Subtitle: A closer look at Pete Rose's iconic 1970s cards, featuring Topps and unique food product collaborations.
Meta Description: Discover the sought-after Pete Rose baseball cards from the 1970s, including Topps and rare food product issues like Kellogg's and Hostess, valued for their rarity and condition.
Content:
What’s New
Pete Rose, famously dubbed "Charlie Hustle," holds the record as Major League Baseball's all-time hit leader, amassing 4,256 hits over a 24-year career. The 1970s were pivotal for Rose, showcasing his impressive on-field accomplishments and a wide array of baseball cards. This era saw a boom in collectible cards, with traditional Topps sets and unique food product tie-ins like Kellogg's and Hostess. Rose’s cards from this decade are highly coveted by collectors, with their value fluctuating based on scarcity and condition.
Configuration at a Glance
- Topps released annual base card sets featuring Pete Rose throughout the 1970s.
- Special issues included cards from Kellogg’s, Bazooka, Milk Duds, Hostess, O-Pee-Chee, and various disc collections.
- Several years feature unique multi-player and leader cards, such as batting leaders and All-Star selections.
- Hand-cut and test issues like Bazooka, Hostess, and Deckle Edge add to their scarcity and value.
- Most cards from this time do not include autographs or memorabilia, as these 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 food products.
- 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 issues, typically 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 combined 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 period are non-auto, non-relic. The emphasis is on base cards, leader cards, and special issues from food and promotional products. The value and rarity 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 wide variety of traditional and food/promotional issues, offering collectors great diversity.
- Condition significantly affects value, especially for hand-cut and test issues like Bazooka, Hostess, and Deckle Edge cards.
- 1970s Topps cards often have centering and cutting challenges, making high-grade versions more valuable.
- Food and disc issues are frequently hand-cut and may display uneven edges or factory imperfections.
- 1975 Topps #320 Rose is notably popular for its design and value range.
- Specialty and regional releases (discs, lunch bags, candy lids) are rarer and can fetch higher prices depending on rarity and condition.
- Most cards from this decade are non-auto and non-relic, as such features emerged in later years.
- Pricing varies greatly: some issues are available for under $10, while rarities and high-grade cards can reach several hundred or even thousands of dollars.
Source: https://www.sportscardportal.com

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