top of page
Wolfman's Topps Complete Sets

Topps Complete Sets

The following are the various Topps Complete base sets that I have completed throughout the years and specific details regarding these sets.

Topps 1968

  • Set Size: 598 cards.

  • Design: Distinctive burlap/speckled frame around color photos.

  • Key Rookies: Nolan Ryan/Jerry Koosman (#177), Johnny Bench (#247).

  • Key Stars: Mickey Mantle (#280), "Super Stars" (Mantle/Mays/Killebrew, #490), "Manager's Dream" (Clemente/Oliva/Cardenas, #480), and second-year cards of Tom Seaver (#45) and Rod Carew (#80).

  • Subsets: League Leaders (1-12), World Series Highlights (151-158), and The Sporting News All-Stars (361-380).

  • Condition Issues: The burlap borders are highly susceptible to chipping and edge wear.

  • High Numbers: The set was released in seven series. The high-number series (#498–598).

Topps 1969

  • Set Size: 664 cards.

  • Design: Features a full-color photo with a crisp white border, with the player's name and position inside a colored circle at the top.

  • Key Rookies: Reggie Jackson (#260), Rollie Fingers (#597), Bobby Cox, Graig Nettles, Sparky Lyle, and Bobby Bonds. 

  • Key Stars: Mickey Mantle (#500) Final active Topps card of the Yankee legend, Nolan Ryan (#533): Second-year card, but often considered his first solo Topps card.

  • Subsets: League Leaders: Cards (1-12), World Series Highlights: Cards (163-169), Sporting News All-Stars: Cards (416-435)

  • High Numbers: Released in seven series, with high-number cards (Series 7, #589-664)

  • Inserts: Topps included 33 "Deckle Edge" cards and 48 small 1-1/2” by 1-1/2” decals in packs. 

Topps 1970

  • Set Size: 720 cards.

  • Design: The cards feature a "straight-laced" design, with a color photograph framed by a thin white border and a distinct gray outer edge. Team names are in block lettering at the top right, with player names and positions at the bottom.

  • Key Rookies: Thurman Munson (card #189) is considered the most significant rookie card in the set. Other notable rookie cards include Bernie Carbo, Vida Blue, and a multi-player card featuring Ted Sizemore.

  • Key Stars: The set includes key cards of Nolan Ryan, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Pete Rose, Tom Seaver, Carl Yastrzemski, Brooks Robinson, and Reggie Jackson.

  • Subsets: League Leaders (Cards 61–72), Playoff Highlights (Cards 195–202), World Series Highlights (Cards 305–310), All-Stars (Cards 450–469.

  • High Numbers: Released in seven series with high-number cards (Series 7, cards 663–720).

  • Inserts: Topps included three different inserts to justify a price increase to 10 cents: player biographic booklets, posters, and Scratch-Off game cards.

  • Fun Fact:  Despite the team moving to Milwaukee and becoming the Brewers, Topps continued to issue cards with the Seattle Pilots designation throughout all seven series.

Topps 1971

  • Set Size: 752 cards.

  • Design: The cards feature a color photograph within a white frame on a black border. The front includes player details and a facsimile signature, while the back provides biographical information and statistics. This set was notable for including more action shots

  • Key Rookies: Key rookie cards in the set include individual cards of Bert Blyleven (#26), Dave Concepcion (#14), Steve Garvey (#341), and Ted Simmons (#117), as well as a multi-player rookie card featuring Dusty Baker and Don Baylor (#709). 

  • Key Stars: Key star cards feature players like Hank Aaron, Johnny Bench, Roberto Clemente, Reggie Jackson, Willie Mays, Thurman Munson, Pete Rose, and Nolan Ryan. 

  • Subsets: Subsets include League Leaders, Playoffs (195–202), and World Series highlights.

  • High Numbers: The set was released in seven series, with the high-number cards (644-752) being particularly scarce and some short-printed.

  • Inserts/Other Products: Other related products from 1971 Topps include a 153-coin set and various other issues such as tattoos, scratch-offs, and super box toppers. 

Topps 1972

  • Set Size: 787 cards.

  • Design: The cards are known for their distinct, vibrant, and somewhat controversial design, often referred to as "psychedelic tombstones. Unlike the 1975 set, which had randomized, chaotic colors, the 1972 set was organized, with all players on a specific team sharing the same color scheme.In Action" Cards: These cards (interspersed throughout the set) featured action shots, often with a more creative, candid feel than the standard portrait shots.

