The 1972 Topps baseball card set is notably referred to as having high numbers and low numbers. Traditionally, Topps releases all of their cards in a standard numeric order from 1 to around 600 cards for their base series. In 1972 Topps broke tradition and issued cards in two distinct series. The first series contained cards numbered 1-398, including all of the team packs. The second series contained cards numbered 399-525, which were randomly inserted in wax packs. These later numbered cards came to be known as the “high numbers.”
There are a few theories as to why Topps split the 1972 set into two series. The most widely accepted theory is that the 1981 Major League Baseball strike delayed the start of the season. This pushed back the Topps photography and production schedule. In order to still release cards to coincide with the beginning of the season, Topps decided to issue the low numbered cards first containing portrait photos primarily taken the previous fall. Then they would follow up later in the season with additional action shots and player updates in the high numbered series.
Some key things to know about the 1972 Topps high numbers include that photographic quality varies more significantly than the low series. Many of the high number photos have a mix of outdoor action shots compared to the standard indoor portrait style of the low numbers. Uniforms and team affiliations in the high numbers also occasionally differ from the low series if a player was traded between the two series releases. The high numbers also document late season call-ups and rookie debuts that could not be included in the timely low numbered release.
Rookie cards of future Hall of Famers in the 1972 Topps high numbers include Jon Matlack (#406), Bill Madlock (#413), Jon Matlack (#406) Rollie Fingers (#420), and Don Sutton (#424). Other notable rookie cards include future All-Stars Ted Simmons (#473), Butch Metzger (#484), and Dennis Eckersley (#510). The high numbers also include the final baseball cards for legends like Mickey Mantle (#399), Whitey Ford (#400), and Hoyt Wilhelm (#521).
Two of the most valuable high number cards are Nolan Ryan’s #498 action shot which marks his first season with the California Angels and Rod Carew’s #518 card showing him early in his tenure with the Twins, before fully establishing himself as one of baseball’s all-time great hitters. Carew’s #518 typically ranks as the most valuable card in the entire 1972 Topps set due to his rookie season fully documented in the high numbers.
Another interesting aspect of the 1972 Topps high numbers is that they include the first cards featuring players from the National League East Division. When the Major Leagues split each league into an East and West Division in 1969, Topps did not indicate the divisions on cards until the high numbers of 1972. This makes high number cards of players like Mets pitcher Jon Matlack and Phillies third baseman Don Money notationable as some of the first to designate NL East.
The 1972 Topps high numbers provide a fascinating documentation of the transition to divisional play, rookie debuts of future stars, final cards for legendary players, and an overall mix of indoor and outdoor photography not seen in the initial low number release. While production variations and photographic inconsistencies may exist more than the low series, the historical significance and rookie content give high numbers a prominent place in the set, and in the annuals of vintage baseball cards from the 1970s. Even at lower print runs than the low series, strong rookie and star player content continue to make 1972 Topps high numbers a popular and collectible segment amongst vintage sports card enthusiasts.
