The 1973 Topps baseball card set was a turning point in the history of the iconic baseball card company. It marked Topps’ 20th year producing baseball cards and they celebrated by issuing their highest card count set to date with 792 total cards.
Some key things to know about the 1973 Topps set include:
Design Changes – The biggest change to the design from previous years was the inclusion of a thick yellow border around the entire front of each card. This border style would remain a Topps staple for many years. The backs also switched to a new layout with basic career stats and highlights rather than fun facts about each player.
Record Number of Cards – The massive 792 card count was due to the rise in the number of MLB teams from 20 to 24 thanks to the addition of the San Diego Padres and Montreal Expos in 1969. It was over 200 cards more than the previous year’s set.
Rookie Stars – Future Hall of Famers Dave Winfield and Fred Lynn each had their rookie cards in the 1973 set. Other notables included Dave Kingman, Don Money, and Scott McGregor.
Action Shots – Topps focused on clear, full body action photos of the players on the front of each card over headshots. This helped better showcase the uniforms and provided more visual interest.
Limited Printing – While it had nearly 800 total cards, the 1973 Topps set had one of the lowest print runs of any Topps flagship set with estimates between 10-20 million sets produced. This scarcity has led to strong card values in recent years.
Checklists – For the first time, Topps included ‘checklist’ cards at the beginning of the set, numbered from 1-16, to help collectors keep track of which players they still needed. This was a forward-thinking innovation.
High-Numbered Short Prints – Cards numbered from about 700-792 were considered “short prints” since they were produced in far fewer quantities than the standard cards. Especially scarce are the final few cards like Nolan Ryan (#785) or Dick Allen (#792).
League Leaders – Topps included special orange-bordered cards to recognize the major league leaders in various statistical categories from the 1972 season. For example, Bench and Bench led Topps tributes for their accomplishments.
While the bloated 792 card count of the 1973 set presented challenges for collecting the complete run, the design changes, rookie star power, and inclusion of key innovations like checklists and league leaders made it an impactful year. Stricter quality control also led to sharper, clearer photos overall. Prices reflect how it became a favorite amongst collectors.
In the secondary market today, full sets in near-mint to mint condition regularly sell for $1,000-$2,000 depending on overall quality. Key rookie cards like Winfield and Lynn in the same grade can fetch over $100 each. As with other vintage Topps issues, condition is paramount – well-worn examples may only bring a couple hundred dollars total for a complete set. Short prints starting around card #700 tend to command higher values of $20-$50+ based on player and condition.
The 1973 Topps cards were a huge undertaking at the time considering production and distribution challenges of the early 1970s. But Topps took a risk by growing the set count so significantly and it paid off by further cementing them as the majors’ most iconic card brand. Decades later, collectors still enjoy chasing the mammoth 792-card checklist and admiring the array of action shots displayed behind the bright yellow borders. It proved to be an important stepping stone for Topps and remains a highly collected vintage release.
