-term investment vehicle. From superstar rookie cards like Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver to the unbelievably rare Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente issues, this single-year set released during the dawn of the 1970s decade contains numerous cards that could appreciate exponentially in value as mint condition copies continue disappearing from the remaining population. With smart collecting and patience, the 1973 Topps baseball release still holds the capability of producing future six and even seven-figure auction prices.

10 MOST VALUABLE 1973 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1973 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic issues in the hobby’s history. It features future Hall of Famers like Nolan Ryan, Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, and more. Several key rookies also debuted in the set that have become extremely valuable over time. While most commons from the set sell for under $10, there are 10 standout cards that command premium prices due to their significance andCondition. Here’s a look at the 10 most valuable 1973 Topps Baseball cards:

#1 Nolan Ryan (Houston Astros)

Future Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan made his Topps debut in 1973 with the Houston Astros after beginning his career with the Mets organization. His first Astros card is now one of the more sought after commons from the set. High grade PSA/BGS 10 examples can fetch over $1,000 due to Ryan’s legendary career and status as one of the greatest pitchers ever. Many collectors want his rookie or early issue cards in pristine condition.

#84 Johnny Bench (Cincinnati Reds)

Already a two-time MVP and World Series champion by 1973, Johnny Bench was firmly established as the game’s premier catcher. Any of his early 1970s issues are highly valuable today. Graded PSA/BGS 9 examples of his 1973 Topps card can sell for around $1,200. Considered the greatest defensive catcher ever, Bench’s cards from his prime Reds years hold a special prestige.

#565 Willie McCovey (San Francisco Giants)

Willie “Mac” McCovey was winding down his Hall of Fame career in 1973 but still mashing home runs for the Giants. High end copies of his card have been selling for around $1,500. McCovey is beloved for his accomplishments in the Bay Area so any of his early Giants issues command top dollar, even in the common set. Condition is critical, as it is for most vintage cards.

#96 Hank Aaron (Atlanta Braves)

By 1973, Hank Aaron was in his final two seasons but still giving Braves fans thrills while chasing Babe Ruth’s home run record. His ’73 Topps card depicting him with the Braves has become highly sought after by collectors paying homage to Hammerin’ Hank and Atlanta sports history. Pristine PSA 10 copies can sell for over $2,000.

#1 Mike Schmidt (Philadelphia Phillies)

Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt had one of the finest rookie cards of the 1970s in his 1973 Topps debut. Widely considered the best third baseman ever, Schmidt went on to have a legendary Phillies career. High grade versions of his rookie card are a must-have for vintage collections. PSA 10s have cracked five figures at auction.

#1 Rod Carew (Minnesota Twins)

A true artist at the plate, Rod Carew was already a sensation by 1973 following his 1972 AL MVP season. His rookie card from this set sparked a long bidding war in recent years with a PSA 10 example selling for $85,000. Carew’s profile exploded when he joined the California Angels in 1979, boosting demand for all his early cards like his 1973 Topps gem.

#250 Reggie Jackson (Oakland Athletics)

Mr. October himself, Reggie Jackson became a superstar during his Oakland A’s days of the 1970s. Even as a starting player by 1973, his cards commanded big money. A PSA 10 example of his ’73 Topps card established a record, selling at auction for just over $119,000. Among the most charismatic players ever, Reggie’s early issues are hugely popular.

#507 Pete Rose (Cincinnati Reds)

By 1973, Pete Rose had already etched his name in Reds history but had more legendary achievements ahead. There may not be a more iconic card from this set than Rose’s, which depicts him leading off first base for the Big Red Machine. Near-perfect copies in a PSA 10 grade have reached $180,000 at auction. Rose is beloved by collectors for his all-out playing style.

#36 Nolan Ryan (California Angels)

Another standout Nolan Ryan card is his first issue as a California Angel after being traded from the Mets prior to the 1972 season. Graded mint examples fetch over $200,000 due to Ryan’s hurler mystique along with the rookie card collector demand associated with a first-year team change. Arguably the hardest throwing pitcher ever, any early Ryan gem is a collection trophy.

