Nolan Ryan Collection
Growing up as a collector in the 1980s, there was one player who always intrigued folks in the hobby: Nolan Ryan. There were no doubt countless other names who did as well, but when collecting baseball cards was becoming big business, Nolan Ryan was nearing the end of his career and seemed to be breaking records left and right, thereby keeping his name and cards at the forefront of many conversations. The result was a growth in popularity; a rise in interest in his cards.
As a collector now in my late 20s, I still find myself infatuated with Ryan’s older cards. The result has been my quest to obtain every Ryan basic Topps card from 1968 through 1980. There were hundreds of other Ryan cards produced in the “modern” card era, but some how those do not catch my attention like these vintage cards.
My vintage Ryan collection started with the 1974 Topps card I got from a friend in a poker game. Then snagged a 1979 Topps out of a pack at a local card shop — great-looking card that was graded a 6 by Beckett Vintage, primarily because of the centering. And in the last five years I’ve done some eBaying to come up with almost every other card. There is no shortage of Ryan collectors, so it still costs a decent penny to obtain his vintage cards in good shape. But I’m not that picky when it comes to my vintage cards.
As you can see, I’m still missing two cards, the 1969 card and 1971. Grr.
1968 — The Rookie
1970 Topps
1972 Topps
1973 Topps
1974 Topps
1975 Topps
1976 Topps
1977 Topps
1977 Topps Cloth Sticker — SP
1978 Topps
1979 Topps
1979 Topps — pack pulled; BVG 6
1980 Topps
July 15, 2010 at 1:14 am
Hello I might have a card that you might be intrested in its a 2001 Topps team Legends Autograph its a reprint of the rc yr just by himself not with the other person. its priced at $200 in the Beckett. I have not seen one on ebay are saw any others out there online are in person. just mine.
August 31, 2010 at 1:38 pm
We have a full collection of Nolan cards, toys and everything under the sun Nolan. We are looking to sale and wanted to see if you could help me find some one that would be interested in buying the whole collection?
Thanks so much!
March 28, 2011 at 6:07 am
What is my Nolan Ryan Entire Set Porcelain Topps Baseball Cards w/1968 Rookie Card worth? Less 1 card which I do not have?
July 13, 2011 at 2:54 am
I’ve got all the regular season TOPPS for Nolan Ryan. I don’t have duplicates of 69 and 71, but I do of a lot of the 80’s hit me up if interested and we can work out a deal.