The 1970s are the last decade of the vintage baseball card era. What we mean by that is that no one looked at baseball cards as an investment. So people weren't keeping them in binders and top loaders. Even worse, moms were still throwing out entire collections. Therefore, population counts aren't through the roof yet.
However, it is a recent enough decade that many fans and collectors vividly remember the players from this era. But most importantly, the 1970s produced some of the best rookies in baseball history. In addition, it was a decade of phenomenal young talent. Those factors combine to create some excellent value for the top cards. Indeed, there are so many great and valuable Baseball Cards from the 1970s that the competition to get onto this list is fierce.
1970 Topps Johnny Bench All-Star #464
A PSA 10 sold for $25,312.
Johnny Bench is arguably the greatest catcher of all time and the greatest of his generation. Therefore, it's no surprise his cards are among the most desirable for the decade. But the base rookie is usually the most valuable for 1970s players. But in the case of this card, the centering is so god-awful that good specimens of the 1970 Topps Johnny Bench All-Star #464 card are hard to find. There are precisely zero PSA 10s on this card for that reason. There are only 12 PSA 9s as well. So, a good version of this card can be worth a good deal.
1971 Topps Steve Garvey Rookie Card #341
A PSA 10 sold for $25,393.
The price here may seem high, but it ain't. That PSA 10 sold back in 2012. Considering that there are only 2 PSA 10s of this famous Dodger hero, I can only imagine what it would go for today. Probably over $100,000. And while Steve Garvey is not in the Hall of Fame, why not is unclear. His record stands up to many of those enshrined, and he was considered one of the biggest stars in baseball in his prime. And, of course, the Dodgers probably have the second largest fanbase in the sport, providing a large market for the 1971 Topps Steve Garvey Rookie Card #341. Like most cards in that 1971 Topps Baseball Cards set, the black borders look beautiful and add a touch of class, making it a notoriously difficult card to find in good condition.
1974 Topps Dave Winfield Rookie Card #456
A PSA 10 sold for $43,627.
One thing I love about the 1974 Topps Dave Winfield Rookie Card #456 is the sneer on Dave's face. It has a lot more attitude than most rookie cards, known for their unassuming naïve charm. Unfortunately, Dave Winfield isn't remembered to the extent that he deserves. The player is one of the greatest athletes ever to grace the diamond. ESPN gave the 12-time All-Star the recognition he deserved and ranked him the #3 greatest all-around baseball player ever. There are legends about Winfield's phenomenal prowess in every sport he tried.
The 1974 Topps Baseball Card set is, like Dave's legacy, often overlooked. But unlike the Padres star, there are some pretty compelling reasons for the neglect. First, it is one of the least attractive designs of what was generally a stellar decade for the veteran card company. It also has fewer marquee rookies than some of the other sets. As a result, Winfield's card tends to fetch better values than the other cards in 1974 Topps. In addition, there are only 10 PSA 10s of this card, so their value continues to rise over the years.
1972 Topps (Carlton Fisk/ Cecil Cooper / Mike Garman) Rookie Card #79
A PSA 10 sold for $55,200.
For whatever reason, the 1970s were filled with top-notch young catchers, from Ted Simmons, Johnny Bench, Thurman Munson, Steve Yeager, and Bobby Boone. But aside from Bench, Carlton was the cream of the crop. He was the unanimous 1972 Rookie of the Year and would appear in 11 All-Star games, hitting 376 home runs along the way. Meanwhile, Cecil Cooper was no slouch either. He had Cecil Cooper, a .298 career batting average, and 241 home runs. He was a 5-time All-Star, a 2 time RBI champion, and a successful coach. And Mike Garman? He was a pretty decent pitcher.
As for the card itself, it is a totally subjective opinion, but the 1972 Topps multi-rookie cards are the most awesome ever. The way the middle player has a rounded picture, while the other two are square. The arch going into the border is just so classy and evocative. And the 1972 Topps #79 Red Sox 1972 Rookie Stars (Mike Garman / Cecil Cooper / Carlton Fisk) is one of the finest amongst them.
1971 Topps Roberto Clemente #630
A PSA 10 sold for $71,700.
The Roberto Clemente legend continues to soar, and his cards fetch incredibly strong values on the market. So much so that even this late career card goes for a hefty amount, and since the last sale of a PSA 10 took place in 2016, it would be worth a lot more. The 1971 Topps set is a notoriously hard grade, and this 1971 Topps Roberto Clemente #630 card is one of the most beautiful Clemente items of all. Unfortunately, it is also a reminder of the tragic death of this icon a year later in a plane crash.
1975 Topps Robin Yount Rookie Card #223
A PSA 10 sold for $103,000.
Robin Yount is a two-time MVP and one of the most beloved players in Milwaukee baseball history. The 1975 Topps Robin Yount Rookie Card #223 is an irresistible rookie card. Robin looks so young and full of hope, smiling somewhat shyly for the camera. And, of course, the bold trademark design of the 1975 Topps Baseball Cards set brings this card alive with a perfect juxtaposition of the iconic photo. Really a gem of a card. And like most cards from this hard-to-grade set, there are hardly any PSA 10s, so getting one is a very expensive adventure.
1970 Topps Nolan Ryan #712
A PSA 10 sold for $132,000.
