The value of modern-day football cards seems to have accelerated at the speed of light. While vintage baseball cards like Mickey Mantle, Honus Wagner, and Babe Ruth sell for several million dollars, the same can be said for football cards from 2000 on. The top three most expensive football cards belong to Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, with Mahomes’ 2017 Panini National Treasures Platinum 1/1 Autograph rookie card topping $4 million. Even though collectors have their eyes on the latest top-tier quarterbacks, don’t forget about the legends of the past, including those from the 1970s. That’s why StudyFinds has compiled a list of the best 1970s football cards.
Football has been America’s favorite sport for years. From the NFL Draft to the Super Bowl, fans can’t get enough. And because football has become such an important part of our daily lives, it shouldn’t be shocking that more than half of Americans have ended friendships over a gridiron rivalry. A recent survey of 2,000 U.S. football fans examined how respondents celebrate game day, finding that 52 percent have called it quits with a friend because they support their favorite team’s rival. When their team loses, it takes an average of three days to get over the loss. Talk about passion!
Football fandom runs deep. In fact, the average sports fan would travel six hours and spend over $700 to see their favorite team play. When it comes to collectibles, the prices that many will pay to have a rare football card are even higher. For some fans, rooting for their favorite team is a serious financial commitment that many are happy to make.
Are you ready to take a look at the most legendary vintage sports collectibles? Through online experts, StudyFinds has found the top five best ’70s football cards. Did we miss one of your favorites? Let us know in the comments below!
The List: Best ’70s Football Cards, According to Collectors
1. 1976 Topps Walter Payton Rookie Card
Walter Payton was known by just one word — “Sweetness.” One of the greatest running backs and players of all time, Payton rushed for over 16,000 yards during his 13-year career with the Chicago Bears, winning MVP and the Super Bowl along the way. Because of this, Payton’s rookie card tops the list of the top football cards of the ’70s. “The card has a classic depiction of one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. The light background of the card is a great way to direct attention towards the focus – Walter Payton. The profile features a picture of Payton posing for a picture in a manner that is indicative of the confidence that he had as a player,” writes Bargain Bunch. “Speaking of confidence, if you happen to own a PSA 10 of this card you should have plenty of it when putting it up for auction? Why? Because this card is THE card when it comes to the most valuable football cards of the 1970s. There are 51 PSA 10 grades out there and the most recent sale price on one of them topped a mind-blowing $70,000.”
“Topps might be the most prolific sports trading card manufacturer, but their volume of cards doesn’t mean they haven’t released some seriously valuable ones over the years,” notes Love to Know. “For instance, Walter Payton’s rookie card from his 1976 year with the Chicago Bears frequently sells for over $100,000 when it’s in the best condition possible. That’s because a pristine card is hard to find for any player, let alone possibly the greatest running back the sport has ever seen.”
Beckett says that Payton’s rookie card shows off his lovable personality. “Walter Payton may have been nicknamed ‘Sweetness,’ but his running style was anything but sweet. He was one of the toughest players to ever play. The photo on his 1976 Topps Rookie Card is a perfect illustration of Payton’s soft-spoken demeanor and likable personality.”
2. 1971 Topps Terry Bradshaw Rookie Card
Terry Bradshaw led the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl championships during his career, making his 1971 Topps rookie card a must-have for collectors. “Those ’71 Topps cards are enough to kill a mint freak. The centering issues, the colored borders that will show wear if you so much as breathe on them. When they’re nice, they are spectacular,” writes Sports Collectors Daily. “Bradshaw’s first card represents the years before Steeler greatness and for a while a lot of folks preferred Terry Hanratty in Pittsburgh. The Super Bowl rings. The personality. Pretty hard to forget and pretty challenging to find a nice one.”
“Most young people know of Terry Bradshaw for his off-the-field NFL broadcasting work, but on the field, Bradshaw was one of the all-time great quarterbacks,” says All Vintage Cards. “In fourteen years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bradshaw led his team to 4 Super Bowl Championships, while winning 2 Super Bowl MVPs. Bradshaw was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1989. The 1971 Topps set is one of my favorites–I just love the colors and the lettering design on the cards. The red borders make for easy chipping, thus mint condition cards are much harder to come by.”
Beckett notes that if you’re looking to beef up your football card collection, Bradshaw’s rookie card is a great place to start. “The first player taken in the 1970 NFL Draft, Terry Bradshaw was at the core of Pittsburgh’s dynasty during the decade. He led the Steelers to four Super Bowls titles. His Rookie Card is a great place to start when collecting impact cards from the ’70s.”
