The Most Valuable Topps Baseball Cards of 1972
The 1972 Topps Baseball set is one of the decade’s most distinctive releases, swapping 1971’s black borders for a vibrant, psychedelic “tombstone” design with three-dimensional team names arched above the photo. The look reflects the early ’70s pop culture aesthetic, making the cards instantly recognizable to collectors.
The checklist is a then-record 787 cards, issued in six series with the late high numbers notably scarcer and expensive. Subsets add real variety: League Leaders, Playoff/World Series Highlights, the debut of In Action cards, Boyhood Photos of the Stars, and the first in-set Traded cards.
Among the most notable cards are the Carlton Fisk rookie, plus rookie cards of Chris Chambliss, Dave Kingman, Mickey Rivers, and Ron Cey, alongside stars like Clemente, Aaron, Mays, Ryan, Bench, and Jackson anchoring the set. Overall, the 1972 Topps set endures for its bold, era-defining look, deep star power, and the satisfying challenge of collecting the hard-to-find high numbers to complete the set.
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#559 Pete Rose - $66,600
One of the foundational pieces of the Cincinnati “Big Red Machine” of the 1970s, Pete Rose was in the middle of his storied career in the early 70s. While not officially in the Hall of Fame, the all-time hit king is recognized as one of the best to ever play the game.
#79 Red Sox Rookies - $55,200
While Carlton Fisk, future Hall of Famer and home-run waving hero of Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, is the star of this card, the other players were no slouches. Cecil Cooper was a 5-time All-Star, a 2-time Gold Glove winner, and a 2-time American League RBI leader. Mike Garman was an effective relief pitcher who played 12 years for 5 different major league teams. While the Red Sox were not pare of the deal, it is perhaps noteworthy that one of those trades happened to include Bill Buckner in the deal, a future Red Sox player/villian.
#435 Reggie Jackson - $50,400
Here we see the future “Mr. October” right before the A’s win their first of three consecutive World Series.’ Reggie didn’t get to play in the 1972 World Series due to an injury he sustained in the last game of the championship series, but his World Series heroics of 1974, 1977, and 1978 are legendary. Add to the heroics a larger-than-life personality and you get the makings of one of the greatest and most famous players in the last 50 years.
#595 Nolan Ryan - $45,500
There is no baseball player of over the last 50 years with greater demand for his baseball cards than Nolan Ryan. Known as the hardest thrower pitcher in baseball well into his later career years, Ryan pitched an unbelievable 7 career no-hitters. There is no pitcher in the last 75 years who put awe in batters like Ryan.
#299 Hank Aaron - $32,400
In 1972, Hank Aaron further solidified his legacy as one of baseball’s all-time greats. Playing in his 19th season, he hit 34 home runs, bringing his career total to 673, just 41 shy of Babe Ruth’s iconic record. Though the Braves finished fourth in their division, Aaron’s performance in 1972 kept the anticipation high for his inevitable run at Ruth.
#445 Tom Seaver - $30,000
Seaver led the league in only one statistical category in 1972, strikeouts per nine innings, but he was among the best in every category and was fifth in Cy Young voting. He would win his second Cy Young in 1973, leading the Mets back to the World Series where they would be beat by the Oakland Athletics, winning their first of three straight titles. Not the flashiest pitcher, but one of the best of all-time.
#309 Roberto Clemente - $22,322
Arguably the decade’s second best card, the card shows Clemente in a contemplative yet peaceful mode. One of the all-time greats and all-time good guys, Clemente would die in a self-funded humanitarian trip after the season, making this the last card of his active playing career (Topps would produce a 1973 Clemente card).
#49 Willie Mays - $19,200
The long-time Giant would be traded to the Mets midway through the 1972 season where he was still an above average player despite being forty years old. Mays hit a combined twenty-two home runs in only eighty eight games, a pace that would have put on pace to contend for the Home Run title. His average was down, but he was still a guy you wanted on your team.
#695 Rod Carew - $16,150
Carew was already a five-time All-Star and one-time Batting Champion in the years leading up to the 1972 season and was already an established star. He would win his second Batting title in 1972 and he would go on to win another 5 of the next six, capped by his magical 1977 season where he flirted with hitting .400 throughout the year before ending up hitting .388.
#1 Pirates World Champions - $13,800
Full of Hall of Famers and coming off of a World Series victory, the Pirates team card deserves to be mentioned here. While the cards for a few other stars, notably Tom Seaver, Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, and Rod Carew, have fetched more money, it is rare for a team card to be one of the most valuable cards from a set.