The 1970s produced some of the most iconic and valuable baseball cards in the hobby’s history. Players like Hank Aaron, Nolan Ryan, and Pete Rose were entering their primes and rocketing to the top of the record books. Meanwhile, legendary franchises like the Big Red Machine Cincinnati Reds and Bronx Bombers New York Yankees were dominating on the field. As fans rushed to collect these superstars and championship teams, some 1970s cards have stood the test of time to become highly sought after by collectors. Here’s a look at the top 100 most notable baseball cards from the 1970s based on player accomplishments, card scarcity, and overall collector demand:
1975 Nolan Ryan (#540) – As one of the game’s greatest power pitchers ever, Ryan’s iconic rookie card from his 1973 campaign with the California Angels is the holy grail for 70s collectors. Its rarity and subject make it the most coveted card of the decade.
1972 Roberto Clemente (#1) – Tragically, this was the final baseball card issued of the Hall of Famer before his untimely death in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972. It’s one of the most emotionally significant cards in the hobby.
1976 George Brett (#681) – Brett’s iconic rookie card featuring his mustachioed smile is iconic for 70s Royals fans and highly sought after by collectors today. It’s considered one of the top rookie cards ever printed.
1977 Reggie Jackson (#438) – As “Mr. October,” Jackson’s feats with the A’s and Yankees made him one of the biggest stars of the 70s. This FOTO card capturing him in Yankees pinstripes is his flagship.
1972 O-Pee-Chee Luis Tiant (#130) – The charismatic Tiant’s funky windup made him a fan favorite on the Red Sox staff. His colorful O-Pee-Chee issue is a true gem for 70s collectors.
1971 Nolan Ryan (#506) – While not technically a true “rookie” card, this is one of the earliest Nolan Ryan cards issued and showed him during his early years as an Angel.
1979 O-Pee-Chee Joe Charboneau (#690) – As the feel-good rookie story of ’79, “Charlie Hustle’s” star burned bright but briefly. His shiny OPC rookie remains an iconic cardboard piece of baseball’s late 70s landscape.
1970 Baltimore Orioles Team (#1) – As the defending ’69 champs, this card captured the O’s in the early part of their decade of dominance in the AL East. It’s among the most historically significant team cards of the decade.
1978 Eddie Murray (#575) – A staple of the Orioles for nearly two decades, Murray’s early breakthrough is remembered on this classic sporting his batting helmet in the team’s old Memorial Stadium.
1979 Cal Ripken Jr. (#681) – Though not technically a true rookie card, this marked one of the earliest card appearances of the future Iron Man and captured him in the infancy of his Hall of Fame career.
1971 Rick Monday (#489) – As one of the heroes of the ’71 World Series clincher against the Pirates, Monday’s early Topps issue highlighted him during his AL Rookie of the Year season with the A’s.
1979 Nolan Ryan (#1) – By the late 70s, Ryan was already establishing himself as one of the game’s hardest throwers ever. This card showed him in the prime of his angular arm with the Angels.
1977 Carlton Fisk (#570) – Featuring Fisk in the process of going deep to win Game 6 for the Sox, this card immortalized one of the greatest home runs in baseball history.
1973 O-Pee-Chee Charlie Hustle (#79) – As he chased the Hit King’s record, Rose’s trademark hustle shone through on this classic OPC issue during a pivotal season for the Big Red Machine.
1976 Mike Schmidt (#687) – Schmidt’s rookie season highlighted his arrival as the anchor of Philadelphia’s third base for decades to come. This classic captured the Five Tool star during his first big league action.
1973 Cincinnati Reds Team (#1) – At the height of the Big Red Machine Dynasty, this card encapsulated the star power of the roster including Bench, Morgan, and Perez that dominated the NL for much of the decade.
1979 Robin Yount (#682) – One of the first cards showing the Brewers’ star shortstop and helping launch what became a surefire Hall of Fame career in Milwaukee.
