Pete Rose 1970s Baseball Cards Overview: Topps, Food Issues & Scarcity

Darryl P. Nov 28, 2025 5:43pm 13 views

Subtitle: Explore the Diverse Range of Pete Rose Cards from the 1970s, Including Topps and Unique Promotional Releases

Meta Description: Dive into the world of 1970s Pete Rose baseball cards, featuring Topps sets and rare food issue releases. Learn about their value, rarity, and collector appeal.

Content:

What’s New

Referred to as "Charlie Hustle," Pete Rose holds the record as Major League Baseball's all-time hit leader with 4,256 hits over a span of 24 seasons. The 1970s were pivotal for Rose, marked by his impressive on-field performance and a variety of baseball cards issued. This decade witnessed a surge in collectible cards, including the staple Topps releases and collaborations with food brands like Kellogg's and Hostess. Collectors still highly prize Rose’s 1970s cards, with their value fluctuating based on rarity and condition.

Configuration at a Glance

  • From 1970 to 1979, Topps released annual base sets featuring Pete Rose.
  • Special issues included cards from brands like Kellogg’s, Bazooka, Milk Duds, Hostess, O-Pee-Chee, and various disc collections.
  • Several years include unique multi-player and leader cards, such as batting leaders and All-Star selections.
  • Hand-cut and test issues (Bazooka, Hostess, Deckle Edge) enhance scarcity and value.
  • Autographs or memorabilia were not typically featured on cards from this era, 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 cards.
  • 1971 Milk Duds #60 Pete Rose DP - a card from a food issue.
  • 1973 Topps Candy Lids #44 - a test card featuring 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 cards.
  • 1976 Safelon Superstar Lunch Bags #10 - a novelty card combining players.
  • 1977 disc cards (Burger Chef, Chilly Willie, Customized, Dairy Isle, Detroit Caesars, Holiday Inn, MSA, Pepsi Glove, Saga, Wendy’s, Zip’z) - disc issues branded by various companies.

Autographs & Relics

In the 1970s, autograph and memorabilia cards were uncommon. 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. Value and rarity are influenced by print runs, condition, and unique releases like test issues and hand-cut cards.

Collector Notes

  • Pete Rose cards from the 1970s include a broad variety of traditional and food/promotional issues, enhancing the diversity for collectors.
  • Condition significantly affects value, particularly for hand-cut and test issues such as Bazooka, Hostess, and Deckle Edge cards.
  • Topps cards from the 1970s often have centering and cutting issues, which increases the value of high-grade examples.
  • Food and disc issues are usually hand-cut and may have uneven edges or factory imperfections.
  • The 1975 Topps #320 Rose is notably 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-auto and non-relic, as those features were introduced in later eras.
  • Prices vary widely: while some issues are available for under $10, rarities and high-grade cards can reach several hundred or even thousands of dollars.

Source: https://www.sportscardportal.com

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Darryl P.

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