A Guide to Pete Rose's 1970s Baseball Cards: Topps, Food Issues & Rarity

Darryl P. Nov 28, 2025 5:37pm 7 views

Subtitle: Explore the Range of Pete Rose Cards from the 1970s, Including Topps and Food Product Releases

Meta Description: Discover the diverse array of Pete Rose baseball cards from the 1970s, featuring Topps, Kellogg's, and Hostess, and learn about their rarity and collector value.

Content:

What’s New

Nicknamed "Charlie Hustle," Pete Rose is the all-time leader in Major League Baseball hits, with 4,256 across 24 seasons. The 1970s were pivotal for Rose, highlighting both his playing career and the broad spectrum of baseball cards produced. This decade saw an expansion in collectible cards, with traditional Topps sets and collaborations with food brands like Kellogg's and Hostess. Collectors highly prize Rose’s cards from this era, with values fluctuating based on rarity and condition.

Configuration at a Glance

  • Topps produced annual base card sets featuring Pete Rose every year from 1970 to 1979.
  • Specialty cards included issues from brands like Kellogg’s, Bazooka, Milk Duds, Hostess, O-Pee-Chee, and various disc collections.
  • Several years included unique multi-player and leader cards, such as batting leaders and All-Star picks.
  • Hand-cut and test issues (Bazooka, Hostess, Deckle Edge) enhance scarcity and desirability.
  • Cards from this period generally do not feature autographs or memorabilia, which became common 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 cards.
  • 1971 Milk Duds #60 Pete Rose DP - a card issued with food products.
  • 1973 Topps Candy Lids #44 - a test issue with a distinctive round shape.
  • 1974 Topps Deckle Edge #16 - a black and white card with a scalloped edge.
  • 1975 Hostess #29, Hostess Panels, and Hostess Twinkie - food product cards, 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) - branded disc issues.

Autographs & Relics

During the 1970s, autograph and memorabilia cards were not standard. All Pete Rose cards from this decade lack these features. The emphasis is on base cards, leader cards, and specialty issues from food and promotional items. The value and rarity 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 broad range of traditional and food/promotional issues, enhancing collector variety.
  • Condition significantly impacts value, particularly for hand-cut and test issues like Bazooka, Hostess, and Deckle Edge cards.
  • Topps cards from the 1970s often have centering and cutting issues, making well-preserved examples more valuable.
  • Food and disc issues are typically hand-cut and might have uneven edges or manufacturing flaws.
  • The 1975 Topps #320 Rose card is particularly notable for its design and value spectrum.
  • Specialty and regional releases (discs, lunch bags, candy lids) are less common and can be more valuable based on rarity and condition.
  • Most cards from this decade do not feature autographs or memorabilia, as these were introduced in later years.
  • Prices vary widely: some cards are available for less than $10, while rarer and high-grade cards can fetch 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…