The 1972 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and recognizable sets from the 1970s era. Issued in March of 1972 by the Topps Company, the set features 660 total cards including 652 base cards and 8 manager/coach cards. The 1972 Topps set is most notable for its colorful and action-packed design elements that paid tribute to some of baseball’s biggest stars of that time period.
Some key details about the 1972 Topps baseball card set include:
Design: Topps designers went with a colorful horizontal striped pattern design for the borders of the cards. Each card also prominently featured a large action photo of the player along with his team logo and position. Topps added a dashed border line between the photo and stats to help the design element stand out.
Card Stock: The cards were printed on thin, classic 1970s-era paper stock which was prone to wear and tear over time compared to today’s card stock. The thinner paper stock allowed for a larger photo size on each card.
Rookies: Notable rookie cards included future Hall of Famers Jon Matlack, Bert Blyleven, and George Brett. Other rookie cards included future stars Dave Kingman, Rich Gossage, and Ron Cey.
Key Veterans: Top star cards included Hank Aaron’s Athletics card, Willie Mays’ Mets card, and Reggie Jackson’s A’s rookie season card prior to his 1973 breakout season. Nolan Ryan’s Angels card was also highly sought after.
Checklist: The 652-card base set included every Major League ballplayer plus the 8 manager/coach cards. The checklist was considered complete for the time period.
Inserts: Topps included “Cracker Jack” insert cards featuring baseball trivia questions on the back. These were inserted randomly within factory packs and boxes.
Production: It’s estimated around 140 million 1972 Topps cards were printed, a high number indicative of the popularity of the hobby at the time. The set had a large initial print run followed by multiple subsequent printings that year.
Design Reception: The colorful horizontal striped design proved very popular with collectors. It became iconic of the early 1970s baseball card era. The large photos allowed for excellent action shots and prime focus on the players.
In the years since its release, the 1972 Topps baseball card set has maintained its status as one of the most iconic and recognizable vintage sets from the hobby’s “golden era” of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Here’s a deeper dive into some of the most noteworthy aspects and key cards from the set:
Rookie Cards:
Jon Matlack, Mets: Matlack went 13-11 with a 2.82 ERA in his rookie season helping lead the Mets to the World Series. His card is a key rookie from the set.
Bert Blyleven, Twins: “Blyleven would go on to record 287 wins and 60 shutouts over a brilliant 22-year MLB career. His rookie is an important one for Twins fans and collectors.
George Brett, Royals: Brett’s rookie established him as a future Hall of Famer after hitting .363 in 1973 and .308 for his career. It’s among the most iconic cards in the set.
Dave Kingman, Giants: “Kingman hit 15 homers in his rookie year but is best known for tape measure blasts later in his career, making his rookie card desirable.
Rich Gossage, Pirates: “Gossage had a decorated career as a fireballing reliever after beginning in 1972. His rookie establishes him early in his Hall of Fame career.
Ron Cey, Dodgers: Cey had a breakout rookie season, hitting .293 while establishing himself as a driving force for Dodgers squads of the 1970s.
Veteran Standouts:
Hank Aaron, Athletics: In his final season, Aaron hit .289 with 20 HR and a .529 SLG% for the A’s at age 38. His card remains a true icon of the game.
Willie Mays, Mets: In the twilight of his career, Mays provided veteran leadership for the ’73 NL champs. His Mets card resonates with collectors.
Reggie Jackson, Athletics: Prior to his 1973 breakout, Reggie’s ’72 A’s card depicted his prodigious talent and foreshadowed greatness soon to come.
Nolan Ryan, Angels: Ryan won 19 games in his second full season while showing early signs of his legendary 100+ MPH fastball. His card is hugely popular.
Design Elements:
The bold horizontal stripes, large images, and attention to key stats truly helped the 1972 Topps design stand out. Combined with the huge player selection and inclusion of the sport’s biggest stars, it perfectly captured the excitement of the era in a visually striking package. The color palette and attention to uniform details also brought the on-field product to life on cardboard.
In the decades since its release, the 1972 Topps set has achieved iconic status as one of the true standouts from the “golden era” of baseball cards in the 1960s and early 70s. The design elegantly tells the story of that period while the key rookie cards provide immense insight about the sport’s future legends. The 1972 Topps set remains a favorite among collectors and maintains its reputation as one of the most beloved releases in the hobby’s history due to its compelling combination of graphics, content and connection to the sport’s past.
