PSA 9 Values for 1980 and older
Due to the rarity of PSA 10 examples for years 1980 and older, I included PSA 9 selling prices. This way, we can better understand the actual value of the more common mint condition card. Gem mint examples are much rarer and more valuable.
#20.
1987 Topps Tiffany
Nolan Ryan baseball card #757
PSA 10 Value: $183
1987 Topps Tiffany had 30,000 sets printed and is the largest of Topps Tiffany sets. However, there is significantly more regular issue Topps sets, and the value is far less than Tiffany cards. A 1987 Topps Tiffany Nolan Ryan baseball card graded PSA 10 currently sells for under $200.
PSA graded 930 of the ’87 Tiffany Nolan Ryan cards. Of those submitted, 1235 graded gem mint 10, 454 mint 9, and 279 near-mint to mint 8. Coming straight from factory sealed sets, ’87 Topps tiffany cards are fairly easy to grade. However, a big issue is most cards are cut off-centered which reduces the chance of grading gem mint 10.
#19.
1986 Topps
Nolan Ryan baseball card #100
PSA 10 Value: $967
Topps surprised collectors after several years of relatively basic designs with its 1986 set. Instead of a traditional white frame around the photo, three-quarters white on the bottom and a broad black band across the top. Team names appear in giant letters inside the black bar with player names on the bottom.
The black ink on the top chips easily, making the ’86 set challenging to grade. High-grade cards are in demand due to scarcity. PSA graded 3,178 of the ’86 Topps Nolan Ryan cards. Of those submitted, eleven graded gem mint 10, 797 mint 9, and 1,460 near-mint to mint 8.
#18.
1985 Topps Tiffany
Nolan Ryan baseball card #760
PSA 10 Value: $1,079
In its second year of producing a high-gloss collectors edition of its regular baseball card set, Topps cut production to 5,000 sets. Other than the use of white cardboard stock and the glossy front coating, the Tiffany cards are identical to the regular 1985 Topps cards. They are in high demand, with only 5,000 cards available, primarily when found in gem mint conditions.
PSA graded 514 of the 1985 Topps Tiffany Nolan Ryan baseball cards. Of those submitted, 44 graded gem mint 10, 261 mint 9, and 178 graded near-mint to mint 8. With only 44 PSA 10s in the supply of the already low supply of 5,000 cards printed, the value continues to rise.
#17.
1984 Topps Tiffany
Nolan Ryan baseball card #470
PSA 10 Value: $1,233
In 1984 Topps introduced a specially boxed, limited edition version of its baseball card set. Tiffany sets were sold only through hobby dealers. The cards differed from regular-issue 1984 Topps cards in their use of white cardboard stock and the application of a high-gloss finish to the front of the card. Topps produced a reported 10,000 sets. Collectors coined the nickname “Tiffany” to identify the glossy collectors’ edition.
PSA graded 444 of the 1984 Topps Tiffany Nolan Ryan baseball cards. Of those submitted, 23 graded gem mint 10, 197 mint 9, and 172 graded near-mint to mint 8. With only 23 PSA 10s in the supply of the already low supply of 10,000 cards printed, the competition gets rough when one surfaces for auction.
#16.
1983 Topps
Nolan Ryan baseball card #360
PSA 10 Value: $373
Topps reached back 20 years for the 1983 set. Like the 1963 Topps set, the ‘83 Topps cards feature a large color photograph of the player with a small round portrait photo inset in a lower corner. Unlike the ‘63 cards, the smaller photo is also in color.
Team colors surround the top and bottom sections. Card backs are horizontal in format and feature-complete Major League stats. The 1983 Topps set is a highly collectible set due to the popularity of the design.
Of the 3,495 Nolan Ryan cards submitted to PSA, 328 graded gem mint 10. There are quite a few for sale on eBay listed at around $499 or less.
#15.
1982 Topps
Nolan Ryan baseball card #90
PSA 10 Value: $667
In 1982 Topps produced its most extensive baseball card set –792 cards. The addition of 66 cards allowed Topps, for the first time since 1978, to eliminate “double prints” (cards printed more than once on a sheet and therefore twice as common as the others).
The design of ‘82 Topps is either loved or hated by collectors. Some argue that the bright colors distract the eyes from player photos; however, some think it adds a sense of being “vintage Topps”.
