1974 BB - Still The Rodney Dangerfield Set?
Machodoc
Posts: 541 ✭
For my money, the 1974 set has long been the Rodney Dangerfield of early to mid 1970's sets. I've usually attributed this to a lack of rookies and the "bridesmaid" effect of comparisons to the fab 1975 set. While many people think the design is rather drab, I actually think it's pretty cool, especially in comparison to the dull 1973's (I also collect those but I'm not excited about it and would entertain offers). While the 1974 set has its own problems with centering and print quality such as those nasty roller indentations it doesn't have infamous black or gray borders and is not nearly the size monster the 1970 through 1972 sets are.
Someone here has a tag line about not underestimating sentimental value, and that certainly explains much of the appeal of this set to me. I was 15 that year and was caught up in the excitement of Aaron's chasing the Babe. I was in geometry class listening to the radio when Hank hit #714 off Jack Billingham, and I was glued to the TV when he hit #715 off Al Downing the following Monday night. Outside baseball, 1974 was otherwise one hell of an interesting year.
At first I was concerned about Wayne Ellis' decision to sell his #1 set, but after speaking to him it was clear that his motivation had nothing to do with either the set or PSA. Like many folks, he has other opportunities that a great set like his will open up financial doors. I want to thank Wayne for the opportunity to significantly upgrade my set, which now is at 8.76 and #2 but doesn't hold a prayer to Wetzels's awesome collection.
Which leads me to the newer collectors like Barkus who bring a new gusto to the 1974 set and others like Sideplate who are committed to improving their collections. These guys seem to like the 1974 set simply on its merits, and I think that's great! I don't know if your were either around or old enough to understand that year, but that's not important. Go for it guys!
Steve
Someone here has a tag line about not underestimating sentimental value, and that certainly explains much of the appeal of this set to me. I was 15 that year and was caught up in the excitement of Aaron's chasing the Babe. I was in geometry class listening to the radio when Hank hit #714 off Jack Billingham, and I was glued to the TV when he hit #715 off Al Downing the following Monday night. Outside baseball, 1974 was otherwise one hell of an interesting year.
At first I was concerned about Wayne Ellis' decision to sell his #1 set, but after speaking to him it was clear that his motivation had nothing to do with either the set or PSA. Like many folks, he has other opportunities that a great set like his will open up financial doors. I want to thank Wayne for the opportunity to significantly upgrade my set, which now is at 8.76 and #2 but doesn't hold a prayer to Wetzels's awesome collection.
Which leads me to the newer collectors like Barkus who bring a new gusto to the 1974 set and others like Sideplate who are committed to improving their collections. These guys seem to like the 1974 set simply on its merits, and I think that's great! I don't know if your were either around or old enough to understand that year, but that's not important. Go for it guys!
Steve
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Comments
Scott
speaking of BARKUS i sold him over 40 psa 9's yesterday and his appetite still wasn't sated, he bought 30 + psa 8's from me minutes after the first deal was done and was still interested in some raw 8 material, his motivation prompted me to just throw in the raw cards. go BARKUS!!
Thanks to Steve, Ken, and some of the others who have bought significant portions of my old set but I still have about 400 cards left for sale if anyone would like a list. All of the psa 10's have been sold though. I still have almost all of the star cards except the Aarons.
I received my first 2 1953 bowman color cards yesterday in the mail and even my wife like's them. It's exciting starting something new and I'm looking forward to adding to that set.
The guys who collect the 74's are a great group. I wish them the best in completing their sets. Scott Wetzel has not been buying any cards lately so it should be pretty wide open in regards to upgrading the sets. Good luck all.
Wayne
1.) Ugly design.
2.) No tough high numbers to chase as this was the first year that Topps sold the entire set in one series.
3.) No major rookie cards to collect other than Dave Winfield- if you call him major.
4.) Huge supply- Topps had a deal with Sears that year to sell complete sets of cards in special boxes and market
them in the Sears catalog, I can remember seeing these readily available at shows 5-6 years ago. Plus there
still is a bunch of unopened wax product out there.
That being said- I just sold two 1974 Topps cards graded PSA-9 Mint for prices that surprised me. I dont know how to get the links to work but here are the ebay auction items:
- 1974 Doc Medich- 2796061114- $122.22.
- 1974 Mike Hegan- 2796060625- $89.00.
Not too bad for a couple of commons- hugh?
