The Top 10 Topps Baseball Cards of the 1970s

[jason.1969]

I put together my Top Ten list on my website, using criteria you might find convenient in your own ratings.

https://jasoncards.wordpress.com/201...-of-the-1970s/

I'm curious what card would get your vote for #1. If you don't feel like clicking the link, I chose [SPOILER ALERT] 1978 Reggie Jackson.

[Bigdaddy]

I'd pick the '76 Bench for #1 with the others following in no particular order:

1971 Thurman Munson
1978 Reggie Jackson
1971 Willie Mays
1977 Steve Garvey
1972 Rod Carew
1972 Joe Morgan Traded
1977 Pete Rose
1977 Mark Fidrych
1977 Joe Morgan

[mrmopar]

I like a lot of your picks myself, but 72s do nothing for me at all. Can't say any of those cards appeal to me, except maybe some of IA subsets.

A few others that come to mind for me, as I also love a great action photo, are:

1979 Rose and/or Carew
1977 Garvey
1974 Seaver

Originally Posted by jason.1969

I put together my Top Ten list on my website, using criteria you might find convenient in your own ratings.

https://jasoncards.wordpress.com/201...-of-the-1970s/

I'm curious what card would get your vote for #1. If you don't feel like clicking the link, I chose [SPOILER ALERT] 1978 Reggie Jackson.

[rats60]

From your list, the 1972 Clemente. From any cards, the 1970 Topps Johnny Bench. The game's best catcher at the peak of his career. That was a card we were all chasing in 1970.

My Top 10 would be
1970 Bench
1970 Mays
1971 Munson
1972 Clemente
1974 Seaver
1974 Ryan
1974 Reggie Jackson
1975 Brett
1975 Rose
1976 Schmidt

[Mark70Z]

I'm assuming your asking for regular issue Topps cards; is that correct? If not, I'd have a totally different listing. It's a slight possibility that I may or may not be partial, but I'd go with the cards as follows:

1A. 1971 Brooks Robinson
1a. 1975 Brooks Robinson

Then after that, in no particular order would be:

'74 Brooks
'72 Brooks
'70 Brooks
etc....

[jason.1969]

Was thinking regular issue. Quite the Brooksy fan, huh!

[Vintagevault13]

I would cast a vote for the 1974 Seaver. Great action shot.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Mark70Z

I'm assuming your asking for regular issue Topps cards; is that correct? If not, I'd have a totally different listing. It's a slight possibility that I may or may not be partial, but I'd go with the cards as follows:

1A. 1971 Brooks Robinson
1a. 1975 Brooks Robinson

Then after that, in no particular order would be:

'74 Brooks
'72 Brooks
'70 Brooks
etc....

What about 1971 Topps #331?

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by jason.1969

Was thinking regular issue. Quite the Brooksy fan, huh!

Correct! I was somewhat kidding about those being the Top 10 (to me they are). I'd probably go w/the '71 Munson; such a cool looking shot. Likely the '72 Clemente after that; that is of course if you're talking other than Brooks...

Originally Posted by rats60

What about 1971 Topps #331?

Ha! I'm really not a big fan of the '71 Topps 331 picturing Brooks crawling through the Sierra Desert...

[brewing]

Chronological order. Asterisked are in my top 10 Post War cards



1970 Johnny Bench
1971 Thurman Munson

1972 Roberto Clemente*

1972 Rod Carew

1973 Johnny Bench
1973 Bill Freehan
1974 Tom Seaver

1974 Hank Aaron

1977 Mark Fidrych

1978 Reggie Jackson*

[39special]

'71 Nolan Ryan
'71 Munson
'72 Billy Martin
'73 Aaron
'73F.Robinson
'75 Yount
'76 Pete Rose
'77 Schmidt
'78 R.Jackson
'78 Dent

[Econteachert205]

Great topic, from your list I would keep

74 aaron
72 Clemente
77 fydrich
71 Munson
76 bench

I'd add
1975 brett
1970 rose
1978 molitor / trammal
1973 mays
1972 Robinson traded

[KCRfan1]

Picking a card from each year:

71 Ryan
72 Rose
73 Clemente
74 Aaron
75 Brett
76 Bench
77 Munson
78 Jackson
79 Brett

[Exhibitman]

My top ten for aesthetics:

1971 Brooks Robinson
1972 Roberto Clemente
1973 All Time Home Run Leaders (Ruth Aaron Mays)
1974 Hank Aaron, Steve Garvey, Tom Seaver
1975 Tom Seaver
1976 Mike Schmidt, Ted Williams ATG
1978 Ron Guidry

My top ten for investment:

1970 Nolan Ryan
1971 Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays
1973 Mike Schmidt
1974 Hank Aaron, Dave Winfield
1975 George Brett, Robin Yount, Jim Rice
1978 Eddie Murray

[stlcardsfan]