PSA graded 4,157 1982 Topps Nolan Ryan baseball cards. Of those submitted, 191 graded gem mint 10. Having such a small PSA 10 population is evidence that the ’82 Topps set is more challenging to grade than previous cards on this list.
#14.
1981 Topps
Nolan Ryan baseball card #240
PSA 10 Value: $4,000
Fleer and Donruss came onto the scene in ‘81, forcing Topps to change things up. Firstly, they added their logo to the front of the card again. Secondly, they released the cards early. Due to the early releases, the ’81 issue reflected few postseason trades. Topps solved the issue with their first release of the Topps Traded sets in 1981.
PSA graded 4,221 of the 1981 Topps Nolan Ryan baseball cards. Of those submitted, 39 graded gem mint 10. With only 39 PSA 10s in supply, the price to own one has continued to rise. There are 898 PSA 9s and they sell for much less at around $100. 1981 is the first year Nolan Ryan wore the Houston Astros uniform on a baseball card.
#13.
1980 Topps
Nolan Ryan baseball card #580
PSA 9 Value: $322
Topps stuck with tradition in its last year of issuing a national card set unchallenged by competitors. The basic design is similar to the 1974 set. Colored pennants cover the upper-left and lower-right corners of the photo. Unlike every year since 1979, Topps excluded their logo on the front.
The picture of Nolan Ryan winding up for a pitch, coupled with the elegant design and vibrant colors, make this a highly collectible Nolan Ryan baseball card. Furthermore, 1980 Topps is home to Rickey Henderson’s rookie card.
PSA graded 5,064 of the 1980 Topps Nolan Ryan baseball cards. Of those submitted, 36 graded gem mint 10, 828 mint 9, and 2,175 graded near-mint to mint 8. PSA 9s have steadily gone up in value since the middle of 2020. A PSA 10 example was sold at auction in September 2021 for $7,327.
#12.
1979 Topps
Nolan Ryan baseball card #115
PSA 9 Value: $249
On November 19, 1979, Nolan Ryan became the first million-dollar player when he signed a four-year free-agent contract with the Houston Astros for $4.5 million (equivalent to $16.8 million in 2021). The salary quadrupled what he had been making with the California Angels. 1979 Topps is the last issue of a Nolan Ryan baseball card donning a California Angels uniform.
PSA graded 5,207 of Nolan Ryan’s 1979 baseball cards. Of those submitted, 13 graded gem mint 10, 755 mint 9, and 2,104 graded near-mint to mint 8. The last auction for a PSA 10 example ended in December 2020, selling for $5,450. With the vintage Topps logo in the bottom left-hand corner, a prominent team name over a contrasting background, and the intense photo, this card will make a great addition to any Nolan Ryan collection.
Nolan Ryan/J.R. Richard Strikeout Leaders #6
Topps printed 726 cards in their 1979 set with Nolan Ryan on two of the cards. He occupies the #6 Strikeout Leaders subset card with J.R. Richard and his base #115 card. Sales of the subset card, in gem mint condition, have not surpassed $100, which makes his base #115 card the one to invest in.
#11.
1978 Topps
Nolan Ryan baseball card #400
PSA 9 Value: $1,735
The design of the 1978 Topps set is one of their most refined of the decade. Maximum space is devoted to a significant player photo with a thin white line border. “The Ryan Express” is posing in a pre-wind-up pitching stance.
The hot pink Angels team name and vibrant green border make this card pop out from the rest. Finding high-grade copies has proven challenging over the years resulting in higher prices for such examples.
PSA graded 3,941 of the 1978 Topps Nolan Ryan baseball cards. Of those submitted, three graded gem mint 10, 124 mint 9, and 1,181 graded near-mint to mint 8. The majority of cards populate the PSA 8 category.
#10.
1977 Topps
Nolan Ryan baseball card #650
PSA 9 Value: $615
The 1977 Topps issue continued the trend toward a cleaner, more straightforward design. The card front features a large color photo of Nolan Ryan with a facsimile autograph across it. At the top, a white border contains Angel’s team name in fluorescent pink, with Nolan Ryan’s name below and position tucked inside a yellow pennant to the right.
