The 1972 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic issues of the 1970s. While it may lack the star power of some other vintage sets, the ’72 Topps cards introduced innovative design elements that revolutionized the visual style of baseball cards going forward. Nearly 50 years later, this set remains a highly collectible target for vintage card collectors seeking iconic rookie cards and unique parallels.
One of the biggest storylines from the 1972 Topps set revolves around the rookie cards of future Hall of Famers George Brett and Robin Yount. Both third baseman Brett of the Kansas City Royals and shortstop Yount of the Milwaukee Brewers made their Topps debuts in the ’72 set and their rookie cards are still widely sought after today. In PSA 10 Gem Mint condition, Brett’s rookie card currently fetches upwards of $6,000 while Yount’s typically sells in the $4,000 range.
Another hugely valuable card from the 1972 Topps set is Nolan Ryan’s card numbered to 500 copies. Known as the “blue label parallel,” these scarce Ryan variations were inserted throughout the main 660-card checklist and have serial numbers on the front. Even well-worn low-grade examples of this Ryan parallel can sell for over $1,000 because so few are known to exist. PSA/BGS graded samples in the 9-10 range have been auctioned for up to $15,000.
Innovation was a big theme of the 1972 Topps design, as it was the first year the company used photo collages on many of the cards rather than traditional pose shots. This created visually striking cards that still hold up today from an artistic standpoint. One card that stands out is Reggie Jackson’s, which combines action photos from different seasons into a memorable photo-mosaic collage. High graded copies of this eye-catching Jackson card typically sell for $800-1,200.
The 1972 Topps set also saw the debut of another future Hall of Famer, defensive whiz Dave Concepcion of the Cincinnati Reds. Like Brett and Yount’s rookies, Concepcion’s remains a coveted find for Reds collectors and vintage card investors. PSA/BGS 10 examples have reached $2,500 at auction. Two other valuable rookie cards from ’72 include Hall of Fame pitcher Rich “Goose” Gossage ($500-800 in top grades) and fireballing reliever Gene Garber ($300-600).
Perhaps the single most valuable card in the entire 1972 Topps set is the ultra-rare error card featuring Mets pitcher Tom Seaver without a team logo. Only a small number are believed to exist without the Mets logo underneath Seaver’s name. Just having this true error already makes it a tremendous find, but high graded samples in PSA/BGS 9-10 condition have astonishingly sold for up to $50,000 due to the error and Seaver’s Hall of Fame status.
While it may not have the roster of future Hall of Famers that other vintage issues boast, the 1972 Topps set made a huge impact on the artistic evolution of baseball cards going forward. Iconic rookie cards of Brett, Yount, Concepcion and more cemented its place in the hobby. Scarce parallels like the Nolan Ryan blue label and true errors like the Seaver lacking a logo logo take values to new heights. For these reasons, savvy collectors continue to target the 1972 Topps set nearly 50 years later seeking its most prized gems.
