Subtitle: A Detailed Look at Pete Rose's Baseball Cards from the 1970s
Meta Description: Explore Pete Rose's 1970s baseball cards, including Topps, food product editions, and rare issues. Learn about card configurations, key inserts, and collector insights.
Content:
What’s New
Pete Rose, affectionately known as "Charlie Hustle," holds the title of Major League Baseball's all-time hit leader with a remarkable 4,256 hits over his 24-year career. The 1970s were a pivotal decade for Rose, not only for his performance on the field but also for the diverse range of baseball cards that were produced. This era witnessed a surge in collectible cards, featuring standard Topps editions as well as food-related tie-ins such as Kellogg's and Hostess. Rose's cards from this period continue to be highly coveted by collectors, with their value fluctuating based on rarity and condition.
Configuration at a Glance
- Topps released annual base sets showcasing Pete Rose each year from 1970 through 1979.
- Specialty releases included cards from Kellogg’s, Bazooka, Milk Duds, Hostess, O-Pee-Chee, and various disc sets.
- Unique multi-player and leader cards, like batting leaders and All-Star selections, are featured in several years.
- Hand-cut and test issues (Bazooka, Hostess, Deckle Edge) contribute to scarcity and value.
- Most cards from this time do not include autographs or memorabilia, as these were not standard until 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 issues.
- 1971 Milk Duds #60 Pete Rose DP - a food issue card.
- 1973 Topps Candy Lids #44 - a test issue with a distinct round design.
- 1974 Topps Deckle Edge #16 - a black and white card with a scalloped edge.
- 1975 Hostess #29, Hostess Panels, and Hostess Twinkie - food issues, hand-cut.
- 1976 disc cards (Blankback, Buckman, Carousel, Crane, Dairy Isle, Isaly, Orbakers, Red Barn, Safelon) - round disc-shaped cards.
- 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) - company-branded disc issues.
Autographs & Relics
Autograph and memorabilia cards were not commonly produced in the 1970s. All Pete Rose cards from this period are non-autographed and non-relic. The emphasis is on base cards, leader cards, and specialty issues from food and promotional items. Value and scarcity are influenced by print runs, condition, and special releases such as test issues and hand-cut cards.
Collector Notes
- Pete Rose cards from the 1970s offer a wide array of traditional and food/promotional issues, adding variety for collectors.
- Condition is key to value, particularly for hand-cut and test issues like Bazooka, Hostess, and Deckle Edge cards.
- 1970s Topps cards often suffer from centering and cutting issues, making well-preserved examples more desirable.
- Food and disc issues are frequently hand-cut and may have uneven edges or manufacturing imperfections.
- 1975 Topps #320 Rose is notably popular for its design and value spectrum.
- Specialty and regional releases (discs, lunch bags, candy lids) are less common and can fetch higher prices depending on rarity and condition.
- Most cards from this decade are non-autographed and non-relic, as these features were introduced in later years.
- Prices vary widely: some cards are available for under $10, while rarer and high-grade cards can reach several hundred or even thousands of dollars.
Source: https://www.sportscardportal.com
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