The 1975 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic issues from the 1970s. While it may not be one of the most valuable sets overall, there are certainly some standout rookie and star cards that can be quite valuable depending on condition. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key 1975 Topps cards that frequently catch collector interest and command respectable prices on the secondary market.
One of the true heavy-hitters from the ’75 set is the Nolan Ryan rookie card (card #494). Ryan would go on to have one of the greatest pitching careers in baseball history, setting numerous strikeout records and tallying over 5000 career strikeouts. Not surprisingly, his rookie card from this set is highly sought after by collectors. In pristine near-mint to mint condition, examples can sell for thousands of dollars. A PSA 10 gem mint Ryan rookie just sold for over $27,000 on auction. Even well-centered, sharply-cornered near-mint copies commonly sell in the $500-1000 range. Needless to say, this is one of the crown jewel cards from the entire 1970s decade.
Another hugely valuable 1975 Topps rookie is #680, the George Brett card. Brett enjoyed a stellar career with the Kansas City Royals spanning from 1973-1993. He is best remembered for his .390 batting average season in 1980 when he just barely won the American League batting title on the final day of the season. His rookie paper is highly collectible, with PSA 10s bringing over $10,000. Most well-kept near-mint copies trade hands in the $300-500 range. Even somewhat played examples still fetch $100 or more due to Brett’s legacy.
Staying with third basemen, card #22 depicting Mike Schmidt’s third Topps issue is also a strong candidate for money cards from the set. Schmidt went on to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, setting the all-time record for most home runs by a third baseman. Pristine PSA 10 examples of his ’75 card sell for $500-1000. Sharply-cornered near-mint copies are $150-300. Though not a true rookie, Schmidt collectors appreciate any vintage representations of his early playing days.
A couple other high-demand rookie cards come in the form of #10, Fred Lynn of the Boston Red Sox, and #168, Don Baylor of the Baltimore Orioles. Both Lynn and Baylor had productive MLB careers and went on to earn Rookie of the Year honors in 1975. Their rookie cards from the 1975 Topps set readily fetch $100-250 in top-graded near-mint condition. Even played copies that still show the images well can sell for $20-50. For fans of these respective teams and players, it’s fun to own a piece of history from their inaugural seasons.
Another notable Cardinal featured is #83, Lou Brock. By 1975, Brock had already put together a Hall of Fame career playing in St. Louis, including breaking the single season stolen base record. His card remains popular with collectors years after his retirement. Mint copies change hands for $75-150, with sharp near-mint bringing $30-60. Fellow St. Louis legend #136, Bob Gibson, also maintains strong collector interest decades later. Pristine PSA 10 Gibson cards sell for $150-300, and very nicely centered near-mint copies for $50-100.
A couple other star players who continue to attract buyers many years after production are #134, Reggie Jackson of the Baltimore Orioles and #355, Tom Seaver of the New York Mets. “Mr. October” Jackson had several huge postseason performances still fresh in collector’s minds. PSA 10 Jacksons sell for $150-250, while near-mint bring $50-100. Seaver was already a household name by 1975 as one of the game’s dominant hurlers of the era. Pristine PSA 10 Seaver cards can reach $300-500, with very sharp near-mint selling for $100-200. Their legend and popularity endures to this day.
Among the most visually striking cards in the entire ’75 set is the photo variation of #384, Mike Marshall of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The standard issue photo showed Marshall pitching underhanded, but a small percentage replaced this with an overhand photo, vastly different from the norm. In top grades, these overhand variations can sell for upwards of $1000 due to their noticeable scarcity. Even well-centered near-mint copies trade around $300. Marshall collectors highly covet owning this anomalous take.
While the 1975 Topps set as a whole doesn’tCommand massive prices, it does contain some true blue-chip rookie and star issues that frequently sell strongly due to prolonged collector interest. Cards like the Nolan Ryan and George Brett rookies, as well as representations of all-time greats like Schmidt, Gibson, Brock, Jackson and Seaver, maintain relevance and value years after production. For vintage baseball card enthusiasts, searching through the nooks and crannies of this classic mid-1970s set can certainly uncover findable gems still worth money today.