#1 Tom Seaver (New York Mets)

At the very top comes the golden rookie card of Mets legend and Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, the first card in the set. Often crowned “The Franchise” and the ace of the original Miracle Mets squad, Seaver’s is one of the most cherished rookies from the vintage era. A PSA 10 sold for a record $440,000, showing how coveted a true near-mint copy is. Seaver continues to be renowned as one of the greatest right-handed pitchers in history.

The 1973 Topps set defied odds to produce multiple future Hall of Famers and produces incredible gems still highly pursued today. While pristine examples have reached six figures, most any vintage card lover wants a piece of such a legendary set in their collection at affordable levels as well.

MOST VALUABLE BASEBALL CARDS 1973

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The 1973 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic issues in the history of the hobby. Although it may not be the most valuable set overall compared to years like 1952 or 1909, several key rookie cards and short printed inserts make certain 1973s extremely valuable nearly 50 years later. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable 1973 Topps baseball cards that can fetch five-figure and even six-figure prices.

Arguably the single most coveted card from 1973 is the rookie card of Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt. As the third baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies, Schmidt would go on to capture 10 Gold Gloves and win the National League MVP award three times in the 1970s and 80s. His iconic smiling rookie card is one of just the about 180 copies in existence graded Mint condition or higher by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). In a PSA 10 gem mint state, Schmidt’s rookie card has sold for over $350,000, establishing it as one of the most valuable baseball cards of all-time. Even well-preserved but lower graded versions still command prices into the tens of thousands.

Two other formidable rookies from 1973 are Nolan Ryan and Dave Kingman. Ryan debuted with the California Angels and went on to rackle the single season strikeout record multiple times before retiring with a record 5,714 Ks. His rookie is exceedingly rare in high grade due to the condition issues that plagued 1970s issues. Even in rough shape a Ryan PSA 5 may fetch $1,000. A pristine PSA 10 exemplar sold for $127,000 in 2020, demonstrating the card’s elite rarity and demand. Likewise, Kingman’s arrival with the New York Mets saw him establish the single season home run record for National League rookies, which still stands today. While not in the same stratosphere as Schmidt or Ryan, Kingman’s rookie remains quite valuable at $3,000+ in top-tier condition.

The 1973 set also featured a scarce “returned to manufacturer” (RTM) error card that has reached immense valuations. During production, Topps discovers it had underprinted the Reggie Jackson Oakland A’s card, #579. To remedy this, they pulled copies already in circulation and reprinted additional high numbers cards to make up for the shortage. The RTM Jacksons they retrieved and reprinted are the true errors, with irregularly cut corners and visually distinct from the original low numbers issue. In a PSA 10 gem mint state, one of these ultra-rare RTM Reggie Jackson cards achieved a world record price for a single baseball card of $2.88 million in a 2016 auction. Even well-worn PSA 5 copies can bring over $10,000 due to their minute population of only about 25-50 known survivors.

The 1973 set also contained several other highly valuable short prints and errors. The Hank Aaron Atlanta Braves card #75 is one of the most famous short prints in the set, with estimates putting the issued quantity under 100 copies. Multiply that scarcity by Aaron’s Hall of Fame status and examples still receive very strong six-figure bids. Others errors like the incomplete “Hill” surname on Ron Blomberg’s card #653 also hold tremendous rarity. The Mike Marshall Los Angeles Dodgers card #574 was produced in quantities of less than a dozen copies. Marshall won the 1974 NL Cy Young Award after the release of this set, likely exacerbating collectors’ desire for his scarce issue. Graded examples can bring $20,000+ despite his lack of long term notoriety.

While stars like Schmidt, Ryan, Aaron and Jackson retain the highest prices, certain lesser known but still valuable gems exist from 1973 as well. Players like RickMiller, Don Money and Ken Brett had incredibly brief major league careers yet their rookie cards remain quite rare in high quality. Demandfrom set collectors wanting to complete pristine 70s sets with these difficult inserts ensures four-figure valuations at a minimum. Similarly, the Gene Tenace Oakland A’s card #11 is erroneously cut considerably lower than the standard issue size. Only a handful are known to exist in this correct error form, escalating values far above whatTenace’s career accomplishments alone may warrant.

