The 1970s was a banner decade for baseball cards, seeing the rise of several iconic rookie cards and stars of the era gracing the fronts of packs. Players like Nolan Ryan, Thurman Munson, and Reggie Jackson became household names in the era and their rookie cards have become highly sought after by collectors. With the rise of color photography and a boom in interest in the hobby, the 1970s really ushered in the modern baseball card collecting era. Here are some of the most notable and valuable baseball cards from the 1970s:
1971 Nolan Ryan (#520) – One of the most legendary and feared pitchers of all time, Ryan’s rookie card from his second season with the Angels is arguably the most coveted card from the 1970s. Due to his incredible popularity and Hall of Fame career, even low-grade examples of the card trade for thousands of dollars today. The card, featuring a close-up action photo of Ryan pitching, really captured his blazing fastball and premonitions of the strikeout records to come. This is widely considered the key rookie card from the decade.
1972 Roberto Clemente (#85) – Clemente tragically passed away in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. As a result, his 1972 Topps card took on special significance as one of the last widely distributed images of the Pirates legend and 15-time All-Star. Examples in near-mint condition have sold for over $10,000 due to his inspirational career on and off the field coupled with the card’s story.
1973 Johnny Bench (#50) – Arguably the greatest catcher of all time, Bench’s sophomore card with Topps’ signature yellow border is a standout. Bench won his first of two MVP awards in 1972 on his way to a Hall of Fame career admired by many. High grades of this classic action shot card have sold for over $5,000 at auction.
1974 Hank Aaron (#76) – 1974 was a historic year as Hank Aaron finally broke Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record. Topps captured the milestone with this memorable card showing Aaron at the plate mid-swing. The card gained popularity as a piece of baseball history commemorating one of the sport’s most iconic records. Near-mint copies have sold for around $4,000.
1975 George Brett (#581) – Brett’s dazzling rookie season where he batted .312 with 17 home runs put him on the map. But demand for his inaugural Topps offering really took off during Brett’s amazing 1980 campaign where he batted .390. Well-preserved copies now sell for $3,000-5,000 due to his Hall of Fame career and status as a Royals legend.
1975 Nolan Ryan (#530) – Ryan’s second Topps card came on the heels of his 1974 breakout season where he led the American League with 329 strikeouts. This version, which was considerably more scarce than his 1971 rookie, features a action pose and has become very desirable for high grade copies. Mint condition examples of this scarcity have reached upwards of $10,000.
1976 Thurman Munson (#660) – The Yankees captain’s rookie season couldn’t be fully captured in this iconic action pose image. But collectors now know just how valuable Munson became as a leader for the late 1970s dynasty. PSA Gem Mint 10 copies have reached over $15,000 at auction.
1977 Reggie Jackson (#277) – After being traded to the Yankees, Reggie unleashed one of his signature postseason performances in 1977 winning World Series MVP. This card perfectly represents his transition to pinstripes and “Mr. October” folklore. Pristine copies in a PSA 10 can be worth over $4,000.
1979 Ozzie Smith (#91) – While he wasn’t a star yet in St. Louis, Ozzie’s defensive wizardry would make him a legend. This marked his first card and would be the only rookie card issued for arguably the greatest fielding shortstop ever. High grades have sold for $3,000 due to his significant Hall of Fame career and this card’s status as his sole rookie.
The 1970s absolutely exploded with star power, Hall of Famers, and all-time great rookie cards. Led by the iconic offerings of Nolan Ryan, George Brett, and Johnny Bench, it remains one of the strongest decades in baseball card history. The stories, stats, and success of these players translated directly to strong demand for their early vintage cardboard and sky-high prices today for pristine preserved copies of their 1970s issues.