...............................................................Just my two cents!!!!
Jim
Check out my ebay auctions listed under seller ID: jeej
It's for this reason why I'm partial to this year. Other replies make sense: first non-series issued year, no big rookies except Winfield (Parker has been knocked down to almost common status.)
1974 #1 is one of my favorite cards.
The 74s are my favorite as well for reasons similiar to other collectors here. It was the first packs I remember buying at the drug store.The first year I attended a major league game. Opening the packs to see my new heros on the "colored cardboard".
I was remember trying to catch Carlos Aponte on the Set Registry a few years back. He was the first to reach 100% graded and for the most part was the pioneer of the this set. As with other years...there was and still are a great bunch of collectors working on the 74s and its always great to see new 74 set builders.
I remember when I was getting close to the 100% mark,Scott Wetzel was going real hard on 74s and there was a time when he could not be outbid.Therefore it really forced me to find raw cards and make my own submissions which added to the fun of collecting the set.I also got sick and tired of spending great amounts with certain big Psa dealers(i wont mention names,you guys know who they are) and being very dissappointed with the cards.
I might add that in my experience with building the 74s...I went thru many ,many sets, that the Factory sets seemed to have great color and focus but would frequently be slightly off top to bottom....
while vending cards would be razor sharp but seemed to have alot of printing defect problems.
Im kept all my PSA 9 Hall of Famers and sold off most of the set but it will always be my favorite. Congrats on a great set Steve!
My real love is the 68 set. I'm not sure how I got into it, but I have been chasing those cards since I was a kid.
If you have 68s or 74s you want to sell, send me a PM or email me at Barkusd@gtlaw.com.
I am glad to be joining the 74 community.
David
1. The #1 card in the set - the aaron homerun king card. What a great way to start the set.
2. Cards 2-6. The aaron cards featuring each of his topps cards with 4 different topps cards featured on each card. These cards almost always sell above smr if you can find them. When I broke up my set these were far and away the most requested cards.
3. The Washington Variations are something you just don't see any other years. You get 2 Willie McCovey cards!
4. You can either collect this set via ebay or there is still enough raw cards out there that you can have your own cards graded.
5. The 1974 topps traded set.
6. The 1974 collectors are collectively a class act. They are a great group of people that make collecting fun!
7. Even though the cards don't have the eye appeal of the 75 set, they still have great photography with this set and the horizontal cards are awesome. The Tom Seaver cards is one of my favorite cards of all time.
These are just some of the things that make the 74's a great set to collect in my opinion.
Wayne
But, no disrespect to you all, the 1973 and 1974 sets are just plain with nothing in appearance that is exciting. Some would say just plain ugly. I would not go that far but they were weak efforts by Topps at the time. Just my humble opinion.
Collect primarily 1959-1963 Topps Baseball
set registry id Don Johnson Collection
ebay id truecollector14
But for me, if it’s not a ’74 then it’s a BORE!!!!
One can wonder if the same Topps artists who designed the 1974 set were still employed when the 1975 set was drawn up For that matter, one could also wonder if the same folks who designed the 1972 set were also the same people employed at Topps who puked up the 1973 set...
I don't know about acid, but maybe Topps fired the kids who designed the then "ugly" 1972 set and brought them back in late 1974 and early 1975 to dream up the 1975 set...
If that's the case, then one has to worry about the people who designed the 1973 and 1974 sets. All I can hope is that those who did the 1974 set were treated welll... if at least for the Washington variations...
I dunno, just a theory......
Steve
Speaking of the 1973 action shots, I go hot and cold on those. Many are great, but for a great many one has to wonder if mistakes were made. Since I grew up a big fan of the Big Red Machine, I'll use as examples the 1973 Rose and Bench cards. Couldn't Topps have selected shots that didn't give you such a good view of their butts? I've said this before, but I know from talking with Johnny Bench that he really didn't like that particular card, which is of him catching a foul pop fly in front of the Mets dugout - and all you see is his backside. Perhaps Topps felt they had to atone for this because the action shots of both Bench and Rose in the 1974 sets are simply wonderful - I think perhaps the best for each player (I do admit that the 1976 Bench card is funny - it is a photo a Johnny standing at home plate after a runner has scored and he has this really P.O.'ed look on his face...). The 1973 Reggie Jackson card is another example - a really horrible action shot, but yet in 1974 he has a really great action shot. Just a theory.
