Below is a combination of both budget and more expensive Ron Santo baseball cards that appeal to a broad spectrum of collectors.
Ron Santo was one of the most underrated 3rd basemen in MLB history. Spending almost the entirety of his 15-year career with the Chicago Cubs.
Playing from 1960 to 1974, Santo was named to 9 All-Star teams. Won 5 Gold Glove awards, and finished in the top 10 of MVP voting 4 different times.
Santo’s accomplishments are all the more remarkable as he was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 18. Later in life, the seriousness of the condition resulted in him needing to have the lower parts of both his legs amputated.
Originally given a life expectancy of 25 years, Santo lived to 70 before complications from diabetes along with bladder cancer would eventually result in his death in 2010.
Best Budget Ron Santo Baseball Cards
2. 1973 Topps Ron Santo Card #115
Estimated PSA 10 Value – $250
Estimated PSA 9 Value – $65
Other than his 1961 rookie card, the 1973 Topps card is the most popular sports card featuring Santo.
According to sportscardspro.com, it has been sold online more than 30 times over the last couple of months, a high number for vintage sports cards.
The front of the card has a white border that is enlarged at the bottom to make room for different player information. Inside the white border is a black border that directly outlines the player photo of Santo. Santo’s name and team name are listed at the bottom left of the card. With his name displayed in a red-orange font and the team name displayed in a light blue font.
The bottom right of the card displays a dark pink circle, inside of which is a silhouette of a baseball infielder fielding their position, with “3rd base” listed directly below.
The back of the card showcases dark yellow and black cardstock. Along with Santo’s stats, a cartoon graphic, and a fun fact.
1. 1975 Topps Mini, Ron Santo Card #35
Estimated PSA 10 Value – $350
Estimated PSA 9 Value – $50
In addition to the regular 1975 base set. Topps produced another set of cards identical in design, but smaller in size. These mini cards were 2.25 inches by 3.125 inches, instead of the standard 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches.
The #35 card employs a very colorful design in its border/background. The top 2/3rds of the card’s border/background features a light-orange hue. Whereas the bottom 1/3rd of the card displays a light-yellow hue.
The photo of Santo is a head and upper shoulder picture of him smiling into the sun. With a replica signature listed across the bottom of the photo. The White Sox team name is displayed in large blue font at the top of the card. While Santo’s name is displayed at the bottom of the card in black font. Santo’s position is listed to the right of his name, inside a baseball graphic.
The back of the card showcases a green and orange color scheme, lists all of Santo’s career stats, and contains player trivia.
Best High-End Ron Santo Baseball Cards
3. 1965 Topps Card #110
Estimated PSA 10 Value – $5,000
Estimated PSA 9 Value – $275
The 1965 Topps #110 card featuring Ron Santo is one of the rare mid-60s cards that has been graded in PSA 10 condition.
It sold for just under $4000 in this condition in 2021 and a little over $5,700 in 2022.
It has an outer white border and an inner red border that surrounds the player photo and enlarges at the card’s bottom to include player information. The bottom right of the card lists Santo’s name and position in white and yellow font respectively. The bottom left of the card, partially on the player photo and partially on the enlarged red bottom border, is a pennant graphic with the Cubs team logo.
The player photo pictures Ron Santo posing with a bat at Dodger Stadium. The back of the card employs a baby blue color scheme with a white insert listing Santo’s player stats.
Overall, the 1965 Topps set was ahead of its time, showcasing a remarkably attractive design that makes it a work of art.
2. 1971 Topps, Ron Santo Card #220
Estimated PSA 10 Value – $7,500
Estimated PSA 9 Value – $500
The 1971 Topps set introduced a groundbreaking new design. Opting for an all-black frontal border/background.
However, the design was highly susceptible to damage, making it nearly impossible to find highly graded versions of cards in this set. The black border is enlarged at the top of the card where it displays player and team information.
The top of the #220 card lists the Cubs team name, centered in light blue font. The top left side of the card’s front lists Santo’s name in white font. While the top right side lists his position in orange font.
The photo of Santo shows him holding a bat over his right shoulder, once again on the field at Dodger Stadium. A player replica signature is listed near the bottom of the card on the player photo, slanted upward from left to right.
The rear of the card contains a green border and lists some of Santo’s career accomplishments. It differs from previous Topps sets by only including his 1970 stats and career totals. Instead of listing a year-by-year breakdown.
1. 1961 Topps “All Star Rookie” Rookie Card #35
Estimated PSA 10 Value – $15,000
Estimated PSA 9 Value – $1,000
As would be expected, the Topps “All Star Rookie” rookie card is the top target for collectors.
While PSA 9 versions of this card do occasionally hit the market. PSA 10 versions are almost impossible to find.
The card has an outer white border and a smaller black border inside of the white border, directly outlining the player photo. The photo of Santo shows him posing with a bat with the legendary Wrigley Field in the background.
The bottom of the card lists Santo’s name and position in a rectangular red box and the Cubs team name in a rectangular yellow box. The bottom left of the card on the player photo contains the phrase “Topps 1960 All Star Rookie” inside of a yellow trophy graphic.
The rear of the card displays a yellow and dark blue cardstock, lists Santo’s major and minor league stats, and features a few baseball cartoon graphics.
It also notes that Santo played only 1 and a half years in the minors before making the Cubs roster.
When I was just starting out with my card collection, I had lots of questions about authenticity, trading, and card conditions. But with not that much information available online, I felt quite alone in my queries. Some questions still haven’t been answered to this day.
This site aims to rectify this, and now, I am passing on my knowledge!
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