73 Schmidt
72 Clemente
76 Brock
71 Munson
75 Brett
74 Seaver
77 Fidrych
70 Ryan
78 Reggie
73 #1 HR Kings

[MCoxon]

1971 Vada Pinson (way underrated)
1971 Thurman Munson (popular pick but deservedly)
1971 Roberto Clemente
1971 Nolan Ryan
1973 Hank Aaron
1973 Roberto Clemente
1974 Steve Garvey
1974 Tom Seaver
1974 Reggie Jackson
1976 George Brett

[nolemmings]

I separate action shots from posed

Top 10 posed:
1973 Morgan
1972 Clemente (kind of action)
1970 Bench
1970 F. Howard
1975 G. Perry
1973 Seaver
1976 Munson
1977 Schmidt
1971 Cedeno
1973 Evans
1976 Carew (kind of action)

Top 10 action (no order after Munson):
1971 Munson
1974 Ryan
1974 Carlton
1974 Palmer
1974 Dent
1974 Jackson
1976 Parker
1976 Bench
1977 Templeton
1978 Reggie

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

My top ten for aesthetics:

1971 Brooks Robinson
1972 Roberto Clemente
1973 All Time Home Run Leaders (Ruth Aaron Mays)
1974 Hank Aaron, Steve Garvey, Tom Seaver
1975 Tom Seaver
1976 Mike Schmidt, Ted Williams ATG
1978 Ron Guidry

My top ten for investment:

1970 Nolan Ryan
1971 Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays
1973 Mike Schmidt
1974 Hank Aaron, Dave Winfield
1975 George Brett, Robin Yount, Jim Rice
1978 Eddie Murray

Several favorites for (long term) investment--1973 OPC Mike Schmidt; 1978 OPC Eddie Murray; 1974 Deckle Nolan Ryan.

May your collecting be fulfilling,

Larry

[JTysver]

I want something that represents the character of the game and Hobby at that time.
If I were to try to pick cards which showed the game as it was in the 1970s, these would do it.
I might add that the Brett Rookie, was not a hot card in the hobby until the 1980s.


1973 Topps Bench- Greatest action shot in the 70s
1976 Topps Traded Oscar Gamble- Stylin'
1970 Kellogg's Clemente- Beautiful portrait, initial offering of cards that every kid had whether they collected or not
1979 Topps Blyleven- these unis clearly represent the 70s style
1973 Topps Aaron/Ruth/Mays all time HR leaders- this represents the hype and talk of a whole two or three years in the 70s
1978 Topps World Series- Reggie and Yankees Reign Supreme- probably the most remembered moment of the 70s
1971 Topps Steve Garvey- This card was hot in the 70s
1973 Topps Pete Rose- Another great action shot
1977 Renata Galasso Joe DiMaggio- Every collector had these
1974 Topps Washington Team- the Error craze of the 70s centered around these

[JollyElm]

In no particular order...

(All photos are grabs from ebay)

• 1973 Willie Mays - The first card of my idol in the uniform of my beloved Mets.

• 1978 Reggie Jackson - The classic Reg-gie follow through. Awesome!!

• 1972 Willie McCovey - Love the blurry hand. Can't recall another Topps card with that effect.

• 1970 Mets Team - The Mets won the World Series. The freakin’ World Series!!!! How happy could a kid be??

• 1974 Nolan Ryan - This one needs no explanation. Look at that shot!!

• 1976 Johnny Bench - In a word, "intimidation."

• 1977 Dave Kingman - My absolute favorite player in a great photo as he 'Kongs' one to left.

• 1974 Frank Robinson - As a portrait, this picture is an absolute work of art.

• 1973 Johnny Bench - What an absolutely gorgeous shot!! And look how lifeless the Giants are in the dugout. They’ve already conceded defeat to the Big Red Machine!!

• 1972 Bobby Bonds - Look at that grin on his face. It says, "Dangit!! How I’d miss that one??!! I can't believe I didn't launch that pitch!!"

[alfredoleal2001]

I think Mike Schmidt has to be on that list 73 or 74 topps

[Touch'EmAll]

Born in 1965, I remember standing at the bus stop looking at the older kids' 1972 Topps cards, thinking, I gotta get some. For overall eye appeal I like:

1971 Ryan
1973 Bench
1973 Aaron
1974 Seaver
1974 Ryan
1974 Reggie Jackson (over his 1978)
1975 Schmidt
1976 Lou Brock
1977 Seaver
1978 Reggie Jackson

[jason.1969]

Yep, all great cards! And you may be right about 1974 vs 1978 Reggie. You've got similar photos, so it comes down to MVP + Threepeat vs 5 WS homers, pinstripes, and Repeat.

Have enjoyed everyone's responses to this thread. In some cases, my eyes have been opened to cards I'd either never seen or just plain overlooked. But also surprised by just how many of my top 10 seem to crack other people's lists. Good stuff!