Vote for the toughest card of any set 1970-1979

Cincykid8123 · February 15, 2007 11:35AM

My vote goes for Jim Quails from the 1971 set!

1960toppsguy · February 15, 2007 11:56AM

1978 molitor rookie without a doubt

softparade · February 15, 2007 11:58AM

<< 1978 molitor rookie without a doubt >>

I would have to disagree. The #400 1978 Nolan Ryan is 10 times tougher then the Mollie

mmsportscards · February 15, 2007 12:04PM

ditto on what parade said!

ArnyVee · February 15, 2007 12:12PM

1972 Fred Kendall and Montreal Expos team cards. Pretty friggin' tough!

cmoking · February 15, 2007 12:39PM

I don't know much about sets from the 70s...but what about the 1976 Topps George Brett card?

PSA 9: 5
PSA 10: 0

Elemenopeo · February 15, 2007 12:41PM

A couple that I can think of off the top of my head that at least deserve honorable mention:

1972 Topps #292 Hal McRae (In Action)
1973 Topps #590 Deron Johnson

mmsportscards · February 15, 2007 12:44PM

75 claudell washington

tdfitz · February 15, 2007 1:18PM

1974 Topps Deckle Edge Nolan Ryan, white back.

rbdjr1 · February 15, 2007 1:46PM

<< I don't know much about sets from the 70s...but what about the 1976 Topps George Brett card?

PSA 9: 5
PSA 10: 0 >>

1971 baseball is so condition sensitive. Because of those black borders, most are just soooooo difficult "to locate a mint grade good enough to be graded mint by PSA".

U want to pick a tough star card of the 70's? It is hard to argue against the 1976 Topps George Brett in PSA 9.

663 graded by PSA. Only 5 PSA 9's so far, with no 10's at all!

Sooooooooooooooooo tough!

rd

p.s. SMR says $475, but I think one would now sell for much more than that? Wait someday, a PSA 10 will "show-up". Can u imagine how much $$$$$ that card could command?

edit: From my 1976 Topps PSA registry set.

kadokakid · February 15, 2007 1:46PM

1970 Mets team
Diego Segui
Checklist #1
Boog Powell All Star
Reggie Jackson All Star

Peace

Doug

cmoking · February 15, 2007 2:30PM

rbdjr1- beautiful card. I've never seen a PSA 9 76T Brett before! So they really do exist :-)

WeekendHacker · February 15, 2007 4:33PM

<< 

<< 1978 molitor rookie without a doubt >>

I would have to disagree. The #400 1978 Nolan Ryan is 10 times tougher then the Mollie

>>

What about that Terry Forster card?

jimq112 · February 15, 2007 5:15PM

71T 536 claude raymond has to be in there somewhere

536 CLAUDE RAYMOND 1 0 2 21 46 2 16 5 1 0 0 96

fiveniner · February 15, 2007 6:05PM

1971 Topps Ike Brown Hi#.

jackstraw · February 15, 2007 6:15PM

For me it would have to be the following:
70 Aaron All Star
71 Brooks Robinson
72 Aaron In Action
76 George Brett
77 Robin Yount,Tom Seaver,Dwight Evans
78 Nolan Ryan, George Brett
79 Pete Rose,Paul Molitor

PSA 8's that are centered nicely and clean of print spots or them annoying sugar spots are hard to find(for me of course ) forget about 9's!
I am real picky when it comes to centering and print/sugar marks. I had a perfect PSA 9 77 Ryan with a print mark on his hat that you could only see in hand.It drove me bizerk everytime I looked at it my eyes would go right to it so I sold it.

softparade · February 15, 2007 6:15PM

<< 

<< 

<< 1978 molitor rookie without a doubt >>

I would have to disagree. The #400 1978 Nolan Ryan is 10 times tougher then the Mollie

>>

What about that Terry Forster card? >>

Nah, its a common. Does not compare with a major star card that is so tough such as the 78 #400 Ryan or rd's awesome 76 Brett. EVERYBODY has dug these cards out and they are just tough. If EVERYBODY dug that Forster out I would say that it would not be nearly as tough as the Ryan because of several factors such as sheet placement, etc.

