The 1974 Topps baseball card set is considered by many collectors to be one of the more iconic and valuable issues from the 1970s. Issued at the height of the “Wax Pack Era”, the ’74 Topps set features many star players and rookie cards that continue to attract attention from collectors decades later. Let’s take a closer look at some of the standout cards and valuations from this 660-card release.
The biggest star and most valuable card in the set is the #1 Hank Aaron. Aaron would hit his record-breaking 715th career home run during the 1974 season, passing Babe Ruth on the all-time list. In pristine mint condition, Aaron’s ’74 Topps card can fetch over $10,000. Another superstar card is #138 Johnny Bench, who won his third NL MVP award in ’73. High-grade Bench rookies sell for $3,000-5,000.
One of the most iconic rookie cards found in the set is #550 Mike Schmidt. Schmidt would go on to have a Hall of Fame career as one of the greatest third basemen ever. His 1974 rookie is highly sought after, with a PSA 10 gem mint example selling for around $15,000 in recent years. Another valuable rookie is #642 Andre Dawson, known as “The Hawk” during his playing days. Dawson’s rookie in top condition can reach $2,000.
Two other rookie cards that consistently attract bids in the $1,000-2,000 range are #309 Lou Whitaker and #500 Dave Winfield. Whitaker and Winfield both had long, productive MLB careers and their ’74 rookie cards remain quite scarce in high grades. The set also featured the rookie cards of Bert Blyleven (#213), Bruce Sutter (#234), and Jim Rice (#512), though their values are not quite as high as the aforementioned players.
In addition to star rookies and future Hall of Famers, the 1974 Topps set contains several other notable cards that can fetch big money from collectors. Nolan Ryan’s action photo on card #157, depicting one of his blazing fastballs, is one of the most iconic in the set. High-grade Ryan’s can sell for over $1,000.
Card #1 of the set also holds value due to its coveted #1 position, with PSA 10s reaching $800-1,000. The #660 checklist card, marking the final card in the set, is also highly sought after by completionists. Top-graded examples change hands for $500-700. Other singles such as Rod Carew (#87), Carl Yastrzemski (#129), and Tom Seaver (#312) command $200-400 in top-notch condition as well.
Beyond individual star cards, there is also value to be found in completing the full 660-card 1974 Topps baseball set. In lower graded but complete form, a ’74 Topps set can be acquired for $2,000-3,000. Finding the set in pristine PSA/BGS/SGC mint condition is an entirely different story. Just a few years ago, a PSA-graded full set with an average grade of 8.5 sold at auction for over $30,000.
While it may not be quite as valuable as some earlier and more scarce Topps issues, the 1974 set remains a highly collectible release that showcases the talents of many all-time great players. Rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Schmidt and Dawson will likely hold and gain value for dedicated collectors. High-grade examples of stars like Aaron, Bench, Ryan, Carew and more continue to attract serious bids. For collectors looking to invest, a complete ’74 Topps set in top condition could prove a worthwhile long-term hold. Nearly 50 years after its original issue, this iconic set from the 1970s remains a vibrant and historically significant part of the hobby.
