The 1975 Topps countdown, worst to best (No. 162-144)

 

I like the way that the 1975 Topps countdown is coinciding with 2024 Heritage's representation of the 1975 set (notice I didn't say "tribute," it ain't a tribute anymore).

It could be the last great '75 Topps moment of my lifetime. Sure, there are still '75 buybacks to chase and maybe I'll come up with another '75 Topps-centric series of blog posts, but this right here is probably the final big bonanza.

Aren't you lucky you're here for it?

While I continue to count down, I'm gathering 2024 Heritage cards with that familiar wild design. I landed a biggie a week or so ago.

 

This is one of the ONE HUNDRED short-prints in the set. As soon as I saw Mike Trout was involved with the SPs, I knew I'd have to get it early so it wouldn't be hanging over me like pricey cards like to do. It wasn't that pricey at all, but I'm glad it's out of the way.

 

I recently received a nice selection of 2024 Heritage needs from Johnny's Trading Spot as well. Heritage has gone all-in on the candid, cropped action shot in this year's set. It's really not anything that showed up in 1975 Topps but Topps/Fanatics has veered away from direct photo tributes this year.

Some more from Johnny. I'm down to needing under 70 cards to finish the set, obviously most of those are short-prints. You may not see any more 2024 Heritage posts until I complete the set, unless I discover something interesting that I missed when the set first came out.

But the rest of this post will be focusing on the originals and extending this countdown. Once I get through here, we'll have less than 150 cards to go!

Let's go!

162. Randy Jones (card 248)

Randy Jones was a key figure in my childhood thanks to his 1976 season when folks speculated whether he'd win 30 games. We were less than 10 years away from Denny McLain's 30-win season at the time yet it seemed ancient times to me.

161. Mike Marshall, '74 Highlights (card 6)

A rather unique card, especially for its time. I can't think of another mound meeting photo on a card that's so tightly cropped. The crop makes it a little difficult to read, which is why this card isn't even higher. But I still think it's a cool shot and it's obvious someone was thinking here (plus probably Topps couldn't get Marshall to pose for them).

 

 

160. Dwight Evans (card 255)

One of the finest looks at Fenway Park in the set.

159. Bob Stinson (card 471)

It's another red-and-blue-border/Expos combo and the red seats at the top and blue uniform at the bottom makes everything work. This card was a big favorite as a kid. The out-of-the-shadows photos were mostly favorites of mine, even if it's difficult to see his face (it's easier to see here than in hand).

158. Ellie Hendricks (card 609)

One of the happier catcher cards that you'll find. 

 

157. Larry Lintz (card 416)

Major favorite card as a youngster, we thought Larry Lintz was some superstar slugger until turning to the card back. His career was so short I still couldn't tell you much about him except the basics, but this card will stay in my head forever.

156. 1974 Batting Leaders (Rod Carew/Ralph Garr)

One of the few '75 leaders cards I saw that year and another favorite. Ralph Garr was very cool to me -- because of a card you haven't seen on this countdown yet.

155. Paul Blair (card 275)

One of the top profile shots in the set. Some would argue it is the top profile shot in the set, as they did on my 1975 Topps blog. But I like another one a little better.

154. Jim Slaton (card 281)

One of my favorite cards in the entire set when I was a youngster. It's come down a bit since then, probably because you can't see the rest of his arms, but I still like it a lot, it's one of the few cards in the set that conveys movement well.

 

153. J.R. Richard (card 73)

J.R. Richard is working up a sweat there on the farm ... er, field.

 

Richard was still kind of an unknown when I pulled this card out of a pack. He was just drawing attention the year this card came out and then he would rocket from there. I am still very happy that I can say I was watching baseball when J.R. Richard was playing.

 

 

152. Bill Buckner (card 244)

 

We're entering prime mustache territory for Buckner with this card. I like the Dodger Stadium scene in the background, too.

 

 

151. Ken Griffey (card 284)

Another perfect bat placement with the position ball. I dare you to accurately count all the bats in the background.

Griffey did a lot of good stuff in his playing career but he's mainly known for his offspring who would become the dividing line in determining whether you are an older Gen-Xer or a younger Gen-Xer.

 

 

150. Mike Jorgensen (card 286)

I'm a sucker for a first baseman stretch pose and combine that with the Expos uni and a good color border match and that's a plus card.

149. Jim Brewer (card 163)

Possibly the best border-team match for the Dodgers in the set. Manny Mota and Geoff Zahn are also good possibilities. Brewer's career was before my time as a fan and I never saw this card in '75 so it loses its impact with me.

 

148. Phil Niekro (card 130)

As I've mentioned many times, I interviewed Phil and Joe Niekro together. Neither of them are with us now but wherever they are, Phil can tell Joe that he's ranked higher on the '75 countdown than his brother is (145-306).

147. Dave Winfield (card 61)

More sunshine baseball. This off-centered Winfield card is a product of me trying to save money at the end of my 1975 set pursuit when all I needed were big names. I was cutting corners and I still can't get myself to spend the cash to get a sharper version.

146. Bill Sudakis (card 291)

A distinctive card for this set, it draws your attention right away. I have always liked it and even staring at it in my hand I'm drawn to it. This was the final card in Sudakis' career and it's a pretty good ender.

145. Bud Harrelson (card 395)

Bud Harrelson's going to bunt and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it.

 

 

144. Bob Coluccio (card 456)

I wish I had pulled this card in 1975 because I can only imagine my reaction. I think I would have loved it more than any other card and Bob Coluccio would go down in my childhood lore like Ron LeFlore and Eddie Leon and John Hiller and so many others. This was a very unusual card for its time, a close-up of a player watching a pitch or just after the pitch went past.

OK, that wraps up another round. I forgot to show a couple other 2024 Heritage cards I got from Johnny.

 

With the exception of the short-printed Highlights cards, these are the last two I needed for the Dodger collection.

And this is the last MVP card I needed from 2024 Heritage, so that subset is complete.

Speaking of which, I haven't shown many of the MVP cards on the '75 Topps countdown yet. But I assure you they're coming.

Will it be the next episode? Stay tuned!