Morgoth · February 15, 2007 9:40PM

I agree on the 1976 Brett, major card, second year, and it has had 663 submissions! I had an SGC 88 that was 95/5 on the back. I think a card can only be considered rare in high grade if it has at lease 200 submissions. You need some stats to back up the rarity and unless I am wrong those 70's commons are not hard to find just in high grade but until they reach a certain submission level you can't compare it to cards like the Brett with a huge track record.

bobsbbcards · February 15, 2007 10:16PM

1977 Topps Reggie Jackson (orioles uniform)

mmsportscards · February 15, 2007 10:19PM

Morg-

true but where they were put on the sheet makes no dif if its a star or not. No matter how many times you cut the sheet the same results will usually result star or common.

as for the 76 brett ive seen it in the 700 to 1000 range in years past.

Cincykid8123 · February 15, 2007 10:23PM

<< 71T 536 claude raymond has to be in there somewhere

536 CLAUDE RAYMOND 1 0 2 21 46 2 16 5 1 0 0 96 >>

No kidding. That card is very allusive.. also the 71T Lee Maye (SP) hi #.

Stingray · February 15, 2007 10:25PM

1971 Topps Lee Maye #733, no 9s or 10s and 26-PSA8s. Is there a card with a lower pop of PSA 8s with no 9s or 10s graded for a card??

WinPitcher · February 15, 2007 11:31PM

1975 topps frank tanana

steve

Pittfan · February 15, 2007 11:41PM

1975 #651 John Morlan

1954 · February 15, 2007 11:44PM

Hardest card

1971 Topps Greatest Moments Thurman Munson
no PSa 10s
no PSA 9s
no PSA 8s
6 PSA 7s

Griffins · February 15, 2007 11:57PM

Even tougher than GM's-
1970 Topps Cloth sticker. 1 known of each, none graded, none have come up in public auction for 3-5 years. Checklist incomplete, new finds possible.

rbdjr1 · February 16, 2007 12:18AM

There is a ton of 1976 Topps PSA Registry sets, a bunch of Basic and Master George Brett PSA Registry players sets. Yet, as far as I can tell, only two PSA 9's have ever made it into PSA registry sets (out of the 5 graded PSA 9's!).

Time will tell. If 4SC or DSC, or someone else suddenly comes-up with a ton of 1976 PSA 9s or 10s, including Brett, or will this card continue to "stand the test of time" and stay one of the 70's great star card rarities.

The 1971 Topps series, because of its "condition sensitive" black edges, makes an otherwise common card very rare in mint condition. Just take a look at two ebay auctions that just ended:

1. 1971 Topps NL Rookie Outfielders # 728 PSA 10 - Hammer price: $ 2,050.00 wow!

2. 1971 Topps Phillies Team # 268 PSA 10 - Hammer Price: $ 1,825.00 wow!

Rarity has different meanings to different collectors. I would not have traded my 1976 George Brett PSA 9 for both of those '71 cards. (But I didn't know they would bring almost 4k!

rd

edit: From my 1976 Topps PSA registry set.

cravetopps · February 16, 2007 12:19AM

71 Topps Greatest Moments, Munson or Wilhelm.

ajw · February 16, 2007 12:21AM

Is it just me, or does the top left edge of the Brett card look strange? The border seems to narrow near the top of the card.

Stingray · February 16, 2007 1:44AM

<< Is it just me, or does the top left edge of the Brett card look strange? The border seems to narrow near the top of the card. >>

I see what you mean.

mikeschmidt · February 16, 2007 2:00AM

<< 
2. 1971 Topps Phillies Team # 268 PSA 10 - Hammer Price: $ 1,825.00 wow!
. >>

Crazy -- I bought the 1/1 Phillies Team PSA 10 about 5 years ago from Pekovich when he broke up his extraordinary 1971 Topps set, and I thought I paid a premium price then. It is now higher population and still sells for more!