The 1968 Nolan Ryan rookie card is one of the most iconic in the hobby. And the 1970 Topps Nolan Ryan #712 ain't it. But Nolan Ryan is one of the most beloved pitchers ever due to his ridiculous strikeout capabilities, and his cards tend to do well in every set. Unfortunately, this is one of the earliest of the Nolan Ryan cards and represents his not particularly promising early years with the Mets. Nevertheless, the picture does a good job displaying Nolan's frame's promise and natural power and is a fan favorite.
1971 Topps Bert Blyleven Rookie Card #26
A PSA 10 sold for $138,000.
I know what you are thinking. Bert Blyleven? Over freaking Johnny Bench and Robin Yount? But as we know, the value of cards does not always reflect the quality of the players alone. Not that Bert isn't a fine player. For a reason, he is a Hall of Famer, with two World Series rings, a 287-250 career win-loss ratio, and a 3.31 ERA.
But that isn't why this card is this valuable. It's the combination of his Cooperstown status and how difficult it is to grade 1971 Topps cards. The series has black borders that mercilessly show any minor imperfection, chip, or fold. They also were not made of the best material. Therefore, finding a 1971 Topps Bert Blyleven Rookie Card #26 in decent condition can be difficult. There is only one single and treasured PSA 10 of this card, so it sold for a ton. Remember that many collect Hall of Famer rookie cards, and PSA gives extra points in their rankings for high grades. So, this kind of card is desirable.
1975 Topps George Brett Rookie Card #228
A PSA 10 sold for $162,000.
The 1970s saw the rise of two of the best hitting 3rd baseman ever, Mike Schmidt and George Brett. The Kansas City Royals star was a three-time batting champion and an All-Star for 13 seasons running. Adding to this wonderful card's value is the set it came in. The 1975 Topps George Brett Rookie Card #228 is the most valuable card in one of the most beloved sets of the decade. The vibrant colors on this set really work and have that dawn of the disco era aura. But while people love the looks of Topps 1975, it isn't always the greatest in terms of centering and maintaining sharp corners. Therefore, there are only 11 PSA 10s amongst the 12,965 population count.
1971 Topps Thurman Munson #5 (ALL-STAR ROOKIE)
A PSA 9 sold for $199,000.
Thurman Munson cards are massive. He was a Yankee star and died in his prime, leaving that taste of "what could have been" that does wonders for card value. The proper Thurman Munson rookie is, of course, the 1970 Topps card. But this item enjoys a few advantages over its earlier counterpart. First, the 1971 Topps Thurman Munson #5 (ALL-STAR ROOKIE) is impossible to grade card. There are no PSA 10s and a pathetic 4 PSA 9s on the market. Most cards are PSA 4-6s, giving the few high-graded ones a great advantage. But in addition, the card features one of the most beautiful and evocative action shots of any card from the decade.
1979 Topps Ozzie Smith Rookie Card #36
A PSA 10 sold for $222,000.
Ozzie Smith was one of the biggest stars of the 1980s, but his rookie card falls into the 1970s category. Statistics are notoriously bad at quantifying defense, and even today, the eye test is our best tool for analyzing quality. And anyone who has ever seen Ozzie play, myself included, was stunned by his grace, range, and ridiculous cat-like instinct. He won the Golden Glove for 13 straight seasons and was probably the easiest choice for the panel every single time. So naturally, an entire generation of baseball fans fondly remembers "The Wizard of Oz."
Now, I will not pretend his 1979 Topps Ozzie Smith Rookie Card #36 is beautiful. That is not a good shot, and it does not evoke the legend of this superstar shortstop. But it's our rookie card, so we must shut up and like it. Everyone and their sister have a copy of this Ozzie Smith card. But most of these copies are hopelessly off-center. Therefore, although this is a more modern card than most on this list, there are only 5 PSA 10s.
1973 Topps Rookie 3rd Basemen #615 (Ron Cey/John Hilton/Mike Schmidt)
A PSA 10 sold for $234,000.
The greatest-hitting 3rd baseman in history is the main attraction in this typical 1970s multiple-rookie design. Of course, in the 1970s, everyone knew Mike Schmidt was exceptional. But advanced stats have shown just what an incredible beast he was in the batter's box. So, the 12-time All-Star and three-time MVP are now considered an inner circle Hall of Famer.
But Ron Cey was no slouch either. A six-time All-Star for the Dodgers and the 1981 World Series MVP. Meanwhile, John Hilton had the least impressive career. But the most significant influence on the arts. Legendary Japanese author Haruki Murakami says he decided to become an author when he had an epiphany while watching Hilton hit a double for the Yakult Swallows in Japan. So much history on one piece of cardboard! No wonder the PSA 10 of 1973 Topps Rookie 3rd Basemen #615 (Ron Cey/John Hilton/Mike Schmidt) is worth over $200,000.
Final Word On The 12 Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1970s
The 1970s don't quite have a Mickey Mantle or Willie Mays rookie. Though amazingly, Willie did play well into the decade. But a few decades do. However, it has a plethora of Hall of Famer rookies from this decade, some of whom rank among the all-time greats. And while many cards from the 1970s survive, their condition is often far from optimal. There are few PSA 9s and, in some cases, no PSA 10s at all. Therefore, some high-grade rookies fetch exceptional values on the open market.
