The 1975 Topps baseball card set included several young stars making their debut in Major League Baseball’s top rookie cards. While the 1968 and 1969 Topps sets featured perhaps the most iconic rookie cards of all time like Nolan Ryan and Reggie Jackson, the 1975 set showcased the early careers of players who would go on to have Hall of Fame careers and help transform the game during the later 1970s and 1980s.
One of the most notable 1975 Topps rookie cards was that of Cincinnati Reds third baseman Ken Griffey Sr. While Griffey Sr. had a solid but unspectacular 13-year big league career, he would go on to raise one of the game’s true superstars – his son Ken Griffey Jr. Griffey Jr.’s rookie card from 1989 Bowman is one of the most valuable baseball cards ever printed. Nevertheless, Griffey Sr.’s rookie card from 1975 offers fans an early look at a player who helped foster one of the great father-son legacies in MLB history.
Another Hall of Famer who debuted in 1975 was Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Steve Carlton. Known as “Lefty,” Carlton went on to have a storied 27-year career and is considered one of the greatest left-handed pitchers ever. He won four Cy Young Awards and was a key part of Philadelphia’s 1980 World Series championship team. Carlton’s 1975 Topps rookie card shows him in a Phillies uniform during the early stages of what became a brilliant career.
One of the most interesting rookie cards from 1975 was that of Chicago White Sox designated hitter Ron Blomberg. Blomberg made history on April 6, 1973 as the first player in Major League Baseball to participate in a designated hitter experiment that the American League had recently introduced. His 1975 Topps rookie card commemorates Blomberg entering the big leagues as a full-time DH and being one of the pioneers of that batting role which fundamentally changed the strategic nature of AL games.
While he only played eight seasons in the majors, Atlanta Braves third baseman Darrell Evans had a monster rookie year in 1975 that made his Topps card very notable. Evans smacked 27 home runs and drove in 81 RBI during his first season. He ended his career with the third-most home runs hit by a third baseman in MLB history. Evans’ prodigious power was on full display during his breakout rookie campaign captured in his coveted 1975 Topps issue.
Pitchers who debuted in 1975 and had rookie cards included Mark Fidrych of the Detroit Tigers, known as “The Bird” for his on-field antics and fun-loving approach to the game. Fidrych’s rookie season in 1976 where he went 19-9 with a 2.34 ERA and won the American League Rookie of the Year and Runner-Up for AL Cy Young changed the Tigers’ franchise fortunes. Meanwhile, Nolan Ryan had moved from the Mets to the Angels and his 1975 Topps card as a California Angel was the last of his issued as a rookie before he transformed into perhaps the greatest power pitcher of all-time.
Some other notable 1975 Topps rookie cards included winners of the National League and American League Rookie of the Year awards from 1974. The NL honor went to Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Bill Russell while the AL rookie award was captured by Cleveland Indians outfielder/first baseman Chris Chambliss. Both players showed promise in their first MLB seasons documented on their rookie cards.
While most cards from the 1970s had simple yellow borders and design motifs compared to the flashy inserts and parallel variants printed today, the 1975 Topps set still contained several rookie stars and future Hall of Famers. For collectors and fans, finding near mint or better condition copies of the Carlton, Griffey Sr., Evans or any of these rookie greats from the vintage 1975 issue is a thrill. Their rookie year performances preserved in cardboard helped shaped the trajectory of MLB in the decades to follow.