Mefer · February 16, 2007 2:15AM

I have seen multiple 76 Bretts with that crazy left hand cut. I pulled one fresh from vending and sent it in that looked similar to the 9 with the wavy left hand cut. PSA did not grade it due to a factory miscut. I wish I still had it for I would send it in again and see if it would pass this time. For whatever reason, PSA now seems to be more lenient with those types of cuts and will not be afraid to hand out a mint grade with that cut.

bishop · February 16, 2007 3:00AM

Bob---if we are going to throw in proof cards and test sets, then I would say your 70 Ryan cloth is tougher than the Jackson. I agree with tdfitz that the 74 Ryan white back Deckle is elusive

markj111 · February 16, 2007 3:39AM

I bought a 76 rack pack 10+ years ago. It had a Brett, but it had a diamond cut-PSA 7.

gregmo32 · February 16, 2007 3:51AM

Maybe
1977 Topps Star Wars #277 Bizarre Inhabitants of the Cantina

Mint and centered it is impossible. I have probably seen four hundred of them and seen no "true" 9's.

bishop · February 16, 2007 4:21AM

Anthony---maybe tougher than the 70 Cloth and also maybe a 1 of 1 ( I say tougher only because I Have not seen one and have seen several of the cloths... all belonging to a certain someone) , the Topps 1971 Rookie Artists Proofs...10 checklisted in SCD

cmoking · February 16, 2007 7:54AM

<< Is it just me, or does the top left edge of the Brett card look strange? The border seems to narrow near the top of the card. >>

I did not notice it until you pointed it out. The left edge looks like it curves a bit...but is that an illusion due to the PSA holder and the little ridge they have in there?

HoofHearted · February 16, 2007 9:52AM

<< 1977 Topps Reggie Jackson (orioles uniform)

>>

I'll bet you can come with an even more obscure card from some unusual set, can't you Bob?!! Do some digging!

This is a fun post for me to read since I was too busy with the USAF and college to collect cards...

calaban7 · February 16, 2007 10:44AM

Even though they are fundamentally worthless , the 1972 venezuelan stamps are brutal to find. I'm looking for either Nate Colbert stamps. It's been a very hard find. The Mike Schmidt stamp is worth quite a bit I hear.

bri2327 · February 16, 2007 11:00AM

<< Hardest card

1971 Topps Greatest Moments Thurman Munson
no PSa 10s
no PSA 9s
no PSA 8s
6 PSA 7s >>

I wholeheartedly agree.

Aaronman · February 16, 2007 11:13AM

I would cast a vote for the 1971 OPC #252 JC Tremblay All Star card. For such a plentiful issue there are only:

2 sevens
0 eights
0 nines
0 tens

Doug

Cincyfan01 · February 16, 2007 12:44PM

I would have to vote for the 76 Brett. I am most familiar with that set, but with so many submitted and only .0045% of the cards submitted receiving a 9, I can't imagine another card being tougher!

Cincyfan01 · February 16, 2007 12:48PM

Oops - That would be .00754%. What are the statistics on some of the other cards mentioned?

MiniMaster · February 16, 2007 3:31PM

Well the 1975 Topps Mini #660 Hank Aaron card in PSA 10 is a 1/1 out of 377 graded. That makes it .00265% of the cards submitted thus hammering the 76 Topps Brett PSA 9. By the way this is the rarest 75 Topps Mini Card ironically edging out the 75 Topps Mini George Brett #228 with only 5 PSA 10's out of 1293 graded as of the last time I checked (Feb 2, 2007), that makes it .00386% of the cards graded.

Also beating out the 1976 Topps Brett PSA 9. Along with the 3rd thru 12th rarest 75 Topps Mini PSA 10's which are as follows: Joe Morgan #180 .004484%, Jim Rice #616 .00471%, Nolan Ryan Highlight #5 .00505%, Robin Yount #223 .00671%, Lou Brock #540 .00684%, Tom Seaver #370 .00706%, Carlton Fisk #80 .00740%, Brooks Robinson #50 .00746%, Thurman Munson #20 .00746%, and 56 MVP's #194 .00751%.

