If you think about it, Nolan Ryan is like the Mickey Mantle of the 1970s in terms of card collecting

Estil · August 12, 2008 1:58PM

Now as you guys know, Mickey Mantle cards have pretty much been the ultimate cards to own from the beginning (I'm counting 1948-present of course). In fact, I'd imagine even back in the 50s/60s Mantle cards were still pretty highly sought after (unless you were a Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants or Boston Red Sox fan of course), even if most kids didn't take exceptionally good care of the cards. Even today the Mantle cards are always the most valuable in the 50s/60s sets, in many cases even more so than the key rookie cards of those years.

And that brings up the 1970s and Nolan Ryan. I've noticed that in all the 1970s sets, Nolan is far and away the most valuable card in all the sets not counting the key rookies (or in some cases, like 1972, is even more valuable than the key rookie). Has it always been like that or is this only recent? Like for example, was it Pete Rose instead of Nolan Ryan that were the most sought after cards until his 1989 banishment/gambling scandal?

dontippet · August 12, 2008 2:03PM

From what I recall, Ryan popularity really soared in '89, '90, and '91 when he got 5,000 strikeouts and his 7th nohitter. Before that, I would agree, taht Pete Rose was probably number one.

mosaic · August 12, 2008 2:48PM

Ryan is definitely the most popular 70's player on the whole (barring key rookies of other players), and has been for a long time, but that pretty much solidifed in the late 80's when he signed with Texas and capped off all those records, while also getting major media push with the whole "Ryan Express" thing. When my dad was alive, he used to talk about Koufax and Seaver a lot, so I figure Seaver might've been a more prominent figure when the 70's were actually happening.

Card grading has also helped push the interest... quality with vintage issues has always been a concern, but Topps had those tough borders on the 71's, the HORRIBLE cutting of the 75's, and insane bad printing / cutting problems from 76-80.

GDM67 · August 12, 2008 5:43PM

<< From what I recall, Ryan popularity really soared in '89, '90, and '91 when he got 5,000 strikeouts and his 7th nohitter. >>

That's my perception, as well. Nolan's cards have always been popular, but they went to a new level after he signed with the Rangers, threw no hitters #6 and #7 (within a year of each other, after not having thrown one for 9 years), and passed the 5000 K mark, doing it all after the age of 40.

Morgoth · August 12, 2008 10:38PM

He should be kicked out of the HOF with all of those walks

dontippet · August 12, 2008 11:11PM

<< 

<< From what I recall, Ryan popularity really soared in '89, '90, and '91 when he got 5,000 strikeouts and his 7th nohitter. >>

That's my perception, as well. Nolan's cards have always been popular, but they went to a new level after he signed with the Rangers, threw no hitters #6 and #7 (within a year of each other, after not having thrown one for 9 years), and passed the 5000 K mark, doing it all after the age of 40. >>

All of this happened at the height of the baseball card collecting era. We fell in love with Nolan all over again. He transcends a couple generations because of this popularity when he was over 40. I'm 37 and can't really relate to many of the guys who were rookies in the 60's except for Ryan and Rose.

lsutigers1973 · August 12, 2008 11:59PM

<< All of this happened at the height of the baseball card collecting era. >>

I agree. It was a matter of timing. Ryan began to break all the K and no hitter records in the middle of the baseball card boom of the mid to late 80's. Plus, nobody liked Robin Venutra and his beatdown raised the value of his cards in my book.

Texoma · August 13, 2008 12:01AM

Hey guys check out my first-ever sig card that came in the mail last week!!! Not too shabby for an ol' low popper huh!!!

WinPitcher · August 13, 2008 12:08AM

Mike Schmidt and George Brett were also big in the 80's besides Rose and Ryan.

While all Mantle cards were always hot the rookies and a few early cards were for the Ryans and Roses.

My perception anyway.

