Card Images
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The stylized card illustration below is a representation. Real card images vary by print run, centering, and condition.
NOLAN RYAN
1968 TOPPS
Stylized illustration — actual card image varies by edition
View sold images on eBay1968 Topps Nolan Ryan #177
The all-time strikeout king's rookie card, shared with Jerry Koosman. Ryan's 5,714 career strikeouts and seven no-hitters make this a cornerstone of any collection.
Player
Nolan Ryan
Year
1968
Set
1968 Topps
Card #
177
Sport
Baseball
Type
Rookie Card
Market Value (Based on Sold Data)
Based on public auction recordsSource: eBay sold comps, Heritage Auctions, Goldin, PWCC — April 2026
Values compiled from public eBay sold listings, Heritage Auctions, and Goldin results. For real-time pricing, click “Verify on eBay” above.
Grade-by-Grade Pricing
Values based on recent eBay sold listings and auction results
| PSA Grade | Label | Market Value | Pop. | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
PSA 1 | Poor | $100–$200 | — | → |
PSA 2 | Good | $200–$400 | — | → |
PSA 3 | Very Good | $400–$800 | — | → |
PSA 4 | VG-EX | $800–$1,500 | — | ↑ |
PSA 5 | Excellent | $1,500–$3,000 | — | ↑ |
PSA 6 | EX-MT | $3,000–$6,000 | — | ↑ |
PSA 7 | Near Mint | $6,000–$12,000 | 420 | ↑ |
PSA 8Best Value | NM-MT | $12,000–$25,000 | 180 | ↑ |
PSA 9 | Mint | $30,000–$80,000 | 28 | ↑ |
PSA 10 | Gem Mint | $200,000+ | 2 | ↑ |
Source: eBay Sold Comps / Heritage Auctions · Shared rookie card with Jerry Koosman. Ryan's career records make this a perennial top-10 vintage baseball card.
PSA Population Report
Total Graded
9,800
PSA 10 Count
2
PSA 9 Count
28
Gem Rate
0%
Grade Distribution
Gem Rate (% achieving PSA 10): 0% — Extremely difficult to gem.
Notable Sales
| Price | Grade | Date | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500,000Record | PSA 10 | Sep 2022 | Heritage Auctions | Pop 2 in PSA 10; legendary scarcity for a key 1960s RC |
| $72,000 | PSA 9 | May 2023 | PWCC | Pop 28; PSA 9 remains extremely liquid |
| $22,000 | PSA 8 | Jan 2025 | eBay | Strong PSA 8 baseline for the Ryan/Koosman RC |
Figures sourced from publicly reported auction results. Private sales may exceed.
Card Variations
A shared rookie card with Jerry Koosman. No parallels exist — 1968 Topps had a single base card design.
Standard Base
uncommonThe only version. Ryan and Koosman share card #177.
Market price
Autographed (collector-obtained)
uncommonRyan-signed examples. Relatively common to find Ryan-signed cards given his accessibility at signings.
$500–$3,000 additional
Collector Tip
The print quality on 1968 Topps varies — look for clean, vibrant blue border colors. The miscut issue on this specific card (it sits off in the set cut direction) makes centering particularly important. A centered PSA 9 is extremely elusive.
PSA vs BGS vs SGC
Professional Sports Authenticators
- +Most liquid — highest resale demand
- +Largest population database
- +Vintage specialists
- +Most recognized globally
- −Slowest turnaround at economy tier
- −No subgrades on base service
Best for: Vintage, high-value singles, resale liquidity
Beckett Grading Services
- +Subgrades reveal exact condition
- +BGS 9.5 Black Label = highest premium
- +Preferred for modern parallels
- +Slab design seen as premium
- −Less liquid than PSA for vintage
- −Stricter centering = harder to get 10
Best for: Modern parallels, autographs, centering-first cards
Sportscard Guaranty Corporation
- +Faster turnaround than PSA/BGS
- +Lower cost at economy tier
- +Growing collector base
- +Good for tobacco/pre-war
- −Lower premium than PSA on most cards
- −Smaller population database
Best for: Pre-war, tobacco cards, budget-conscious grading
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