The 1971 Topps baseball card set is the 30th annual issue produced by the Topps Company, featuring cards of players and managers from the American and National Leagues. The set contains 660 cards and was sold in wax paper packs with 3 cards per pack and 21 packs per box. The long running Topps set continued to be a hugely popular item for collectors in the early 1970s.
Some key details about the 1971 Topps set include that the photograph size returned to a standard 31⁄2″ x 51⁄2″ size after being larger in 1970. The classic Topps design had one main photo with the players name, team, and position underneath. The reverse featured career stats and a write up about the player. Topps continued to use yellow borders on many cards to match the style of their baseball card competitors Fleer and Kellogg’s.
Card #700 from the 1971 Topps set features Houston Astros starting pitcher Denny Lemaster. Lemaster was a right-handed pitcher who played parts of 7 seasons in the major leagues between 1967-1973 for the Astros, Reds, and Tigers. The photo on the front of card #700 shows Lemaster wearing the classic rainbow striped Astros uniform standing on the grass of the Astrodome pitching mound.
Some key stats and info on the back of Lemaster’s #700 card:
Born in 1947 in Terre Haute, Indiana
Threw and batted right handed
Listed at 6’0″, 185 pounds
Drafted by Houston from Indiana State in 1967
MLB Debut with Astros on April 11, 1967
1970 record with Astros was 8-9 with a 3.01 ERA in 35 games
The back of the card then provides a short bio on Lemaster and his career to that point in 1971:
“Denny Lemaster has developed into one of the Astrodome’s most effective pitchers. With his sinking fast ball and sharp breaking stuff, he can make opposing hitters pound the grass trying to extricate the ball. Last season, Denny won 8 games and lost 9 despite a sparkling 3.01 earned run average. Control is one of his keys and he consistently gives his club a chance to win. As he gains experience, Lemaster should emerge as one of Houston’s top hurlers.”
Later in his career, Lemaster bounced between starting and relief roles. He spent 1972 with the Reds and Tigers before finishing his career back with Houston in 1973. In 7 MLB seasons, Lemaster compiled a career record of 30-37 with a 3.79 ERA in 153 games, 90 as a starter. He retired after the 1973 season at the age of 26.
The 1971 Topps set is considered one of the more aesthetically pleasing designs in the long running Topps Archives. While some of the earlier 1960s designs were a bit busier, the ’71 set had a clean classic look. Standout rookie cards included George Brett, Fred Lynn, and Will McEnaney among others. The set also includes the final cards for MLB legends like Mickey Mantle, Earl Weaver, and Bill Mazeroski.
In the collector marketplace, the 1971 Topps set is one of the stronger mid-century issues. Complete near mint sets in plastic holders can fetch $1,000-$2,000 depending on condition. Key rookie and star cards individually command strong values as well. For collectors and fans of 1970s baseball cards, the ’71 Topps set remains hugely popular and an important installment in the Topps Archives. Card #700 featuring Denny Lemaster of the Astros provides a glimpse into one of the many unsung major leaguers featured in the set from that era.
