The 1970s produced some of the most iconic rookie cards in sports history, and collectors today are willing to pay top dollar for well-preserved, raw (ungraded) copies. However, condition is everything—centering, sharp corners, and clean edges can make or break a card’s value.
In this guide, we’ll break down the Top 40 Topps Rookie Cards from the 1970s, based on recent auction sales (as of early 2024). These prices reflect raw, ungraded cards in premium condition—meaning excellent centering, sharp corners, and no visible flaws. If your copies are off-center or have soft edges, expect significantly lower values.
Key Factors That Affect Value
Before diving into the list, here’s what collectors should look for in raw 1970s Topps rookies:
- Centering – A well-centered card commands a premium. Even slight misalignment can drop the value.
- Corners – Must be sharp, not rounded or frayed.
- Edges – No chipping, especially on black-bordered sets (like 1971 Topps).
- Surface – No scratches, creases, or print defects.
- Presentation – Always store cards in penny sleeves and top loaders (buyers pay more for properly protected cards).
Now, let’s get into the rankings!
The Top 40 Topps Rookie Cards of the 1970s
40. 1973 Topps Goose Gosage RC
- Sold for: $17.50 (January 2024)
- Notes: A solid start to the list, but condition-sensitive due to the 1973 design.
39. 1973 Topps Jack Ham RC (Football)
- Sold for: $19 (February 2024)
- Notes: Steelers legend, but football cards from this era lag behind baseball in value.
38. 1971 Topps Bert Blyleven RC (#26)
- Sold for: $24 (January 2024)
- Notes: The 1971 Topps black borders are notoriously tough to find in good condition.
37. 1975 Topps Dan Fouts RC (#367)
- Sold for: $26 (January 2024)
- Notes: Chargers HOF QB, but not as sought-after as other ’75 rookies.
36. 1976 Topps Jack Lambert RC
- Sold for: $26 (December 2023)
- Notes: Steelers’ defensive icon—great for football collectors.
35. 1977 Topps Bruce Sutter RC (#144)
- Sold for: $27 (January 2024)
- Notes: HOF reliever, but ’77 Topps design isn’t as beloved as earlier sets.
34. 1975 Topps Gary Carter RC
- Sold for: $31 (January 2024)
- Notes: “The Kid” is a HOF catcher, but his RC is still affordable.
33. 1975 Topps Mel Blount RC
- Sold for: $32 (February 2024)
- Notes: Steelers’ Hall of Fame CB—great for vintage football fans.
32. 1977 Topps Dale Murphy RC
- Sold for: $34.75 (March 2024)
- Notes: Two-time MVP, but his RC remains undervalued.
31. 1978 Topps Paul Molitor & Alan Trammell RC (#707)
- Sold for: $35 (January 2024)
- Notes: Double rookie card with two HOFers—great value.
30. 1978 Topps Tony Dorsett RC
- Sold for: $38 (March 2024)
- Notes: Cowboys legend—football collectors love this one.
29. 1973 Topps Franco Harris RC
- Sold for: $42 (March 2024)
- Notes: “The Immaculate Reception” legend—condition is key.
28. 1974 Topps Bill Walton RC
- Sold for: $45 (March 2024)
- Notes: NBA HOFer, but basketball cards from the ’70s are rarer.
27. 1976 Topps Dennis Eckersley RC
- Sold for: $46 (March 2024)
- Notes: Future HOF pitcher—underrated RC.
26. 1971 Topps Spencer Haywood RC
- Sold for: $47 (February 2024)
- Notes: NBA star—tough to find well-centered.
25. 1973 Topps Ken Stabler RC
- Sold for: $47 (February 2024)
- Notes: Raiders legend—popular among football collectors.
24. 1975 Topps Jim Rice RC
- Sold for: $53 (January 2024)
- Notes: Red Sox HOF slugger—great investment.
23. 1971 Topps Steve Garvey RC
- Sold for: $56 (January 2024)
- Notes: Dodgers icon—condition-sensitive due to black borders.
22. 1977 Topps Steve Largent RC
- Sold for: $62 (March 2024)
- Notes: Seahawks HOF WR—rising in value.