  • Key Rookies: Carlton Fisk / Cecil Cooper / Mike Garman (#79): The only Hall of Fame rookie card in the set, featuring a young Carlton Fisk who would go on to win the AL Rookie of the Year award that season. 

  • Key Stars: Key Hall of Fame cards include Nolan Ryan (#595), Roberto Clemente (#309), Hank Aaron (#299), Willie Mays (#49), and Pete Rose (#559).

  • Subsets: The set included League Leaders (85–96), Playoff cards (221–222), World Series cards (223–230), and "Boyhood Photos of the Stars" (341–348/491–498). Traded Cards: Cards 751–757 feature players in their new uniforms after being traded. 

  • High Numbers: Released in six series with high numbered 526–787, particularly those in the final series, are notoriously harder to find, with Steve Carlton (#751) being a key high-number card. 

  • Fun Fact:  This was the final year of Topps' exclusive licensing before competition from other manufacturers began.

Topps 1973

  • Set Size: 660 cards.

  • Design: The 1973 set features a clean, simple look with a large color photo on the front, bordered in white The card backs are printed in black ink on a muted orange background, featuring career statistics, biographical details, and a small trivia cartoon.

  • Key Rookies: The 1973 set contains major rookie cards, including Mike Schmidt (#615), Goose Gossage (#174), Ron Cey, and Davey Lopes.

  • Key Stars: The set features iconic cards of Willie Mays (his last "active" card), Hank Aaron, Pete Rose, Roberto Clemente, and Nolan Ryan. 

  • Subsets:  All-Time Leaders (#1–#8), League Leaders (#61–#68), Playoff & World Series Highlights (#201–#202), Highlights from the 1972 postseason.

  • High Numbers: Cards in the final series (#529–660) are known to be more difficult to find, making them more sought after. 

  • Fun Facts: 1973 was the final year Topps released its flagship set in staggered, multi-series waves throughout the season.

Topps 1974

  • Set Size: 660 cards.

  • Design: The 1974 cards feature color photos, featuring the player’s name, team, and position, often using a classic 1970s design aesthetic.

  • Key Rookies: The set includes the rookie cards of Hall of Famers Dave Winfield (#456) and Dave Parker (#252). Other notable rookies include Ken Griffey, Sr. (#598), Bucky Dent (#582), and Frank Tanana (#605).

  • Key Stars: The set includes key cards of superstars like Nolan Ryan (#20), Pete Rose (#300), Tom Seaver (#80), Johnny Bench (#10), Reggie Jackson (#130), and Brooks Robinson (#160). 

  • Subsets: The set included League Leaders (201-208), All-Stars (331-339), Playoffs (470-471), and World Series highlights (472-479).

  • Topps Traded: A 44-card "Traded" set was also issued later in the year, featuring players in their new uniforms (e.g., Lou Brock, Gaylord Perry). 

  • Fun Facts:  The 1974 set was released all at once, a change from the traditional, multiple-series release that started in 1952. 1974 was the first year Topps offered factory sets, which were sold exclusively through the J.C. Penney catalog.

Topps 1975

  • Set Size: 660 cards.

  • Design: The 1975 set is famous for its distinctive, colorful, two-tone borders that often corresponded with team colors

  • Key Rookies:   The 1975 set is renowned for containing the rookie cards of several Hall of Famers, making it a critical set for collectors: Robin Yount (#223), George Brett (#228), Gary Carter (#620), Jim Rice (#616), Fred Lynn (#622), Keith Hernandez (#623) 

  • Key Stars: Hank Aaron (Highlights #1 and #660), Nolan Ryan (Highlights #5 and #7), Pete Rose (#320), Mike Schmidt (#70)

  • Final Cards: The set features final cards for stars like Bob Gibson (#150), Harmon Killebrew (#640), and Frank Robinson (#580). 

  • Subsets:  The set begins with a "Highlights" subset (cards 1–7) featuring milestones from the 1974 season, including Hank Aaron’s 715th home run. It also includes League Leader cards (306-313), Playoffs (459-460), and World Series highlights (461-466).and MVP cards from 1951 to 1974 (189-212).

  • High Numbers: Cards in the final series (#529–660) are known to be more difficult to find, making them more sought after. 

  • Fun Facts:  Topps produced a parallel "mini" set in 1975, which measures

  • 2-1/4 x 3-1/8.  These were test-marketed primarily in Michigan and California and are now highly collectible.

bottom of page