1970 wasn’t just the dawn of a n
ew decade, it was the beginning of a new era in baseball. Mickey Mantle had retired. Mays, Aaron, and Clemente were winding down their careers. Fresh faces like Johnny Bench, Tom Seaver and Reggie Jackson were poised to be the future of Major League Baseball. Rookie catcher Thurman Munson captivated New Yorkers with a magical first season. Munson carried the torch as the Yankees’ next superstar until his life was cut short in 1979 in a tragic plane crash. It’s no surprise that cards of these youngsters and veterans pace a set that carries broad appeal to collectors.
The 1970 Topps Baseball set was the first issue to eclipse the 700 card mark, totaling 720 cards. These gray-bordered cards were issued in seven series. The key cards in the set include many of the young faces and veterans mentioned earlier. The third year card of Nolan Rya
n leads the way in terms of book value, with Munson–one of the top rookie cards of the decade–coming in second.
BurlsSports.com’s Set Break of the Week is a 1970 Topps set that is largely in EX-MT condition. The condition of the key cards breaks down as follows: #10 Carl Yastrzemski EX-MT, #140 Reggie Jackson EX-MT, #189 Thurman Munson BVG 5.5 EX+, #211 Ted Williams NM, #300 Tom Seaver EX-MT, #350 Roberto Clemente EX, #500 Hank Aaron VG, #580 Pete Rose EX-MT, #600 Willie Mays VG-EX, #630 Ernie Banks NM, #720 Nolan Ryan PSA 5 EX.
If you’re new to vintage set breaks, the concept is simple. Each of the 792 cards are sold as unknown slots. Participants purchase cards in the break and when all slots are sold, the cards are distributed through a computer generated random draw. Some participants will get the key cards for a fraction of their value, while others take home vintage commons for set building or trade bait. In order to ensure transparency, the randomization is broadcast live online for all participants to view.
The price for this break is set at $2.99 per slot and will go on sale on Friday, March 11 at 12 PM CST. The last ‘70s break sold out in a matter of hours. To purchase slots in the break or to find out more, you can access the break page here.
Burl’s Sports has recently acquired an impressive run of complete vintage sets that will be broken in the coming months, including a complete run of Topps sets from 1952-72, Goudey sets from 1933-36, 1939-1941 Play Ball and 1941 Double Play.
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Editor’s Blog: Recalling the Frenzy of 1979 Topps Test Comics
Super Size Me: 1970 Topps Super Baseball Cards
1970 Topps Baseball: A Little History
Clemente Still Revered By Fans and Collectors
Ramblings: Stories Inside The 1970s Multi-Player Rookie Cards
