Summary
Whilemodern baseball cardsare celebrated for their flashy designs, complete with holographic foiling, layered textures, and bold visual effects, the cards of the 1970s carried a distinct, minimalistic charm. Characterized by clean white frames and single-colored borders, these vintage cards embraced simplicity, letting the players and photography take center stage.
Despite their understated design, the 1970s marked a turning point in baseball card production, raising the bar with dynamic action shots and memorable photography. This era also coincided with the careers of legendary players like Willie Mays, Nolan Ryan, and Jim Rice, whose appearances in these sets have since become treasured pieces of baseball history.
The value of trading cards depends on the condition of the card. The values listed may differ from an appraiser’s quote. All metrics were compiled byCollectibles.com.
101970 Topps Willie Mays
Willie Mays was one of the greatest center fielders in Major League Baseball (MLB) history. He began his professional career in 1948 with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues, as baseball was still segregated at the time. With the sport slowly integrating, Mays joined the New York Giants in 1951, just a few years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. He remained with the Giants as they moved to San Francisco and later concluded his career with the New York Mets in 1972.
In the world of baseball cards, Topps’ 1970 set marked a significant milestone. At 720 cards, it was the largest set the company had produced to date. The cards were noted for their minimalist gray borders and clean design, with player portraits framed in white. That year also saw Topps increase the price of its wax packs from five cents to ten cents. To add value, each pack included one of three possible inserts: a booklet, a poster, or a scratch-off game card.
91977 Topps Jim Rice
Jim Rice was a powerful left fielder and designated hitter who spent his entire 16-year career with the Boston Red Sox. A cornerstone of the team during the late 1970s and early 1980s, Rice earned American League (AL) Most Valuable Player honors in 1978 after becoming the first player in over four decades to reach 400 total bases in a single season. He later joined an elite group as one of only two players in MLB history to lead the AL in total bases for three consecutive seasons.
In the world of baseball cards, the 1977 Topps set is one of the less celebrated releases of the decade. Collectors have been less enthusiastic about this set overall, as evidenced by the relatively low number of cards submitted to PSA for grading compared to other 1970s sets. Compounding its rarity in high grades is the fragile cardstock Topps used that year, which makes mint-condition cards more difficult to find and, therefore, more valuable among collectors.
81973 Topps 1973 Rookie Third Basemen (Terry Hughes / Bill McNulty / Ken Reitz)
Terry Hughes, Bill McNulty, and Ken Reitz were all third basemen who made their MLB debuts in 1970, 1969, and 1972, respectively. While Hughes and McNulty had brief stints in the majors, Reitz stood out with a more notable career. Reitz won the Gold Glove Award in 1975 and earned a spot on the National League All-Star team in 1980. By the time he retired, he held the all-time highest career fielding percentage for a third baseman.
The 1973 Topps 660-card set is remembered for its flaws: dark backgrounds, poor centering, and printing errors that sometimes clipped coaches' ears. Thin cardstock made well-preserved cards rare. Still, the set stands out for its bold action shots, including several unique vertical layouts.
71971 Topps Willie Mays
Willie Mays was the quintessential five-tool player: an elite class of non-pitchers who excel at hitting for average, hitting for power, base running, throwing, and fielding. These rare athletes are true jacks-of-all-trades who can dominate in nearly any role on the field. One of Mays’ most iconic moments came during the 1954 World Series, when he made an over-the-shoulder catch in deep center field, one that remains etched in baseball history.
In the trading card world, Mays’ appearance in the 1971 Topps set is especially significant. The set was released in seven series, with Mays' card appearing in the sixth series. By that time, demand for baseball cards had begun to wane, with stores preferring to stock football cards instead. As a result, the later series were printed in smaller quantities, making them rarer and more desirable among collectors today.
61978 Topps Eddie Murray
Throughout his career, Eddie Murray made his mark as a first baseman, designated hitter, and later as a coach. He is best known for his time with the Baltimore Orioles, where he debuted as a player in 1977 and returned as a coach in 1998. A model of consistency and power, Murray ranks second only to Mickey Mantle in home runs among switch hitters. He is also one of only three players in MLB history to record both 3,000 hits and 500 home runs.
