Generally speaking, there are fewer Seaver rookies available for sale at any one time. As such, the competition for Seaver rookies is a bit more spirited among collectors who simply wish to own one.
Both cards are from the late '60s. Both are multi-player cards that feature HOFers. One (Seaver) may be the best pitcher from the 20th Century. The other (Ryan) may be the most popular pitcher from the 20th Century. In a "tale of the tape" that's otherwise relatively close, Seaver's scarcity matters.
As for the prices at higher grades, Ryan's popularity may be a factor. This popularity applies to both the player and the card. Ryan's rookie has been a chase card for 35-40 years. For those into "competitive collecting" it probably makes sense to spend an extra five grand for a one-grade-bump.
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Eric Perry
Currently collecting:
T206 (135/524)
1956 Topps Baseball (195/342)
"You can observe a lot by just watching."
- Yogi Berra
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