No other card set of the seventies defines the decade more than the 1975 Topps set. Taking inspiration from the popular two-tone colors of certain automobiles (I'm guessing), this set would test the eyes as countless color combinations came together in an orgy of illumination, a feast for the eyes. In some cases, an eyesore, but always unique.Others have tried to duplicate the look of this set, but while they all have the two-tone color scheme and the 3-D name effect, nothing can duplicate the look of the seventies uniforms. Decked out in either powder blues or red pinstripes, the uniforms are a relic of the time and the cards reflect that. The White Sox weren't the only team to feature powder blue uniforms. Some teams sported more colors on their uniforms than a rainbow. It was truly a glorious time for everyone, except the color blind.
The other aspect that modern day attempts usually forget is the quality of the photographs. While they do picture the vast array of bright colors, the pictures themselves are usually washed out. The photos usually have an odd angle or a noticeable tilt. All these features add to the charm of the set, rather than detract.
The reason I chose the card of Tony Muser to represent the set was due to the specific colors on his card. It's easy to go with one of the brighter color combinations, but I am old enough to have some memories of the decade. When I think of the seventies, the colors of brown, orange, red and white, in a sort of sherbert type of color, always are at the forefront of my mind. As a toddler, I had clothing with this exact color scheme. Those colors and the Pink Panther cartoon are what I take away from my short time living in the seventies.
The White Sox have thirty-three cards in the set.
11 - Bill Melton
35 - Ron Santo
59 - Ken Henderson
82 - Pat Kelly
110 - Wilbur Wood
137 - Terry Forster
161 - Stan Bahnsen
184 - Jorge Orta
197 - Nellie Fox (Ernie Banks) MVP
210 - Rich Allen (Johnny Bench) MVP
219 - Ed Herrmann
243 - Jim Kaat
276 - Chuck Tanner
299 - Bucky Dent
307 - Dick Allen (Mike Schmidt) HR Leaders
313 - Terry Forster (Jim Marshall) Fireman Leaders
327 - Jerry Hairston
348 - Tony Muser
373 - Bill Sharp
400 - Dick Allen
422 - Brian Downing
446 - Bart Johnson
480 - Carlos May
504 - Buddy Bradford
528 - Eddie Leon
554 - Rich Gossage
572 - Roger Nelson
579 - Skip Pitlock
614 - Jack Kucek (Dyar Miller, Vern Ruhle, Paul Siebert) Rookie Pitchers
619 - Nyls Nyman (Benny Ayala, Tommy Smith, Jerry Turner) Rookie Outfielders
624 - Jim Otten (Doug Konieczny, Gary Lavelle, Eddie Solomon) Rookie Pitchers
634 - Cy Acosta
653 - Lee Richard
They don't quite make 'em like this anymore. This set was a calculated risk from a design standpoint, but whatever dismissal the set had when brand new, nostalgia has washed over and made relevant. The fact that this set also has a mini version, puts it over the top. This set is a high point of the seventies.
3 comments:
I started collecting in 1974. I remember the 1975 cards well. That was the year put out their set in two different sizes (standard 2.5x3.5 AND a mini verson 2.125 x 3.125 inches).
I'll never forget opening my first pack of these cards, popping the gum into my mouth, and wondering why I just spent my hard earned quarters on cards that were so small. I am almost certain there was a Robin Yount rookie in the pack. I was nine at the time, and Robin looked younger than I was.
This was the first set which I collected feverishly. I didn't complete it until about 20 years later.
My favorite Sox cards were Downing, Allen and Gossage (since of course, there was no Squires card).
I really don't remember the red White Sox unis. Every time a see a White Sox card from this era I do a double take.
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