The 1974 Topps Baseball card set featured many young prospects who would go on to have successful Major League careers. While the rookie class of 1974 lacked the true superstar talent of years past, it provided collectors with opportunities to acquire cards of players who would contribute positively to their favorite teams for many seasons. Some of the most notable rookies in the set included Andy Messersmith, Ryne Sandberg, Ron Cey, Scott McGregor, and Garry Maddox. Let’s take a closer look at several of these rookies and their careers.
Andy Messersmith enjoyed a solid 14-year MLB career that saw him win 131 games and post an ERA of 3.46. After breaking in with the California Angels organization in 1969, Messersmith became one of the top left-handed starters in baseball during the 1970s. He was named to the NL All-Star team in 1974 while with the Atlanta Braves and 1975 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Messersmith is perhaps best known for being a pioneer in free agency, as his agent created the Messersmith Arbitration ruling that allowed players to become true free agents after the conclusion of their contracts. This ruling had a huge impact on player salaries and mobility going forward. His 1974 Topps rookie card is relatively obtainable for most collectors.
Ryne Sandberg had one of the finest careers of any second baseman in baseball history. Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 20th round of the 1978 amateur draft, Sandberg began his MLB career with the Chicago Cubs in 1981 after a trade. He would go on to establish himself as a perennial All-Star and Gold Glove winner while playing his entire 16-year career for the Cubs. Sandberg’s best season came in 1984 when he was named NL MVP after batting .314 with 40 doubles, 19 home runs, and 84 RBI. He remains one of the greatest players in Cubs franchise history. Extremely consistent throughout his career, Sandberg finished with over 2,500 hits and 400 stolen bases. His 1974 Topps rookie card featuring his Phillies minor league action is a true key rookie for collectors to pursue. Graded examples could reach over $1000 in high condition.
Ron Cey enjoyed a very solid 19-year career primarily splitting time between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. After breaking in with the Dodgers in 1970, Cey emerged as one of the top third basemen in the National League throughout the 1970s. He was a linchpin of the Dodgers infield alongside Steve Garvey and Davey Lopes during LA’s run of success in the mid-1970s. Cey made 5 consecutive NL All-Star teams from 1974-1978 and was named to the Topps All-Star Rookie Team in 1974 after batting .293 with 15 home runs and 76 RBI. He finished his career with a .261 average, 252 home runs, and 1,070 RBI showing his consistency and durability. Cey’s 1974 Topps rookie card can be acquired for a reasonable price in lower grades.
Right-handed pitcher Scott McGregor had some ups and downs but strung together a respectable 15-year MLB career pitching for 5 different teams. After beginning his pro career in 1972 in the Baltimore Orioles system, McGregor made his MLB debut late in 1974 and showed promise with a 2.80 ERA in 30 innings pitched. He became a full-time starter in 1975 and went 17-7 with a stellar 2.59 ERA, helping lead the Orioles to the AL East title. McGregor later enjoyed success with the New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers, winning over 200 games in his career with a winning percentage over .500. Always a workhorse, he threw over 200 innings in 6 different seasons. His 1974 Topps rookie has become collectible for Orioles and McGregor fans.
Outfielder Garry Maddox enjoyed a tremendous 17-year career primarily with the Philadelphia Phillies that saw him make 8 All-Star teams and win 8 consecutive Gold Gloves between 1975-1982. Maddox began his pro career with the Giants but was dealt to Philadelphia before the 1974 season. He quickly established himself as arguably the finest defensive center fielder in baseball history while also providing reliable offense, usually batting between .260-.280 routinely with double-digit home runs. “The Secretary of Defense” dazzled Phillies fans for over a decade making spectacular catches look routine in center at Veterans Stadium. His 1974 Topps rookie celebrating his early Giants days remains one of the more affordable cards from the set for collectors.
While stars like Mike Schmidt, Greg Luzinski, Steve Carlton, and Bob Boone emerged a bit later in the 1970s to power the Phillies to the 1980 World Series title, the 1974 rookie class helped set the table with young contributors like Sandberg, Maddox, McGregor, and Cey all enjoying solid MLB tenures. Messersmith’s inclusion as well highlighted the key role he played in changing the landscape of free agency. For vintage baseball card collectors, many of these key rookies remain obtainable even in higher grades compared to the true superstar rookies of earlier decades. The 1974 Topps set continues to be a reminder of the overlooked Phillies farm system and franchises on the rise at that point in the 1970s like Baltimore and Milwaukee.
