Pete Rose 1970s Baseball Cards Overview: Topps, Food Issues & Scarcity

Darryl P. Nov 28, 2025 5:43pm

Subtitle: Explore the 1970s Pete Rose Cards Collection: Topps, Specialty Releases & Collector's Insights

Meta Description: Discover the fascinating world of Pete Rose's 1970s baseball cards, including Topps and unique food issues. Learn about rarity, value, and collector tips.

Content:

What’s New

Known as "Charlie Hustle," Pete Rose holds the record as Major League Baseball's all-time hit leader with 4,256 hits across 24 seasons. The 1970s were a pivotal decade for Rose, marked by his remarkable on-field performance and the diverse range of baseball cards produced. This era saw an expansion in collectible cards, featuring traditional Topps sets and collaborations with food brands like Kellogg's and Hostess. Cards featuring Rose from the '70s are still highly coveted by collectors, with values varying based on rarity and condition.

Configuration at a Glance

  • Topps released annual base sets with Pete Rose each year from 1970 to 1979.
  • Specialty issues included cards from brands like Kellogg’s, Bazooka, Milk Duds, Hostess, O-Pee-Chee, and various disc series.
  • Multi-player and leader cards, such as batting leaders and All-Star selections, appear in multiple years.
  • Hand-cut and test issues (Bazooka, Hostess, Deckle Edge) enhance scarcity and value.
  • Most cards from this time lack autographs or memorabilia, as these features became standard in later years.

Key Inserts & Parallels

  • 1970 Topps #61 NL Batting Leaders (Pete Rose/Bob Clemente/Cleon Jones) - a card featuring multiple players.
  • 1971 Bazooka Numbered Test #32 and Unnumbered #5 - hand-cut test cards.
  • 1971 Milk Duds #60 Pete Rose DP - a card from a food issue.
  • 1973 Topps Candy Lids #44 - a test issue with a distinctive 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 issue cards, 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 cards.

Autographs & Relics

Autograph and memorabilia cards were not typical in the 1970s. All Pete Rose cards from this era lack autographs and relics. The emphasis is on base cards, leader cards, and unique issues from food and promotional products. The value and rarity are influenced by print runs, condition, and special releases like test and hand-cut cards.

Collector Notes

  • Pete Rose cards from the 1970s offer a broad array of traditional and food/promotional issues, enhancing the variety for collectors.
  • The condition is crucial for value, particularly for hand-cut and test issues such as Bazooka, Hostess, and Deckle Edge cards.
  • 1970s Topps cards often suffer from centering and cutting problems, making well-preserved examples more valuable.
  • Food and disc issues are typically hand-cut and may exhibit uneven edges or factory imperfections.
  • The 1975 Topps #320 Rose is especially favored for its design and value range.
  • Specialty and regional releases (discs, lunch bags, candy lids) are less common and can fetch higher prices based on rarity and condition.
  • Most cards from this period are non-auto and non-relic, as these features became available in later decades.
  • Prices vary greatly: some issues are available for less than $10, while rarities and high-grade cards can reach several hundred or even thousands of dollars.

Source: https://www.sportscardportal.com

Share:

Darryl P.

test

Disclosure: Some links may be affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Comments

Please log in to comment.

Loading comments…