1974 Topps

The 1974 Topps Baseball set consists of 660 cards, each measuring a customary 2-1/2" by 3-1/2”. For the first time, Topps issued the set all at once at the beginning of the year, rather than by series throughout the baseball season as had been done since 1952. The set features color photos with the player’s name, team and position. Specialty cards abound, starting with a Hank Aaron tribute (Aaron’s #1 All-Time Home Run card difficult to secure), and running through the usual managers, statistical leaders, playoff and World Series highlights, multi-player rookie cards and All-Stars. The 1974 series is best remembered for its error cards. At the time, there was speculation that the San Diego Padres would become the Washington Nationals, with fifteen Padres, including Willie McCovey (#250) and Glen Beckert (#241) appearing with a “Washington, Nat’l League” designation on the front. Card #599, Rookie Pitchers, features three distinct variations – Washington, and separate San Diego entries with small or large type. With its tally reaching 660, the cards were printed in equal quantities, eliminating “Short Prints” or “High Numbers.”