1977 O-Pee-Chee Nolan Ryan (#90) – By the late 70s, Ryan’s electric stuff was becoming the stuff of legend. This colorful OPC issue underscored his dominance for Angels fans.
1972 Oakland A’s Team (#1) – Highlighting the three-time World Champs’ stacked roster led by Jackson, Tenace, and Holtzman that won it all in ’72 and ’73.
1973 Steve Garvey (#537) – Garvey emerged as a staple of Dodgers infield for the 1970s and beyond. This early issue highlighted his importance to LA’s fortunes.
1977 Don Baylor (#567) – As the 1977 AL MVP, Baylor’s breakout star season with the Angels is remembered on this classic while rocking high Sox.
1979 Ozzie Smith (#567) – An early Ozzie card that underscored “The Wizard’s” brilliance at shortstop before he became a 13x Gold Glover and all-time great for Cardinals.
1971 Vida Blue (#432) – Blue’s legendary season where he won MVP and helped spark the A’s dynasty is captured here during his record-setting 27-win, 8-complete game campaign.
1979 Dave Winfield (#1) – Winfield emerged as a five-tool force for the 1979 San Diego Padres in his first full season. This flagship card kicked off what became a Hall of Fame career.
1972 Rollie Fingers (#656) – Already a stalwart of the A’s bullpen, Fingers’ iconic mustache made him stand out on this early ’70s release from his championship seasons.
1979 Wade Boggs (#681) – One of the earliest cards showcasing Boggs in the infancy of his potent career starring for the Red Sox.
1971 Brock (#475) – Lou Brock stole home runs from fans and shattered the SB record. This card captured him during the prime of his base-running exploits with the Cardinals.
1978 Ron Guidry (#630) – Guidry’s 25-3 season in ’78 where he won Cy Young placed him among the game’s best. This captured him during his breakout campaign for the World Champ Yankees.
1979 Don Sutton (#629) – By the late 70s, Sutton had cemented himself as one of LA’s most durable and effective starters across two decades. This showed his consistency near the end of his Dodger tenure.
1973 Mike Schmidt (#85) – Schmidt was emerging as a future cornerstone for Philadelphia in ’73. This early card underscored his importance as a backbone of the Phillies for years ahead.
1979 Cal Ripken Jr. (#516) – While not technically a rookie card, one of Ripken’s earliest issue showed him starting to blossom into a budding force for the Orioles.
1977 Nolan Ryan (#15) – By the late 70s, Ryan’s superhuman stuff was in full force. This FLYING HIGH action image showed his mid-90s heat rocking Angels uniforms.
1973 Cincinnati Reds Team (#630) – Highlighting the Big Red Machine at their championship peak in the early 70s before their run of back-to-back-to-back titles.
1970 Frank Howard (#560) – “Hondo” was in his slugging prime patrolling the outfield for Washington in the early 1970s. This showed his impressive thump.
1970 Brooks Robinson (#490) – Arguably the greatest fielding third baseman ever, this card acknowledged Robinson as the anchor of Baltimore’s stellar infield.
1973 Johnny Bench (#585) – Bench was revolutionizing the catcher position and cementing himself as the NL’s premier star. This captured him during the thick of his 1970s MVP seasons.
1972 Vida Blue (#531) – Fresh off his electric ’71 rookie campaign, this card highlighted Blue as the anchor of Oakland’s pitching staff moving forward.
1972 Hank Aaron (#1) – Hammerin’ Hank saw his legendary career wind down with the Braves in the early 1970s after chasing Babe Ruth’s hallowed record.
1970 Tom Seaver (#497) – Seaver was emerging as the ace of the Mets staff and one of the fiercest competitors in the league during the first half of the decade in New York.
1973 O-Pee-Chee Reggie Jackson (#87) – Capturing Mr. October dynamism for young A’s fans in OPC during his early MVP seasons anchoring Oakland’s lineup.
1976 Don Sutton (#687) – By the mid-70s
