1973–1976 Topps Basketball: Color, Checklists and Oversized Cards

1973 Topps: portraits within colored frames

The 264-card 1973 Topps set uses a colored band around its player image with a largely white outer border. Familiar reference subjects include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar number 50, Wilt Chamberlain number 80 and Julius Erving number 240. NBA and ABA playoff and league-leader cards are part of the numbered issue.

For a design collection, this year works well beside the more colorful 1974 release. Keep the condition comparison fair: a plain light border and a colored border reveal wear differently. Inspect corner shape, surface and the reverse instead of assuming that a less visibly chipped front is necessarily better preserved.

If you buy a partial set, ask for the actual missing numbers. A description such as mostly complete does not tell you whether you are missing common player cards, checklists or the major stars. A precise list makes the remaining project assessable before you commit to it.

1974 Topps: colored borders and the NBA–ABA split

1974 Topps again contains 264 cards, with the NBA portion numbered 1–176 and the ABA portion 177–264. The vertical team name and colorful border are quick identifiers. Bill Walton number 39 and George Gervin number 196 provide distinct rookie subjects; Gervin’s card belongs to the ABA portion.

The color extending toward the edges makes small white breaks conspicuous. Compare all four corners and the entire perimeter at the same magnification. A card with a clean central portrait may still show substantial border wear, and a dark scan can conceal that contrast.

For a league-focused collection, the checklist split gives a clear stopping point. Keep team leaders and playoff cards with the appropriate run if your goal is the numbered issue rather than player portraits only. Label that scope when storing or eventually offering a collection to another buyer.

1975 Topps: a 330-card project

1975 Topps expands to 330 standard-size cards. Moses Malone’s rookie appears as number 254, while the broader checklist includes NBA and ABA players, team leaders, statistical leaders, playoff subjects and team checklists. Two diagonal colored bands at the upper-right corner distinguish the main design.

A larger issue rewards a disciplined inventory. Sort by number before deciding whether a lot is useful, and treat team checklists as required cards if you are building the full release. Check for writing in those boxes rather than assuming that a sharp-looking front means an unmarked card.

Malone can serve as a focal purchase, but a coherent team or league run is another valid approach. Establish a condition floor that also works for the less prominent subjects. Buying only the most visible star first can leave you with a complete-set goal whose ordinary cards are in inconsistent condition.

1976 Topps: oversized in both dimensions

1976 Topps contains 144 cards measuring 3 1/8 by 5 1/4 inches. These are larger in both width and height than standard cards and differ from the narrower tall-boy format used in 1969 and 1970. That distinction should guide the sleeves, holders and storage boxes you choose.

The larger photograph is part of the appeal. It also gives you more surface to inspect: check broad light areas for creases, impressions and discoloration, then examine the long edges. A distant photograph can make the card look crisp while hiding small handling defects.

Ask whether any included pages or cases are truly sized for this issue. A card should not need pressure to fit its storage. For graded examples, compare the full card image and the holder description, and plan enough shelf space for the larger holder before building an extended run.

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