The Most Valuable Baseball Cards of 1974

The 1974 Topps baseball card set stands out as a landmark issue in the hobby for both its design and its innovations. Comprised of 660 cards, the set was the first to be issued all at once in a single series, a departure from Topps’ previous multi-series releases. This shift made the set more accessible to collectors and signaled a new era in distribution. The design is straightforward, attractive and sets the template for the next decade (excluding 1975, which was another experimental year) with a clean white border that gives the photography room to shine, bold team names across the top, player positions in colored boxes, and a collection of great in-action shots.  The set also includes memorable variations, most notably the Washington “Nat’l Lea.” cards, printed in anticipation of a rumored Padres move to Washington that never materialized. These error/variation cards remain highly sought after. With its mix of design simplicity, major stars, and unique quirks, the 1974 Topps set holds a special place in vintage collecting history.

Here at Remarkable Artworks we think value is in the eye of the beholder. If you want to learn more about the display to the right, click the button.

Nolan Ryan - $49,620

Ryan notched his third of seven career no-hitters in 1974. Sandy Koufax is the only other pitcher with more than three (he has four). With the picture on the card being taken from behind the batter, you get a sense of what it looks and feels like to have to face Ryan.

Steve Garvey - $33,133

Steve Garvey was a great player. However, he isn’t in the Hall of Fame and this is not his rookie card (that was in 1971), so it it a little surprising that he has the second most valuable card from 1974. This is due to the relative scarcity of gem mint / PSA 10 cards available for Garvey.

Dave Winfield - $28,800

This is the rookie card for Dave Winfield. It took him a few years to get going, but once he did he was a force as he was an all-star for 10 straight years and always in the MVP running (although he never won it) in those years. Elected to the Hall of Fame in in 2001.

Reggie Jackson - $27,600

The 1972-1974 A’s are the only team other than the Yankees to win three or more consecutive World Series titles. Jackson was the World Series MVP in 1973 and could have been the 1974 World Series MVP if he didn’t get walked so frequently. While he hadn’t earned the moniker of “Mr. October” quite yet, he was already a post-season force.

Carlton Fisk - $26,297

The best cards of the 1970s are invariable the action shots of catchers. While this one is a little blurry, we get a great shot of a young Fisk in-action. We are a year away from his post-season heroics. “Pudge” played 24 seasons and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2000.