The 1972 Topps baseball card set was the 21st series produced by the Topps Company, Inc. The set consisted of 792 total cards and was issued in wax paper packs as well as cello packs. Some key details about the 1972 Topps set include:
Roster Size: The set featured cards for all 26 Major League Baseball teams that were active in 1972. This included players, managers, coaches, and even team checklists. In total, there were photos of 737 individual baseball players included across the 792 total cards.
Design: Topps went with a classic vertical design format for the 1972 cards. Each card featured the primary photo in the center with the player’s name, team, and position printed across the top. Statistical info was provided on the bottom half of the card along with the Topps logo. The standard photo size of 2.5″ x 3.5″ was maintained.
Rookies of Note: Some top rookie cards found in the 1972 set included George Brett (Card #57), Dave Kingman (Card #119), Dan Quisenberry (Card #247), and Rick Reuschel (Card #372). All of these players went on to have productive MLB careers and their rookie cards remain popular with collectors today.
Short Prints: Topps produced several short printed cards over the years that are considered more scarce than the typical base cards. In 1972 the main short prints included Gaylord Perry (Card #672) and Willie Mays (Card #683). Both are desirable among collectors due to their lower print runs.
Veteran Players: Veterans stars featured prominently as always. Some included Nolan Ryan (Card #89), Hank Aaron (Card #111), Johnny Bench (Card #199), Reggie Jackson (Card #220), and Tom Seaver (Card #273). Stud pitchers Ferguson Jenkins and Steve Carlton also received nice highlighted cards.
Variations: There were a small number of printing variations to watch for in the 1972 set beyond just the short prints. This included errors, variations in the backdrop colors used on certain photos, and slightly different sized cards due to manufacturing issues in the printing process.
Design Changes: Topps shook things up a bit in 1972 compared to previous years. They swapped out the standard decorative border that usually surrounded the photos in favor of a more simple blank backdrop design. No player stats or other captions appeared below the photo for the first time.
Highlights: The 1972 set is especially noteworthy for collectors due to the milestone achievements captured on several of the cards. These included Hank Aaron passing Babe Ruth for the all-time home run record, Nolan Ryan’s MLB record fifth no-hitter, and Roberto Clemente’s 3,000th career hit. Their milestone moments were immortalized in the cards.
Checklists: In addition to the standard player cards, Topps included checklists for all 26 MLB teams as cards #761-786. These provide a useful reference for builders of complete team sets to ensure they have all the cards for a given franchise.
Rarity: The 1972 Topps set in high grade is not especially scarce according to Beckett grading standards. As was typical for 1970s issues, many mid-range examples show wear due to how much they were handled as kids. The short prints and select rookie cards remain the keys to finding true condition rarities today.
The 1972 Topps set holds nostalgia for collectors of a certain era but also historical significance. It serves as a snapshot of the times through the photos and stats featured on the cards. Landmark player accomplishments were chronicled that still resonate today. While affordable in lower grades, finding high quality examples from this 792-card checklist remains a challenge for those curating mint vintage collections. The rookie cards of Brett, Kingman, and others ensure the 1972 Topps baseballs stay a key component of the entire post-war Topps checklist for collectors.
