The first baseball card set issued by Topps in a single series the 1974 issue is notorious for poor centering perhaps the low point in Topps quality control in the 1970s. The set remains popular a series of variations portraying members of the San Diego Padres with a "Washington Nat'l Lea" team corrected after it was determined that the ballclub would not be moving to Washington. The fifteen Washington cards command a premium today. Presented here is a reasonably sharp complete set a set compiled by a collector by purchasing large lots of ungraded cards and then slowly upgrading replacing the weaker cards with stronger examples. Many of the cards still have room for upgrading in some cases due to centering but in others due simply to handling some corner wear apparent. Average grade is EX/MT with some lesser and a few stronger. Three of the cards have been graded by PSA: #80 Tom Seaver (HOF - PSA NM-MT 8) #206 ERA Leaders (PSA NM-MT 8) and #646 George Foster (PSA MINT 9). Additional keys grade as follows: #1 Hank Aaron (EX) #7 Catfish Hunter (EX-MT) #10 Johnny Bench (EX) #20 Nolan Ryan (EX-MT) #50 Rod Carew (VG/EX) #55 Frank Robinson (EX) #85 Joe Morgan (EX) #95 Steve Carlton (NM) #100 Willie Stargell (EX/MT) #160 Brooks Robinson (VG/EX) #212 Rollie Fingers (EX/MT) #215 Al Kaline (NM) #250 Willie McCovey (EX - San Diego) #250 Willie McCovey (EX/MT - Washington) #280 Carl Yastzremski (EX) #283 Mike Schnidt (EX) #300 Pete Rose (EX/MT) #330 Juan Marichal (NM) #340 Thurman Munson (EX/MT) #350 Bob Gibson (EX/MT) #400 Harmon Killebrew (VG/EX) #345 Dave Winfield (NM+) #542 Rich Gossage (VG). The set also includes all fifteen Washington variations generally EX/MT the Bob "Apodaco" rookie variation the Jesus Alou No Position variation and a Steve Garvey "wrong back" card with Milt Pappas on the reverse. Also included is the 1974 Topps Traded and 1974 Topps Team Checklist sets two plentiful sets that are often considered companion pieces to the base set both averaging EX condition. 743 cards total.