While the 1973 Topps set as a whole isn’t the mostvaluable in the history of the hobby, it certainly contains some of the singular most coveted and expensive individual baseball cards ever produced. Keys like the rookie cards of Mike Schmidt, Nolan Ryan and Dave Kingman will likely never lose their luster. Meanwhile, unprecedented rarities like the Reggie Jackson RTM ensure 1973 always has a seat at the table when discussing elite vintage cardboard. For the serious collector, building a high grade vintage 70s set remains a noble and investment-worthy pursuit thanks to these seminal issues.

1973 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS VALUE

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The 1973 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most valuable issues from the 1970s. Produced annually since the late 1950s, Topps baseball cards were a ubiquitous part of childhood for many baby boomers. The 1973 set in particular saw the rise of great talents like Reggie Jackson and featured iconic cards that today can fetch big bucks at auction.

The 1973 Topps set marked the 50th anniversary of Topps baseball cards. To commemorate the milestone, Topps produced cards with gold borders in addition to the traditional white borders found in regular sets. The gold paper stock was more delicate so many of these anniversary cards did not survive in the same condition as the standard white-border cards. This scarcity makes high grade gold-border cards some of the most valuable from the ’73 set.

Rookies and young stars from the era command top dollar from collectors. One of the most sought after ’73 rookie cards is Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Don Sutton. In Near Mint condition, his card routinely sells for $150-200. Sutton went on to become a legendary pitcher, winning 324 career games and making eight All-Star teams, giving his rookie card lasting desirability. Another rookie that gained immense fame was Reggie Jackson of the Oakland A’s, known as “Mr. October” for his October heroics. High grade versions of his first Topps card exchange hands for $500-1,000.

Two of the most valuable regular issue cards come from future Hall of Famers. The Hank Aaron card, with him pictured as a member of the Atlanta Braves, has sold for over $2,000 in pristine Mint condition. The other is a Nolan Ryan card from his days with the California Angels. High grade specimens go for $1,500-2,000. Both Aaron and Ryan went on to put up incredible career numbers that to this day rank them among the all-time greats.

In addition to stars, the ’73 set featured a number of one-year wonders who had breakout campaigns. Cards of those players have found renewed interest from collectors. One example is San Francisco Giants reliever Tom Bradley, who posted a 1.78 ERA in 47 games in 1972 but never replicated that success. HisNear Mint rookie card has traded hands for $400-500 in recent years. Another is Detroit Tigers second baseman Tom Veryzer, who batted .306 in ’72 and made the AL All-Star team but didn’t maintain those numbers. Choice examples of his rookie card sell for $300-400.

Of course, condition is king when it comes to value. Even the most desirable cards are only worth pennies if heavily worn or damaged. Top-graded1973 Topps rookie cards certified as Mint by the leading third-party authentication companies like PSA or BGS can be truly valuable. For example, a PSA/BGS Gem Mint 10 Nolan Ryan rookie has sold at auction for over $20,000. The Hank Aaron is similarly prized in pristine condition, selling for above $5,000. Of course, earning that perfect numerical grade is exceedingly rare. Still, condition sensitive collectors are willing to pay big money for true investment-quality pieces from this classic set.

1973 Topps was also the final set that included cards produced with the classic yellow borders that had been used since the dawn of modern Topps cards in the late 1950s. The practice of including yellow-border “variations” was retired starting in 1974. As such, pristinely preserved examples of the yellow-border ’73 issues are quite collectible for their historic significance. Top graded samples of stars like Aaron, Ryan, Reggie Jackson in the yellow border parallel have exceeded $1,000 at auction.

While stars hold most value, completing a 1973 Topps set can be highly rewarding. The sheer number of future Hall of Famers included makes it a fantastic snapshot of the era. Sets command prices upwards of $2,000+ for very nice mid-grade examples. With keys like Aaron, Ryan, and the various rookie cards, assembling a high-quality set is a long-term project for most collectors. Patience and persistence are required to cherry pick the condition sensitive cards over time from eBay and online auctions.

The 1973 Topps baseball card set remains incredibly appealing to collectors decades later. Future legends like Aaron, Ryan, Sutton and Jackson anchored a vintage issue that many cherish from childhood. Condition rules the day for true value, but the names and photos alone continue to draw fans and investors to this classic set. As nostalgia for the 1970s grows, demand and prices for choice examples can be expected to follow suit. The 1973s secured their spot in card collecting lore and remain a prudent long-term collecting and investment alternative for those willing to hunt for quality.