The ‘77 Topps set isn’t their most popular issue; however, it does contain Hall of Famers, such as Reggie Jackson, Johnny Bench, Thurman Munson, George Brett, and Nolan Ryan.
PSA graded 3,788 of the 1977 Topps Nolan Ryan baseball cards. Of those submitted, 19 graded gem mint 10, 278 mint 9, and 1,189 graded near-mint to mint 8. The majority of cards populate the PSA 8 category. A PSA 10 graded Nolan Ryan was sold at auction in March 2021 for $9,102.
#9.
1976 Topps
Nolan Ryan baseball card #330
PSA 9 Value: $966
After several years of card designs in which the border dominated the photo, Topps moved toward a more straightforward design in 1976.
A large, clear player photo of Nolan Ryan dominates the card front. Ryan’s name and team are in a pair of colored strips at the bottom, with his pitching position shown by a small clip art in the lower left. The card back design is one of Topps’ best. A bat and ball appear on the left, with the card number inside the ball.
PSA graded 5,091 of the 1977 Topps Nolan Ryan baseball cards. Of those submitted, 10 graded gem mint 10, 269 mint 9, and 1,718 graded near-mint to mint 8. The majority of cards populate the PSA 8 category. A ’76 Topps PSA 10 graded Nolan Ryan baseball card was sold at auction in January 2021 for $17,517.
#8.
1975 Topps
Nolan Ryan baseball card #500
Recent PSA 9 Value: $6,301
The 1975 Topps design is an eye-popper, and collectors love it or hate it. A round-cornered photo is framed with a distinctive two-tone border in vibrant colors. The team name is at the top with a drop shadow effect, and the player position is in a baseball at the lower right. George Brett, Robin Yount, and Gary Carter are the notable rookie cards in the 1975 Topps
Topps created a mini version of this set that’s about 20% smaller, known as the 1975 Topps minis. Because they were only available in Midwest and on the West Coast, the supply is smaller than the regular issue.
4,822 of Nolan Ryan’s ’75 Topps cards have been submitted to PSA. Of those submitted, three graded gem mint 10, 73 mint 9, and 965 near-mint to mint 8.
1975 Topps Baseball Card Set
A couple of design features prevent the ’75 Topps from grading well. Firstly, the bright ink used on the background chips easily, resulting in whitening. Secondly, the borders are thick on the side and challenging to find well-centered. Lastly, the corners soften easily and are hard to find in mint conditions.
#7.
1974 Topps
Nolan Ryan baseball card #20
PSA 9 Value: $999
In 1974, for the first time, Topps released all of its 660 cards at one time at the beginning of the year. Cards feature player photos with rounded corners and a thin colored border. Team names are divided between the top and bottom with various colored backgrounds. Nolan Ryan has a pink border, which seems to be a popular color used on Nolan Ryan baseball cards.
PSA graded 5,307 of the ’74 Topps Nolan Ryan cards. Of those submitted, six graded gem mint 10, 224 mint 9, and 1,568 graded near-mint to mint 8.
Nolan Ryan became the first pitcher to have his speed measured
During a September 7, 1974, game against the Chicago White Sox at Anaheim Stadium, Nolan Ryan became the first Major League pitcher to have his pitch speed measured during a game.
A primitive radar gun clocked a ninth-inning fastball at 100.8 miles per hour when it was 10 feet in front of home plate. This exceeded an earlier pitch by Bob Feller, which was measured at 98.6 miles per hour at home plate and previously thought to be the fastest pitch ever recorded.
With the cameraman behind home plate, the photograph perfectly captures the intensity and power behind Ryan’s lightning-fast pitches. We can get an idea of what every batter felt when they took the home plate to bat against the Strike Out King.
#6.
1973 Topps
Nolan Ryan baseball card #20
Recent PSA 9 Value: $2,024
In 1973, Ryan set his first major record when he struck out 383 batters in one season, beating Sandy Koufax’s old mark by one. Ryan threw two no-hitters in 1973. In the second one, on July 15 against the Detroit Tigers, he struck out 17 batters – the most in a recorded no-hitter. This is Ryan’s second year as a California Angel and, because of the clean design, is a fan favorite.
