Subtitle: A look into the iconic 1970s Pete Rose cards, including Topps and unique food-related releases.
Meta Description: Discover the range of Pete Rose baseball cards from the 1970s, including Topps and rare food issues. Learn about their rarity, value, and collector insights.
Content:
What’s New
Pete Rose, affectionately dubbed "Charlie Hustle," holds the record for the most hits in Major League Baseball with 4,256 over his 24-year career. The 1970s were pivotal for Rose, showcasing both his athletic prowess and the diversity of baseball cards available. This era experienced a surge in collectible cards, encompassing the classic Topps series along with tie-ins from food brands such as Kellogg's and Hostess. Cards from this decade featuring Rose are highly prized by collectors, with their worth fluctuating based on scarcity and condition.
Configuration at a Glance
- Topps issued yearly base sets that included Pete Rose cards from 1970 through 1979.
- Special cards were produced by brands like Kellogg’s, Bazooka, Milk Duds, Hostess, O-Pee-Chee, and several disc collections.
- Several years featured unique multi-player and leader cards, including batting leaders and All-Star selections.
- Hand-cut and test issues (Bazooka, Hostess, Deckle Edge) contribute to the rarity and value.
- Autographs and memorabilia were not common during this period, emerging as standard features in later years.
Key Inserts & Parallels
- 1970 Topps #61 NL Batting Leaders (Pete Rose/Bob Clemente/Cleon Jones) - a multi-player leader card.
- 1971 Bazooka Numbered Test #32 and Unnumbered #5 - hand-cut test cards.
- 1971 Milk Duds #60 Pete Rose DP - a food issue card.
- 1973 Topps Candy Lids #44 - a test issue with a distinctive round shape.
- 1974 Topps Deckle Edge #16 - a black and white card with a scalloped edge.
- 1975 Hostess #29, Hostess Panels, and Hostess Twinkie - hand-cut food issue cards.
- 1976 disc cards (Blankback, Buckman, Carousel, Crane, Dairy Isle, Isaly, Orbakers, Red Barn, Safelon) - disc-shaped issues.
- 1976 Safelon Superstar Lunch Bags #10 - a novelty issue featuring multiple players.
- 1977 disc cards (Burger Chef, Chilly Willie, Customized, Dairy Isle, Detroit Caesars, Holiday Inn, MSA, Pepsi Glove, Saga, Wendy’s, Zip’z) - branded disc issues.
Autographs & Relics
During the 1970s, autograph and memorabilia cards were not the norm. Pete Rose cards from this time are non-autographed and non-relic. The emphasis is on base cards, leader cards, and unique issues from food and promotional brands. The value and scarcity are influenced by print numbers, condition, and exclusive releases like test and hand-cut cards.
Collector Notes
- Pete Rose cards from the 1970s present a broad array of traditional and food/promotional issues, offering diverse options for collectors.
- Condition significantly impacts value, particularly for hand-cut and test issues such as Bazooka, Hostess, and Deckle Edge cards.
- 1970s Topps cards often face centering and cutting challenges, making well-preserved examples more desirable.
- Food and disc issues are typically hand-cut and may exhibit uneven edges or factory imperfections.
- 1975 Topps #320 Rose is notably favored for its design and value range.
- Specialty and regional releases (discs, lunch bags, candy lids) are rarer and can be more valuable depending on their scarcity and condition.
- Most cards from this decade lack autographs and relics, as these features became common in later years.
- Prices vary greatly: some are available for less than $10, while rare and high-grade cards can fetch hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Source: https://www.sportscardportal.com
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