The Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1970s

Throughout the 1970s, Topps baseball card designs evolved dramatically, reflecting both changing graphic trends and the shifting spirit of the game. The decade opened with the minimalist gray borders of 1970 and the bold, black-framed drama of 1971 before exploding into the psychedelic colors and playful fonts of 1972. From there, designs grew cleaner and more modern: 1973 prioritized action photography, while 1974 and 1976 emphasized simplicity and consistency. The 1975 set stood out as a vibrant centerpiece, famous for its two-tone borders and superstar rookies. By the late ’70s, Topps had settled into crisp, professional layouts as the 1977 through 1979 sets featured white borders, balanced compositions, and polished typography, signaling the end of the vintage era and the beginning of baseball cards’ modern, mass-produced age.

Below are the ten most valuable cards produced in the 1970s ever sold, and there are a couple of surprises.

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1973 #615 Ron Cey/John Hilton/Mike Schmidt - $234,000

The most valuable card of the 1970s goes to the 1973 Rookie Third Basemen card that includes Ron Cey, John Hilton, and Mike Schmidt. While Schmidt, arguably the greatest third baseman of all-time, is the cornerstone of the card, the addition of Ron Cey, a 6-time all-star, adds a bit of luster to the card.

1971 #5 Thurman Munson - $199,999

The second most valuable card of the decade is Thurman Munson’s second card. This is one of those rare cards that gets its value from the image on the card itself more than the star power of the player or the rarity of finding the card in pristine condition. The fact that this card is more valuable than his rookie card underscores the significance of it being the first, truly gritty, in-game action shot ever produced on a player’s card. There will be others in the decade to be equally powerful, such as Bench’s 1976 card, but this is the first.

1975 #228 George Brett - $147,484

The third most valuable card from the 1970s is the rookie card of George Brett, one of the few players who has a claim to being the best third baseman of all-time. Brett was the consumate hitter, batting .305 lifetime and hitting an amazing .390 in 1980. Brett showed up when it mattered too, hitting .337 lifetime in postseason play. While Schmidt’s rookie card is more valuable, Brett’s other cards tend to be worth more and Brett also received a slightly higher Hall of Fame voting percentage than Schmidt.

1971 #26 Bert Blyleven - $138,000

The fourth most valuable card of the 1970s is a bit of a shocker and underscores the importance of the rarity of a card in pristine condition. Blyleven is a Hall of Famer, but unlike the other players on this list he was not a first-ballot Hall of Famer, which is typically reserved for the best of the best. But this is his rookie card and it just so happens to be much harder to find this card in mint condition than most other cards produced in the 1970s.

1970 #712 Nolan Ryan - $132,000

The fifth most valuable card of the decade is the third-year card of Nolan Ryan. No player’s baseball cards from the 1970s’ are more sought after than those of Nolan Ryan. Ryan’s rookie card is from 1968, so not included in this post, and Ryan was still only a reliever in 1970 when this card came out. The legend of Ryan didn’t really get going until 1973 after he pitched his first two no-hitters, but Ryan’s legend has not diminished over the years and, no matter the year, Ryan’s card is among the most sought after in the set.

1975 #223 Robin Yount - $102,000

The sixth most valuable card from the 1970s is Robin Yount’s rookie card. Yount is a first-ballot Hall of Famer whose basic numbers don’t fully tell how great he really was. While he was a two-time Most Valuable Player, which does put him in rarified air, he was also only a three-time all-star, which implies a solid but not Hall of Fame worthy career. His career, however, overlapped with two other Hall of Fame shortstops in Cal Ripken Jr and Alan Trammell, somewhat limiting his chances. He is fifth all-time in career Wins Above Replacement for shortstops, a truer measure of his impact.

1970 #189 Yankees Rookie Stars - $99,000

The seventh most valuable card from the 1970s is the 1970 Yankee Rookie Stars featuring Thurman Munson and Dave McDonald. It is a bit surprising that Munson has two cards on this list but Nolan Ryan does not. Of course, this is a rookie card of a player who was an all-star in nearly every year for which he played the whole year, was the catcher on two World Champion winning teams, played for the most heralded team in baseball, and died tragically young, and you get a highly sought after card. So, it is not surprising that Munson’s rookie card is on this list, but it is more surprising that his second year card is the second most valuable card in the 1970s.

1973 #305 Willie Mays - $79,200

The eighth most valuable card from the 1970s, is the one of the incomparable Willie Mays. While the rookie cards for Hall of Famers are the most valuable cards, and Willie Mays’ rookie card is his most valuable, sometimes it is the last card of an all-time great that is highly prized. The 1973 Mays card is his last, and while he has lost his youthful charm and is no longer a Giant, it is still a Mays.

1979 #116 Ozzie Smith - $77,099

The ninth most valuable rookie card of the 1970s is the rookie card of the “Wizard of Oz” himself, Ozzie Smith. Smith is the second Hall of Famer on this list and arguably the only reason his rookie card is less expensive than Yount’s is because it is much harder to find a mint condition card from the 1975 series than it is from the 1979 series. Smith’s career Wins Above Replacement is only a smidge below that of Yount, but Smith made his impact through his defense whereas Yount made his with his bat.

1971 #630 Roberto Clemente - $71,700

The tenth most valuable card from the 1970s is the 1971 card of Roberto Clemente. Clemente is one of the greatest players of all time and one of the most beloved and respected of his generation. This is neither his rookie card nor his last card nor, arguably, his most like card of the 1970s (most think his 1972 card is one of the best cards of the decade), so what makes this one so valuable? Scarcity. Quite simply, the thick black border of the 1971 cards was very easily chipped and it is much harder to get mint cards from that set. That explains why there are three cards on this last from 1971, including this Clemente.