PSA graded 4,520 1973 Topps Nolan Ryan baseball cards. Of those graded, six graded gem mint 10, 134 mint 9, and 834 near-mint to mint 8. A PSA 10 example was sold at auction by Memory Lane in October 2021 for $70,960.
1973 Topps Baseball Card Set
Having produced its most extensive set (1972), Topps cut back to 660 cards in 1973, becoming the standard for the next five years. The ‘73 set was the last set issued in different series. Starting in 1974, all Topps cards were released at one time early in the year. The ‘73 set contains the final numbers of the ‘70s.
A big concern for collectors is the questionable photos of some players. For example, Roberto Clemente and Reggie Jackson’s photos are difficult to tell who they are. The reason is that Topps wanted to capture action photos but fell short due to blur, shadows, and having the stadium blend in with the player. However, Nolan Ryan’s card looks great!
#5.
1972 Topps
Nolan Ryan baseball card #595
PSA 9 Value: $2,282
In December 1971, The Mets traded Nolan Ryan, Don Rose, Francisco Estrada, and Leroy Stanton to the California Angels for Jim Fregosi. Most would agree today that this was a terrible decision for the Mets; however, at the time, it made sense. 1972 Topps Is Nolan Ryan’s first baseball card wearing a California Angels uniform.
PSA graded 5,465 of Nolan Ryan’s 1972 Topps baseball card. Of those submitted, nine graded gem mint 10, 189 mint 9, and 1,207 near-mint to mint 8. The majority of cards graded PAS 7 with 1,283 in supply.
1972 Topps Baseball Card Set
In 1972, Topps increased their set size to 787, making it their most extensive set. The 1972 cards were also Topps’ most vivid. A color photo shaped like a tombstone is surrounded by a multi-colored frame with clashing or harmonizing colors. The team name is at the top of the card in colorful “superhero” font, and the player’s name appears in a white panel below the picture. Topps did not include the player position on the front, which was unusual.
#4.
1971 Topps
Nolan Ryan baseball card #513
PSA 9 Value: $26,316
1971 Topps is the last year of Nolan Ryan in a New York Mets uniform. Unfortunately, Topps photographers were too far away and failed to provide a quality photograph of Ryan. Furthermore, the background Royal Crown advertisement dominates most of the eye’s attention. Regardless of the poor photo, the 1971 Topps set has increased in popularity due to the difficulty of grading the dark black ink edges.
PSA graded 5,076 of Nolan Ryan’s 1971 Topps baseball cards. None graded gem mint 10, 31 mint 9, and 584 near-mint to mint 8. The majority of cards graded PAS 7 with 1,218 in supply. PSA mint 9 examples have doubled in value, selling from $10,000 in December 2020 to $25,000 in 2022.
1971 Topps Baseball Card Set
The 1971 Topps set was the largest ever, having 792 cards. The design was one of their most straightforward and most attractive, with the front featuring a large color photograph surrounded by a thin white border. Team names are in bright colors at the top, with the player’s name and position in lower-case letters underneath.
A facsimile autograph across the photo completes the front design. Topps continued their innovation by adding a black and white photo on the back, making it the first baseball card to have a player’s picture on both the front and back. Although the 1971 Topps cards are attractive in mint condition, the black borders often show whitening. The ink tends to flake off edges, making mint cards challenging to find.
#3.
1970 Topps
Nolan Ryan baseball card #712
PSA 9 Value: $7,975
The ‘70 cards were issued one series at a time as the year progressed, the later a series was released, the rarer it became. Cards #1-#459 are the most common, followed by #460-#546 and #547-#633, with #634-#720 being the hardest to find.
The most expensive card in the set is Johnny Bench, who appears in the high numbers along with Nolan Ryan, Frank Robinson, and Al Kaline. Other collectible Hall of Fame players in this set includes Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Reggie Jackson.
5,202 of Ryan’s ’70 Topps cards have been submitted to PSA. Of those offered, three graded gem mint 10, 125 graded mint 9, and 875 graded near-mint to mint 8. The light gray borders may appear challenging to grade; however, they aren’t nearly as difficult as the 1971 issue with black edges.
1970 Topps Baseball Card Set
Because it was issued at the beginning of the decade, the 1970 Topps set is a popular starting point for modern baseball card collectors. At 720 cards, it was the largest issued produced by Topps up to that point. The design is simple and very vintage. The most distinguishable trait of the ‘70 Topps set is the gray borders.