Steve

SDSportsFan · August 13, 2008 11:38AM

According to the 1985 Sport Americana (Beckett) Baseball Card Price Guide, here are the top cards from each Topps set in the 70's:

1970
Johnny Bench - $42.00
Pete Rose - $31.00
Thurman Munson RC - $15.50
Nolan Ryan - $15.00
Reggie Jackson - $13.50

1971
Steve Garvey RC - $28.00
Pete Rose - $21.00
Willie Mays - $13.00
Carl Yastrzemski - $12.50
Dusty Baker/Don Baylor RC - 12.50

Nolan Ryan - $6.50

1972
Steve Garvey - $40.00
Rod Carew - $40.00
Pete Rose - $29.00
Steve Carlton (Traded) - $23.00
Carew IA - $17.00

Nolan Ryan - $6.50

1973
Mike Schmidt RC - $65.00
Pete Rose - $12.00
Hank Aaron - $6.50
Carl Yastrzemski - $6.50
Reggie Jackson - $6.50
Willie Mays - $6.50

Nolan Ryan - $3.75

1974
Dave Winfield RC - $14.00
Willie McCovey (Wash NL) - $10.00
Pete Rose - $10.00
Mike Schmidt - $10.00
Hank Aaron - $8.00

Nolan Ryan - $3.00

1975
George Brett RC - $20.00
Jim Rice RC - $18.00
Robin Yount RC - $16.50
Gary Carter RC - $11.00
Pete Rose - $10.00

Nolan Ryan - $3.00

1976
Pete Rose - $8.00
Ron Guidry RC - $5.50
George Brett - $5.25
Mike Schmidt - $5.25
Hank Aaron - $4.75

Nolan Ryan - $2.50

1977
Dale Murphy RC - $27.00
Andre Dawson RC - $9.50
Tony Armas/Steve Kemp RC - $6.50
Pete Rose - $5.50
Mike Schmidt - $4.50

Nolan Ryan - $2.25

1978
Eddie Murray RC - $16.00
Lance Parrish/Dale Murphy RC - $10.50
Alan Trammell RC - $7.00
Lou Whitaker RC - $3.50
Jack Morris RC - $3.00
Pete Rose - $2.75
Mike Schmidt - $2.75

Nolan Ryan - $1.35

1979
Bump Wills (Corrected) - $4.50
Bump Wills (Error) - $3.50
Bob Horner RC - $3.25
Pete Rose - $3.00
Eddie Murray - $3.00
Pedro Guerrero RC - $3.00

Nolan Ryan - $1.10

So...Pete Rose was consistently the #1 card in every set, after the big rookies/variations/superstar high-numbers. Even in 1978, when his card was double printed (that was the year Topps increased their set size to 726 cards...they double printed 66 cards), his card carried the highest value among non-RCs. The only year Nolan Ryan was in the Top-5 was 1970, where he was a high-number.

As has been mentioned earlier, Ryan cards were basically middle-of-the-road among the stars/superstars, until he got his 6th and 7th no-hitters and reached 300 wins and 5,000 strikeouts. At that point, his card prices went into the stratosphere. Up until those points, Ryan was just a good pitcher who had never won a Cy Young Award, and was generally thought of as too old to reach any more great accomplishments in his career.

I also did a comparison of card prices in the 1985 guide among Ryan, Steve Carlton, Tom Seaver and Jim Palmer. In every year from 1971 - 1978, Carlton was #1 in card value, followed by Seaver and then Ryan, who was generally valued halfway between Seaver and Palmer. In two years (1972 and 1977), Ryan and Seaver cards had the same value. I used Carlton's regular card in 1972, and I didn't include 1970 or 1979 in the comparison since the 1970 Ryan is a high-number, and the 1979 Seaver is a double-print (he was 4th among the pitchers in value).

Steve

Ladder7 · August 13, 2008 11:49AM

"Robin, I wouldn't go out there..."

Estil · August 13, 2008 2:01PM

You think Mr. Ventura would be a good enough sport to sign that pic also? I mean, let bygones be bygones, right? Am I right???

WinPitcher · August 13, 2008 3:14PM

From what I remember the Ryan rookie was the hot card beginning around 1988-89 Prior to that it was the Rose rookie.

In the 70's I don't think many were seeking out his cards.

Steve

MantleMarisFordBerra · August 13, 2008 11:05PM

A few thoughts...it seems we all agree that the combination of achieving all those milestones and getting the media attention plus the fact this occurred right in the middle of the "baseball card boom" has lead to Ryan being the "Mantle of the 70s".