Murray’s rookie card was introduced in the 1978 Topps set, which is one of two Hall of Famerookie cards that anchor the set. The 1978 set remains one of the most popular Topps releases among collectors.According to the PSA, more than twice as many cards from this set have been submitted for grading compared to the 1977 set. However, much like the 1973 Topps set, the 1978 run is notorious for poor centering and miscuts, making high-grade cards significantly more valuable on the market.
51971 Topps Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan is widely regarded as one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history. Known for his blazing fastball, frequently clocked at 100 miles per hour (161 km/h), and a devastating 12–6 curveball, Ryan was a powerhouse on the mound. He holds the all-time record for career strikeouts with 5,714, an astonishing 839 more than the runner-up, Randy Johnson. While he never achieved a perfect game, Ryan remains the all-time leader in no-hitters, with an unmatched total of seven.
The 1971 Topps series is memorable for its sleek black borders, striking but highly prone to chipping. This fragility has led some collectors to trim edges or use black marker to conceal wear. As a result, mint-condition cards from this set are rare and command a premium on the market.
41979 Topps Rookie Card Ozzie Smith
Nicknamed the ‘Wizard of Oz,’ Ozzie Smith was a defensive powerhouse who played shortstop for the San Diego Padres and the St. Louis Cardinals. Known for his acrobatic plays and unmatched fielding, Smith earned the National League Gold Glove Award for shortstop an incredible 13 consecutive times. In 1987, he added the Silver Slugger Award to his accolades, recognizing him as the best offensive shortstop in the league that year.
Smith’s rookie card from the 1979 Topps set is one of the most coveted cards from that era. It is notably rare in high grades, as the printing process at the time often resulted in severe off-centering, preventing most from qualifying for a PSA Mint 9 or higher. In fact, this is the only known post-1970 Ozzie Smith card to have ever been graded a PSA 9 or above, making it a true collector’s gem.
31973 Topps Rookie Third Basemen (Ron Cey / John Hilton / Mike Schmidt)
This iconic rookie card from the 1973 Topps set features three third basemen: Ron Cey, John Hilton, and Mike Schmidt. Ron Cey went on to become a six-time All-Star and was named MVP of the 1981 World Series after helping lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to victory. Mike Schmidt, widely regarded as one of the greatest third basemen in MLB history, was a 12-time All-Star, a ten-time Gold Glove winner, and a three-time National League MVP. While John Hilton didn’t reach the same heights in Major League Baseball, he carved out a respectable career in Japan.
A Canadian version of the card was also released by O-Pee-Chee. Due to its lower print run, it rivals the original in desirability among collectors.
Although the 1973 Topps set is often criticized for its muted design and low-quality cardstock, it has become a collector’s favorite due to its challenging condition, sensitivity and notable rookie cards. The black borders were prone to miscuts, poor centering, and edge wear, making high-grade examples difficult to find. The inclusion of Mike Schmidt’s rookie card further elevates this trio card’s importance, making it one of the most desirable rookie cards of the decade.
21974 Topps Deckle Edge White Backs Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench spent his entire 16-year career with the Cincinnati Reds, primarily as a catcher, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest catchers in MLB history. When he retired in 1983, he held the MLB record for most home runs by a catcher, a record that still stands today. Bench was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1986 and the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989.
One of his standout collectibles appears in the 1974 Topps Deckle Edge set, a 72-card series known for its unique aesthetic. The cards feature scalloped edges, black-and-white portraits, facsimile player signatures in cursive script, and mock newspaper clippings showcasing key career stats. The set has two back variations: Gray Backs and the rarer White Backs. PSA only began grading the White Backs as a separate variant around 2015, meaning collectors are still determining the full scope of the set’s rarity and value.
11970 Topps Nolan Ryan
After retiring from Major League Baseball with a legendary career, Nolan Ryan transitioned into a successful executive role. He became the principal owner of Ryan Sanders Sports and Entertainment, the ownership group of the Round Rock Express, the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, the team Ryan pitched for from 1989 to 1993. His ties to the Rangers deepened further when he was hired as the team’s president in 2008 and later promoted to CEO, a role he held until 2013.
The 1970 MLB All-Star Game was the first played at night and featured Pete Rose’s legendary collision at home plate with Ray Fosse. The dramatic play reignited public interest in baseball and card collecting, boosting the popularity of the 1970 Topps set, now prized for its clean gray borders, sharp photography, and deep player checklist.