This is yet another example of how rare some of the 75 Topps Mini's are in high grade.

rbdjr1 · February 16, 2007 6:27PM

<< Well the 1975 Topps Mini #660 Hank Aaron card in PSA 10 is a 1/1 out of 377 graded. That makes it .00265% of the cards submitted thus hammering the 76 Topps Brett PSA 9. By the way this is the rarest 75 Topps Mini Card ironically edging out the 75 Topps Mini George Brett #228 with only 5 PSA 10's out of 1293 graded as of the last time I checked (Feb 2, 2007), that makes it .00386% of the cards graded.

Also beating out the 1976 Topps Brett PSA 9. Along with the 3rd thru 12th rarest 75 Topps Mini PSA 10's which are as follows: Joe Morgan #180 .004484%, Jim Rice #616 .00471%, Nolan Ryan Highlight #5 .00505%, Robin Yount #223 .00671%, Lou Brock #540 .00684%, Tom Seaver #370 .00706%, Carlton Fisk #80 .00740%, Brooks Robinson #50 .00746%, Thurman Munson #20 .00746%, and 56 MVP's #194 .00751%.

This is yet another example of how rare some of the 75 Topps Mini's are in high grade. >>

That's all well and good, but size means everything!

rd

P.S. 1970's condition sensitive series, non-traditional sized-card series, we might as well start polling '70's O-Pee-Chee's as some of the "toughest cards of any set 1970-1979" (i.e., the 1976 or the 1971 OPC series, and others)...

Piman58 · February 16, 2007 7:58PM

<< Well the 1975 Topps Mini #660 Hank Aaron card in PSA 10 is a 1/1 out of 377 graded. That makes it .00265% of the cards submitted thus hammering the 76 Topps Brett PSA 9. By the way this is the rarest 75 Topps Mini Card ironically edging out the 75 Topps Mini George Brett #228 with only 5 PSA 10's out of 1293 graded as of the last time I checked (Feb 2, 2007), that makes it .00386% of the cards graded.

Also beating out the 1976 Topps Brett PSA 9. Along with the 3rd thru 12th rarest 75 Topps Mini PSA 10's which are as follows: Joe Morgan #180 .004484%, Jim Rice #616 .00471%, Nolan Ryan Highlight #5 .00505%, Robin Yount #223 .00671%, Lou Brock #540 .00684%, Tom Seaver #370 .00706%, Carlton Fisk #80 .00740%, Brooks Robinson #50 .00746%, Thurman Munson #20 .00746%, and 56 MVP's #194 .00751%.

This is yet another example of how rare some of the 75 Topps Mini's are in high grade. >>

How does 1 PSA 10 out of 377 graded hammer no PSA 10s out of 663 graded? The percent for the 76 Brett was the percentage of those graded receiving a PSA 9. The 75 Topps Mini Aaron has 20 PSA 9s (out of 377) and the 75 Topps mini Brett has 92 PSA 9s (out of 1301).

I do agree however that the 75 Topps Minis overall are very difficult to find in a PSA 10 holder.

cmoking · February 16, 2007 9:48PM

<< Oops - That would be .00754%. What are the statistics on some of the other cards mentioned? >>

nitpicking here...but 5/663 is equal to either 0.00754 or 0.754%

joemaggio · February 17, 2007 12:36AM

<< 1977 Topps Reggie Jackson (orioles uniform)

>>

I remember when the Topps Vault sold this a couple years ago. Does anyone know what the final price was or who bought it? Last I remember, Merkle was winning and the bid was approaching $10K.

Griffins · February 17, 2007 12:38AM

Isn't there at least 3 of these, with Merkle (Keith Olberman) getting the last 2 that sold?

theczar · February 17, 2007 8:33AM

since it is difficult to have a collector know the lay of the land for 10 sets it may be easier to ask what is the most difficult card for EACH of the years.

shagrotn77 · February 17, 2007 8:42AM

How about '71 Topps Munson??? That card sells for even more than his rookie.

Vote for the toughest card of any set 1970-1979

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