Anyone see the interview in this week's SI with Nolan? He says he can still hit 85 mph & when asked if given two months if he could get it up to 90 he said yes. They also asked him about the Ventura incident. I also saw a game on TV a week or so back & Rick Sutcliff was asking him about the Ventura incident.

Poor Robin Ventura. He was a really good player, in fact he won 6 gold gloves and Bill James ranks him as the best 3rd baseman of the '90s. anyone else remember his Grand Slam that was ruled a single in the '99 playoffs to advance the Mets to the next round? I've got a soft spot for him because he did really well when he came over to the Yankees. But all anyone ever wants to talk about is that night he got ran over by The Ryan Express.

Texoma · August 13, 2008 11:30PM

<< A few thoughts...it seems we all agree that the combination of achieving all those milestones and getting the media attention plus the fact this occurred right in the middle of the "baseball card boom" has lead to Ryan being the "Mantle of the 70s".

Anyone see the interview in this week's SI with Nolan? He says he can still hit 85 mph & when asked if given two months if he could get it up to 90 he said yes. They also asked him about the Ventura incident. I also saw a game on TV a week or so back & Rick Sutcliff was asking him about the Ventura incident.

Poor Robin Ventura. He was a really good player, in fact he won 6 gold gloves and Bill James ranks him as the best 3rd baseman of the '90s. anyone else remember his Grand Slam that was ruled a single in the '99 playoffs to advance the Mets to the next round? I've got a soft spot for him because he did really well when he came over to the Yankees. But all anyone ever wants to talk about is that night he got ran over by The Ryan Express. >>

Career Grand Slams

College HOF, 58-Game Consecutive Hit Streak

BobaFett72 · August 13, 2008 11:43PM

Late 80's early 90's was when his cards really took off, back in 85 you could get his cards quite cheap.

itzagoner · August 13, 2008 11:51PM

1992 National Convention in Atlanta.....a near mint to mint, gorgeous example of a Ryan/Koosman rookie, ungraded, went for $3500 and it left the showcase within minutes after it was placed there.

that's when i knew.

Estil · August 16, 2008 10:50AM

Well you have to understand back then graded cards were still about five years away. And there was no Ebay or Internet either. So for all anyone at that show knew, that was their only chance at getting a Ryan RC that nice. I wonder if that card did get graded later? It would really suck balls if it turned out it was trimmed.

WinPitcher · August 16, 2008 11:48AM

Estil what do you mean 5 yrs away? PSA began ops in 1991 I thought.

Steve

itzagoner · August 16, 2008 2:09PM

we met the reps there in '92. they showed us their blacklight. it was cool.

Estil · August 16, 2008 9:35PM

<< Estil what do you mean 5 yrs away? PSA began ops in 1991 I thought.

Steve >>

I meant when card grading really began to catch on.

TheCARDKid · August 17, 2008 6:38AM

Not to stereotype, but Ryan is similar to Mantle, in that he's a "good ol' boy", this time playing in Texas.

Kind of, Mr All American. You add in the glamour (throwing fastballs, strikeouts, similar to Mantles glamorous homeruns), he reached his peak along side the baseball card boom (I remember in middle school, about 91 or 92, a teacher had an article about an $8 Nolan Ryan rookie, but it should have sold for $800, the clerk misread the price tag, something like that, it was a famous/well publicized story). I think the Ryan rookie went from a few hundred to $1,200 almost overnight.

He has alot of glamour, the 5,000 k's, the 7 no hitters. Similar to Mantles World Series homeruns.

But a career, 324-292 record. First all time in walks. Similar to Mantles strikeout numbers. You sort of look the other way at statistics like that.

But man, his cards were popular. I remember as a kid, there was a pink Classic card, from 91 I think . It showed him holding a Classic Bo Jackson card. I don't even remember. Something to do with him and Bo Jackson. I bought the Classic set in Texas on a trip, I think it was the summer of 91.

Never got his rookie though. Maybe someday.

If you think about it, Nolan Ryan is like the Mickey Mantle of the 1970s in terms of card collecting

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