1974 Topps - Wash. Natl Variation - explanation please!

Dallas88

I'm putting together a '74 set - have run across these variations with the Padre cards.

What happened here, if anyone can explain?

Which variation set is considered more scarce?

Finally, does every Padre card have a variation?

Thank you and I appreciate any responses!

-dal-

larryallen73

I have heard there was talk of team moving to D.C. that year so Topps issued cards as Washington National League. Those are the scare cards and tend to hold better value than the regular Pad's cards.

lostdart58

Topps made two separate cards for members of the San Diego Padres. One had the player as a member of San Diego and the other has them listed under Washington, D.C. There was a chance that the team was gong to move from San Diego to Washington, D.C., but it never happened. The Washington examples sell for a significant (3x- 5x) premium.


Not all of the Padre's have Wash cards.......cards below # 387 have both variations........only exception being card #599( rookie piitchers) With card # 599 the Washington variation is less valuable.

SDSportsFan

Prior to the beginning of the 1974 season, it appeared 100% certain that the Padres would be sold and moved to Washington DC. Because of this, Topps printed the Padre cards with the "Washington National League" designation, since the team's new name was not known.

At the absolute last minute, Ray Kroc (Founder of McDonalds) came to San Diego and bought the team out from under the Washington Group, keeping the Padres in San Diego.
Upon completion of the sale to Kroc, Topps then changed each of the cards back to reflect "San Diego Padres".

The following 15 cards appear with the Washington NL designation:

#32 John Grubb
#53 Fred Kendall
#77 Rich Troedson
#102 Bill Greif
#125 Nate Colbert
#148 Dave Hilton
#173 Randy Jones
#197 Vicente Romo
#226 Team Card
#241 Glenn Beckert
#250 Willie McCovey
#309 Dave Roberts
#364 Cito Gaston
#387 Rich Morales
#599 Rookie Pitchers (Dave Freisleben)

#599 actually has three variations:

San Diego in Large Print
San Diego in Small Print
Washington NL

In every case except #599, the Washington NL cards are scarcer and more valuable. With #599, the San Diego in small print is the most valuable, and the Washington NL version is the least valuable.

Also, and unfortunately, card #456 (Dave Winfield's rookie card) was not issued with a Washington National League version.


Steve

Dallas88

Thanks all - great info!.....great history also!

This thread goes in the bookmark file!

Have a great weekend!

-dal-