The Most Valuable Topps Baseball Cards of 1970
The 1970 Topps baseball card set, comprising 720 cards, ushered in a new decade for the hobby with a distinctive, understated design that perfectly captured the mood of early ’70s baseball. The cards feature a simple gray border, a departure from the colorful styles of the late 1960s, giving the set a clean, almost industrial look that collectors either love for its vintage feel or critique for its subdued tone. Player names are printed in cursive across the bottom, with the team name in bold color above, creating a minimalist but professional layout that lets the photography stand out.
The 1970 set is packed with Hall of Fame talent, including legends like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Reggie Jackson, Johnny Bench, and Tom Seaver. It also features notable rookie cards such as Thurman Munson and Bill Buckner, the former is a particular favorite of collectors.
In addition to its strong checklist, the 1970 Topps issue marked the final cards for several stars of the 1960s, making it a bridge between baseball’s golden era and the modern game. Though condition challenges, especially edge chipping, are common due to the gray borders, the set remains a cornerstone of vintage Topps collecting.
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#712 Nolan Ryan - $132,000
Ryan was still early in his career and wasn’t even a full-time starting pitcher. He was a reliever and spot-starter for the 1969 World Series Champion “Miracle” Mets, the only World Series he would participate in throughout his long and storied career. He was brought in as a reliever once in the Championship Series and once in the World Series, pitching a total of nine innings and giving up only two runs across the two 1969 postseason appearances,
#189 Yankees Rookie Stars - $99,000
Munson is not a Hall of Famer, but that is potentially due to his career being cut short by a plane crash. Munson played ten full seasons in the Major Leagues where he was Rookie of the Year, a seven-time All-Star, a three-time Gold Glove winner, and a one-time Most Valuable Player. While he didn’t put up quite the numbers as fellow catcher Johnny Bench, Munson might have been elected into the Hall of Fame if he had played a few more years.
#630 Ernie Banks - $63,427
The thirty-nine year old Ernie Banks was in the second-to-last year of his impressive career. Throughout his nineteen-year career, “Mr Cub” was a twelve-time All-Star and a two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP). Banks and Cal Ripken are the only shortstops in Major League baseball history to win the MVP award more than once. At the end of his career, Banks moved to first base, which is the position he is listed at on this card.
#140 Reggie Jackson - $43,101
This early Jackson card shows him before he ever played in the postseason, where he ultimately earned the nickname “Mr. October” for his accomplishments in the World Series. Jackson would be a key contributor to the A’s World Series Champion threepeat from 1972-1974 and the Yankees back-to-back World Series victories in 1977 and 1978.
#600 Willie Mays - $37,934
The thirty-nine year old Mays was at the tail end of one of the greatest careers in Major League Baseball history. Mays was Rookie of the year, a twenty-time All-Star, a twelve-time Golden Glove winner, and a two-time Most Valuable Player. Oh, he is also one of the leaders in career home runs and has the most famous catch in baseball history.
