Subtitle: A Comprehensive Guide to Collecting Pete Rose Cards from the 1970s
Meta Description: Explore the world of Pete Rose's 1970s baseball cards, including Topps, food product tie-ins, and rare collectibles. Discover the variations and value factors.
Content:
What’s New
Pete Rose, famously known as "Charlie Hustle," 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, both in terms of his performance on the field and the diverse range of baseball cards that were issued. This era saw an expansion in collectible cards, featuring traditional Topps series and tie-ins with food brands like Kellogg's and Hostess. Cards from this period featuring Rose are still highly coveted by collectors, with their values varying greatly depending on rarity and condition.
Configuration at a Glance
- Topps released annual base sets including Pete Rose every year from 1970 to 1979.
- Special releases featured cards from brands like Kellogg’s, Bazooka, Milk Duds, Hostess, O-Pee-Chee, and several disc sets.
- Several years included unique multi-player and leader cards, such as those showcasing batting leaders and All-Star picks.
- Hand-cut and test issues (Bazooka, Hostess, Deckle Edge) add to the rarity and value.
- Most cards from this era do not feature autographs or memorabilia, as these elements became standard 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 issues.
- 1971 Milk Duds #60 Pete Rose DP - a card from a food product promotion.
- 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-related issues, hand-cut.
- 1976 disc cards (Blankback, Buckman, Carousel, Crane, Dairy Isle, Isaly, Orbakers, Red Barn, Safelon) - round, 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) - company-branded disc issues.
Autographs & Relics
Autograph and memorabilia cards were not typical in the 1970s. All Pete Rose cards from this decade are non-autographed and non-relic. The emphasis is on base cards, leader cards, and special issues from food and promotional products. Value and scarcity are influenced by print runs, condition, and special releases like test issues and hand-cut cards.
Collector Notes
- Pete Rose cards from the 1970s include a broad array of traditional and food/promotional issues, adding variety for collectors.
- Condition plays a crucial role in determining value, especially for hand-cut and test issues like Bazooka, Hostess, and Deckle Edge cards.
- 1970s Topps cards are known for centering and cutting challenges, making high-grade versions more valuable.
- Food and disc issues are frequently hand-cut and may have irregular edges or factory imperfections.
- The 1975 Topps #320 Rose card is particularly popular due to its design and value spectrum.
- 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 era are non-autographed and non-relic, as those features were introduced in later decades.
- Pricing can vary significantly: some cards are available for under $10, while rare and high-grade items can reach several hundred or even thousands of dollars.
Source: https://www.sportscardportal.com

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