#2.
1969 Topps
Nolan Ryan baseball card #712
PSA 9 Value: $7,975
The second most expensive Nolan Ryan baseball card is his second appearance on a baseball card. On the 1969 Topps card, we see a young and eager photograph of Nolan Ryan donning his New York Mets uniform. The photo is very crisp and vibrant, with a shadow cast behind him. Topps rounded the corners with a large radius.
PSA graded an impressive 6,988 of Nolan Ryan’s 1969 Topps baseball card. of Those submitted, two graded gem mint 10, 122 mint 9, and 846 graded near-mint to mint 8. 1969 Topps has proven to be a challenging set to find well-centered cards in. Furthermore, staining and soft corners are an issue.
1969 Topps Baseball Card Set
The 1969 Topps set is unusual in several ways, making it popular and collectible. Firstly, Topps again set a record for the number of cards issued, with 664. Secondly, the distribution of the series was unusual. There are four levels of scarcity in the ‘69 set, but the high numbers (cards #514-#664) are not the scarcest; that distinction goes to cards #219-#327. Lastly, there are a ton of variations.
The design of the 1969 set is similar to the 1967 Topps set. A large color photo bordered in white occupies most of the front. The team name is in block letters with various colors at the bottom. A colored circle encompasses the player’s name and position in one of the upper corners.
Variations
The largest and most valuable group of variations in the set are the “white letter” cards. There are many cards in the set with the player or team name in white letters, but 23 cards (#440-#511) appear with these elements in either yellow (common) or white (rare). 1969 has numerous Hall of Fame players including Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, and Willie Mays.
#1.
1968 Topps
Nolan Ryan rookie card #712
Recent Selling PSA 9 Value: $112,003
Nolan Ryan’s 1968 Topps rookie card is his only recognized rookie card. It is also his most valuable baseball card when found in mint condition. Unfortunately, the card has many downsides with how he shares the card with fellow pitcher Jerry Koosman being the biggest.
In addition to sharing the card with another player, the card’s layout is aligned horizontally rather than in the traditional vertical format. A horizontal format decreases the overall display appeal in a PSA case but does not deter collectors from bidding on this incredible piece of history.
Most die-hard baseball card collectors could care less of the downsides, they want the Strike Out king’s one and only rookie card, and they want it in mint condition. Due to high demand and a low supply, prices for mint condition examples continue to increase.
1968 Topps Baseball Card Set
In 1968, Topps returned to a 598-card set. However, it is not similar by way of appearance as the cards feature a color photograph on a background of what appears to be a burlap sack. The player’s name is below the photo but on an unusual background. A colored circle on the lower right carries the team name and position. The set features many older favorite subsets, including World Series highlights, statistical leaders, multi-player cards, checklists, rookie cards, and returns for All-Star cards.
PSA Population Report
As of writing this article, 13,418 of Nolan Ryan’s 1969 Topps rookie cards have been submitted to PSA for grading. Of those offered, just one graded gem mint 10, 66 mint 9, and 739 graded near-mint to mint 8. Having such a small population for mint condition cards proves how challenging the set is to grade—having such a small high-grade supply results in a higher selling price for such examples.
Conclusion
Investing in Nolan Ryan baseball cards can be fun and affordable, however, if you want mint condition examples it can get expensive. Nolan Ryan is regarded as one of the greatest pitchers to ever compete in Major League baseball. He currently holds multiple records including most strikeouts with 5,714 and 2,795 bases on balls. If you are new to baseball card investing check out this link to get the basics. Don’t forget to look at BGS and SGC graded examples because they are typically a fraction of a PSA graded card.
From a young age, Matt dove deep into sports card valuation, turning to esteemed price guides like Beckett and Tuff Stuff. Eventually he extended to Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh!. With a vision to sustain and nurture the hobby he loved, Matt established the ‘Graded Card Investor’ YouTube channel and website. He aims to foster a healthy community and offer invaluable insights to those entering the world of sports cards and TCGs. His depth of understanding, from the card market’s 2020 pinnacle to its 1990s valleys, is consistently fortified by meticulous research.