While I'm trying to finish a 1973 graded set, I've decided to finish it out in mostly PSA 8's, instead of pursuing 9's like I have been. The market for 8's right now is dirt cheap and I think represents value for these early 1970's sets. Anyone look to get rid of some 1973 PSA 8's ought to drop me a line.
Steve
Also, the 74 collectors are a great lot . Over the last 2 years I have the priviledge of dealing with several collectors in this Set . Steve , Wayne ,Ken (Sideplate) and have helped and watched them build some tremendous sets. But I also feel we are being remiss in this post if we did not give a vote of appreciation to Carlos for building the first set in this year, As many of the cards in current sets I sold were from his set which I broke down and rebuilt several times. He was truly the pioneer of the 74 set.
Finally the 74 set is a great set to chose for building ones first set for reasons Wayne outlined here earlier: There is still a decent amount of high end raw and reasonable availability on EBAY, and many collectors on these boards willing to do a friendly trade.
Thanks again Steve for a great post. Jeff
MACHODOC mentioned the 74 rose card, that one also truly captures the essence of the player. i grew up in NYC and when i see that card i can hear bob murphy's voice " rose lines a single to left". being a yankee fan, the 74 murcer is probably one of my favorite cards of all time, i know he probably struck out in that photo but i like think he just wrapped a line drive around the right field foul pole to win the game.
i could go on, but i hope i made my point. the 74 set has a lot to offer and one day i'll probably build a graded set but for now my raw ex/exmt set i had as a kid will suffice.
BUT. . .when you find 74s that have an awesome color strike where the plates hit the cardboard just so. . .the colors can stand up and smack you in the face. When the black in the pennants is so dark you could jump into it and the pixels line up properly - then you have some very nice cards.
This is similar in many ways to the 73s - I love nice examples, but if they aren't right they're downright painful for me to look at.
Mike
<< <i>yes I have heard the rumor of the 74 opc printing press break down which is supposedly the reason for the shortage of 74 opc's . I have to disagree with you on the 71's and 73's opc's being "plentiful" 72 is the most plentiful of the 3 years with the case that came out last year but those are starting to go away as they get buried in collections. there have been a few 71's up for auction from the bbcexchange and individual gai packs have been selling for over 200 a pop. there are 2 boxes in mastro but that is all i have seen for sale in the recent past and the 2 boxes in mastro will probably never see the market again. there were 6-8 boxes of 73 opc's that came on the market in the beginning of this year, I bought 2. before that I saw about 2 packs on ebay in 2 years. the individual packs that have been sold recently all came from those 6-8 boxes and will probably be out of supply in 6 months as it looks like only 2 individuals are breaking boxes. 75 and up seem rather easy with 77 and up being readily available from multiple sources. would welcome more ideas on this fun subject? >>
Pack, I always respect your posts and your enlightenment on any subject. For the most part I agree with the above as my intention was not to say that ‘71 and ‘73 packs (even 75 and 76) are readily available, but that there's just more compared to 1974. There does seem to be an over-abundance of '72s, but most probably due to the aforementioned case find last year (5 sets on Mastro as you may know.) Now you and I seem to be discussing 1971 to present packs, but 1965-1970 are all quite scarce. I've yet to see a 1971 or 1974 complete set for sale, but have seen all other years 1965-present at least once. My un-scientific OPC difficulty scale (singles, packs, sets):
1967 and 1974 (cheers for this thread)
1965
1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971,
1976, 1980
1973, 1975
1972
1977 to present
The 73 set, in my mind, is encapsulated by the Al Kaline card, probably because that was the only 73 I had when I was very young. He's just standing there in a half-hearted batting stance. Black and white uniform, unexciting spring training picture, plain design, no wonder it gives the impression of being boring. If instead I had the Frank Robinson card, my whole thought process would've been different.
Same thing with 1974. I had some common Phillies, like Wayne Twitchell, kinda dull. But if I had a Manny Sanguillen or Gary Mathews card, I'd have formed a much different impression. Yes, I like the horizontal (player) cards, something discontinued 1975 and not brought back till I don't know, 1991?
2005 Origins Old Judge Brown #/20 and Black 1/1s, 2000 Ultimate Victory Gold #/25
2004 UD Legends Bake McBride autos & parallels, and 1974 Topps #601 PSA 9
Rare Grady Sizemore parallels, printing plates, autographs
Nothing on ebay
Shane Leonard
bowa