A legendary MLB career produced some of the most sought-after Pete Rose baseball cards in the hobby, especially those from the 1970s. While Charlie Hustle’s overall legacy within the game is quite complicated, his cardboard legacy still seems intact.
Beckett.com’s Ryan Wright recently took a comprehensive look at the best Pete Rose baseball cards of the 1970s. So, I picked my five favorites to talk about in more detail.
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5 Must-Have Pete Rose Baseball Cards from the 1970s
Here are five 1970s Pete Rose baseball cards that caught my eye:
1970 Topps #61 Batting Leaders: Pete Rose/Bob Clemente/Cleon Jones: A triple threat featuring two all-time greats sharing space on the same card while celebrating Rose’s back-to-back batting crowns.
1972 Topps #560 Pete Rose IA: This “In Action” shot of Rose has recently sold for between $500 and $1,000, according to Sports Cards Pro data.
1977 Topps #450 Pete Rose: A PSA 10 version of this card has sold for at least $5,000 in each of its last five sales, but the most recent sale in September 2025 went for $7,499.99.
1978 O-Pee-Chee #240 Pete Rose: This card honored Rose as the all-time hit king for switch hitters. He finished the 1977 season at 2,966 career knocks before joining the 3,000-hit club in 1978.
1979 Topps #204 Pete Rose Record Breaker: Rose came close to challenging Joe DiMaggio’s legendary 56-game hit streak. Charlie Hustle recorded a hit in 44 straight games during the 1978 season, a National League record.
The 1970 Batting Leaders Card: Two Legends, One Card
The 1970 Topps #61 easily stands out because you’re getting Pete Rose and Roberto Clemente on the same card. That’s more than 7,500 combined hits right there. Rose had just wrapped up consecutive batting titles (.335 in 1968, .348 in 1969), and this card celebrates him alongside Clemente and Cleon Jones as the NL’s top hitters.
According to Sports Cards Pro, you can grab ungraded versions for under $10, but if that bad boy is a PSA 10, it could be worth around $1,000. Rose was already a star at this point in his career, but it gave us a glimpse of the 29-year-0ld before he embarked on the second half of his big-league career.
His back-to-back batting titles in 1968 and 1969 produced some eye-popping numbers for the hit machine. Across 305 games (1,423 plate appearances), he slashed .342/.410/.491 with 26 home runs, 75 doubles, 17 triples, 131 RBI, and 214 runs scored. This also included consecutive seasons of 200-plus hits.
The 1979 Record Breaker: Charlie Hustle Cashes In
After spending 16 years in Cincinnati with the Reds, Rose bolted to the Philadelphia Phillies via free agency in December 1978. He signed a four-year, $3.2 million deal with the club, which was the game’s biggest contract ever at the time. He immediately rewarded Philly with another big year in 1978. He hit .331/.418/.430 with 40 doubles, 59 RBI, 90 runs scored, and 20 steals during his age-38 campaign.
You can find the Topps #204 Pete Rose Record Breaker card for under $10 if it’s ungraded, but you can turn it into some legit cash if this piece of cardboard is in high grade. PSA 9 versions have consistently sold within the $50-80 range in 2025, while PSA 10 versions have sold for between $300-600, according to Sports Cards Pro data.
Rose spent five years in Philadelphia, and it was a fruitful tenure. He was named an All-Star four times while registering 826 total hits in 745 games played. His time in the City of Brotherly Love was also highlighted by being part of the Phillies’ 1980 World Series-winning squad.
Pete Rose’s Complicated Legacy and Hall of Fame Eligibility
Nobody disputes what Rose accomplished between the lines. He collected 4,256 hits across 24 seasons, won three World Series rings, earned MVP honors in 1973, captured two Gold Gloves, and made 17 All-Star teams. His individual accolades also included being named the 1963 NL Rookie of the Year and the 1975 World Series MVP.
But the gambling controversy changed everything. Rose’s lifetime ban from baseball in 1989 for betting on games while managing the Reds has kept him out of Cooperstown (as well as some other issues). But the debate is back on now that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred officially lifted Rose’s lifetime ban following his death.
Despite being banned from baseball and having a complicated legacy, Rose’s early cards are still valuable. Collectors seem to separate the player from the controversy when it comes to cardboard. A PSA 10 1963 Topps Rose rookie regularly sells for five figures, and these 1970s cards maintain strong demand.
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