21. 1971 Topps Rick Barry RC
- Sold for: $67 (March 2024)
- Notes: NBA scoring champ—centering issues common.
20. 1975 Topps Lynn Swann RC
- Sold for: $74 (January 2024)
- Notes: Steelers’ Super Bowl MVP—high demand.
19. 1971 Topps Don Baylor & Dusty Baker RC
- Sold for: $91 (January 2024)
- Notes: Dual RC of two MLB stars—great for set builders.
18. 1971 Topps Ted Simmons RC
- Sold for: $90 (January 2024)
- Notes: Underrated HOF catcher—black borders make high-grade copies rare.
17. 1971 Topps “Mean” Joe Greene RC
- Sold for: $119 (February 2024)
- Notes: Steelers’ defensive legend—iconic football RC.
16. 1970 Topps O.J. Simpson RC
- Sold for: $120 (February 2024)
- Notes: Controversial but historically significant—condition varies widely.
15. 1971 Topps Thurman Munson RC (#189)
- Sold for: $134 (March 2024)
- Notes: Yankees’ beloved captain—highly sought-after.
14. 1978 Topps Eddie Murray RC
- Sold for: $140 (January 2024)
- Notes: HOF switch-hitter—still undervalued.
13. 1974 Topps Dave Winfield RC
- Sold for: $178 (February 2024)
- Notes: HOF outfielder—pack-fresh copies sell well.
12. 1975 Topps George Brett RC
- Sold for: $241 (January 2024)
- Notes: One of the most iconic baseball RCs of the ’70s—prices rising.
11. 1979 Topps Ozzie Smith RC
- Sold for: $261 (February 2024)
- Notes: “The Wizard”—defensive legend with a popular RC.
10. 1972 Topps Roger Staubach RC
- Sold for: $317 (February 2024)
- Notes: Cowboys HOF QB—football collectors pay big for clean copies.
9. 1972 Topps Julius “Dr. J” Erving RC
- Sold for: $355 (March 2024)
- Notes: One of the most iconic basketball RCs ever—often off-center.
8. 1971 Topps Terry Bradshaw RC
- Sold for: $611 (December 2023)
- Notes: Steelers’ 4x Super Bowl champ—be cautious with screwdown cases (can damage edges).
7. 1970 Topps “Pistol Pete” Maravich RC
- Sold for: $616 (January 2024)
- Notes: One of the holy grails of basketball cards—tallboy format.
6. 1975 Topps Robin Yount RC
- Sold for: $616 (March 2024)
- Notes: Brewers HOFer—high demand in top condition.
5. 1979 Topps Wayne Gretzky RC (#18)
- Sold for: $752 (February 2024)
- Notes: The hockey GOAT’s RC—ungraded copies still fetch big money.
4. 1970 Topps Kareem Abdul-Jabbar RC (as Lew Alcindor)
- Sold for: $1,222 (February 2024)
- Notes: NBA legend—tallboy format makes high-grade copies rare.
3. 1973 Topps Mike Schmidt RC
- Sold for: $1,275 (February 2024)
- Notes: Arguably the best 3B ever—centering is crucial for value.
2. 1976 Topps Walter Payton RC (#148)
- Sold for: $1,425 (February 2024)
- Notes: “Sweetness” is a football icon—one of the most valuable raw ’70s football RCs.
1. 1975 Topps George Brett RC (Revisited—Higher Sale)
- Sold for: $2,000+ in Gem Mint (varies by condition)
- Notes: While the earlier sale was 241,∗∗PSA10ssellfor241,∗∗PSA10ssellfor100K+**—raw copies in near-mint condition can hit four figures.
Final Thoughts
If you own any of these raw 1970s Topps rookies, inspect them closely:
✅ Sharp corners
✅ Perfect centering
✅ No edge wear
✅ Stored in penny sleeve & top loader
Graded copies (PSA/BGS) can be worth 10x more, but raw cards in top condition still sell strong.
Which of these do you have in your collection? Let us know in the comments!
(Prices based on recent eBay/Heritage auctions—values fluctuate.)
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.
