The 1974 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most historically significant issues in the hobby, as it features future Hall of Famers like Hank Aaron, Johnny Bench, and Nolan Ryan. While most cards from this set hold nominal value today, there are a select few that can fetch big money from serious collectors and investors. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most expensive and desirable 1974 Topps cards.

One of the true prizes of the ’74 set is the Hank Aaron (#90) card, which captured Aaron during his record-breaking 1973 season when he passed Babe Ruth for the all-time home run crown. Only about 10 PSA/BGS graded examples exist in Gem Mint condition or higher. In an unconditioned state, a high-grade Aaron can sell for $1,000-$2,000 at auction. A PSA 10 example, however, recently sold for a staggering $86,100 at auction, a testament to its historical significance and rarity in pristine condition.

Another superstar home run king, Cincinnati Reds slugger Johnny Bench (#169), is also hugely sought after from this set. Bench won his fourth and fifth straight NL MVP awards in 1972-1973 seasons depicted on this card. High-grade PSA 10 examples in recent years have sold for $12,000-$18,000 from avid Bench collectors. In raw condition, a clean Bench will demand $200-$500 depending on centering and corners.

Nolan Ryan was still in his early years with the California Angels during his 1974 Topps issue (#494), but collectors recognize this as an early look at his Hall of Fame career. The card features a youthful yet intimidating Ryan cocking his arm in windup. About a dozen PSA 10 copies are accounted for, last selling for $5,500 each. Ungraded copies free of surface issues can sell in the $150-300 range.

There are fewer than a dozen copies each graded gem mint PSA 10 for two other star pitchers in this set – Tom Seaver (#200) of the Mets and Jim Palmer (#499) of the Orioles. Seaver and Palmer cards in PSA 10 condition recently sold in auction for $3,500 and $3,200 respectively. In lesser condition, expect to pay $75-150 for a Seaver and $50-100 for a Palmer on the current market.

Aside from the superstars, one of the most valuable ’74 Topps cards has to be Cincinnati Reds prospect Dave Concepcion(#571). No other card combines rarity and historical significance quite like Concepcion’s rookie issue. Only a small print run was made to begin with as he received little fanfare in his rookie season. PSA has certified just two copies in pristine GEM MINT 10 condition – the gold standard for vintage cards. The last PSA 10 Concepcion to sell brought a staggering $64,100, and it remains among the all-time most valuable baseball cards of the 1970s. Even lower grade copies demand $2,000+ due to the card’s challenge to find in any condition.

Some key rookies can also warrant premium prices despite their players not achieving superstardom. In 1974 Topps, an especially intriguing one is Houston Astros prospect Ken Henderson(#550). Henderson delivered early promise but his career was derailed by injuries. Still, his rookie card is a major condition rarity – authenticated population of just two PSA 10 copies. One sold in 2016 for $15,000, showing the card’s collectibility among Astros and complete set collectors. Other iconic 1974 rookie cards that can reach $500-1000+ in high grades include future Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven(#491) as well as Doyle Alexander(#555) and Bake McBride(#464).

For collectors of Hall of Fame managers, Pittsburgh Pirates skipper Danny Murtaugh’s 1973 Manager of the Year card(#591) is a prized piece. Murtaugh’s beloved Pirates teams of the early 1970s won back-to-back World Series titles. Only a couple dozen high-grade examples are known to exist for Murtaugh, who passed away after the 1974 season. Estimated value for a PSA-graded Gem is $1,500-3,000 based on recent sales. No other card really captures Murtaugh’s Pirates legacy in this iconic set.

While the 1974 Topps set features nearly 700 total cards, there are around 10-15 issues that truly stand out as the most significant rarities to advanced collectors and investors. Coins featuring all-time legends like Aaron and Bench will likely always retain huge demand due to historical context. Other star rookies and scarce prospects are prized markers of the mid-1970s player development era. Whether targeting condition census cards or star veterans, savvy collectors are continually searching to add elite examples from this groundbreaking vintage set to their collections. As hobby prices continue to climb, the true standouts of the 1974 Topps checklist remain among the most blue-chip investments around.