3. 1972 Topps Roger Staubach Rookie Card
The leader of “America’s Team” during the 1970s, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach is the best football player to every come out of the Naval Academy. Over his 11 seasons, Staubach won two Super Bowls, including Super Bowl VI MVP against the Miami Dolphins. “Roger Staubach was one of the most accomplished players in history as a Heisman winner and the leader of the Cowboys’ dominating 1970s teams that earned the franchise its ‘America’s Team’ moniker,” writes Beckett. “Staubach’s Rookie Card is also the top card in the most popular card set of the decade, and the most difficult to complete.”
“The quarterback of the Cowboys 1970’s dynasty that earned the nickname ‘America’s Team,'” says ONE37pm. “The 1972 set is the most popular set of the decade, with Staubach’s rookie the star of the show.”
Bargain Bunch notes Staubach’s rookie card brings a “sense of deep nostalgia.” “The light purple background helps to accentuate the clean and classic look of this card. When it comes to the photo, we get a nice image of Staubach in his Cowboys jersey with a cool and confident look on his face. Whether he’s deep in thought or caught up in the moment, it is almost as if he knows that there is a looming battle ahead. Yet, as we all know, Roger is fully capable of handling it. As far as prices go, there are only 2 in existence that have reached the PSA 10 level of condition, and the last sales price on one of those exceeded $20,000.”
4. 1979 Topps Earl Campbell Rookie Card
One of the toughest runners ever, Earl Campbell constantly trucked over defenders. The Hall-of-Famer rushed for over 9,000 yards during his nine-year NFL career, making his 1979 Topps rookie cards a favorite for collectors. “Earl Campbell was an accomplished running back throughout his career and is best remembered for his time with the Houston Oilers,” says The Cardboard Connection. “The former Heisman Trohpy winner was a five-time Pro Bowl selection with the Oilers as well as the 1979 MVP. His 1979 rookie is a tad generic because of an abundance of white and the image chosen doesn’t scream football player.”
“Earl Campbell went from Longhorn to Oiler and didn’t miss a beat,” notes Sports Collectors Daily. “A bulldozing back who made five Pro Bowls and won three rushing titles, Campbell is the one guy former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer said could have gone from high school to the NFL and been a star. You’ll pay $250-300 for a graded ‘9’…or around 15 bucks for a decent, ungraded one.”
Unfortunately, as Go Collect writes, injuries ended Campbell’s illustrious career early. “Earl Campbell only played two seasons in the 1970s, but they were about as good of seasons as any running back ever had. In 1978, the Houston Oiler won both the Rookie of the Year Award as well as the Offensive Player of the Year Award. The next season he was even better, winning the league MVP. The Texas Rose’s continued injuries cut his career short. But his incredible play in a limited time led to Campbell being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991. A PSA 9 copy of his rookie cards sells for $850 or so.”
5. 1978 Topps Tony Dorsett Rookie Card
Rounding out the top five is the 1978 Topps Tony Dorsett rookie card. “Tony Dorsett joined the Cowboys near the end of their dominance in the 1970s, but was one of the premier offensive players of his time,” writes Beckett.
TONY DORSETT Signed Original 1978 Topps Dallas Cowboys ROOKIE Card #315 Autograph PSA/DNA
“A popular option for collectors, Tony Dorsett was a top running back for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1970s and 1980s,” says The Cardboard Connection. “Dorsett totaled four Pro Bowls and eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in seven of his first eight seasons. His simple 1978 Topps rookie is the preferred card in the release.”
One of the best parts about Dorsett’s rookie card is that collectors can get it on the cheaper side. “Certainly not among the most valuable rookie cards of the 1970s, but so much time has passed that it’s easy to forget how big of a star he was,” notes Sports Collectors Daily. “Monday Night Football was his stage and if you grew up in the era when MNF was a big deal, you know why this one is on the list.”
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Sources:
- The Cardboard Connection
- Bargain Bunch
- Sports Collectors Daily
- Love to Know
- All Vintage Cards
- Beckett
- Go Collect
- Public
- ONE37pm
- The Sportster
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.
Lame, 70’s football cards, give me a break. The only real standout is the Payton.
Pedro Baby obviously doesn’t know Jack about football
I have all 5 of these cards. Now I think I’ll have them graded.