Completely Red: 1973 Topps

A lot of variety with this Reds set. We've got 23 regular base cards, 3 league leader cards, a managers card, 9 playoffs/World Series cards (some of which aren't really Reds cards, but showcase the '72 World Series which they were in), a multi-team rookie card, a team card, and a sneaky Johnny Bench cameo, on another Hall of Famer's card, nonetheless. For you math experts out there, that's 39 cards from the set I felt the need to hunt down.

As far as design, Topps was dull gray in 1970, simple black in 1971, then an LSD-induced haze in 1972. They decided to follow that up with simple white in 1973. There's still a splotch of color encircling the position silhouettes, but this set would start a white-as-the-main-color trend (exception, obviously, is 1975). The periodic action shots and the variety make it an excellent Reds set, though, so the white works.

The Reds were coming off of two World Series losses in 1970 and 1972 and were starting to perfect their near-perfect Big Red Machine roster that would surface in 1975. Let's check the stats.

STATS:

Cards - 39

RC's - 2 (Bill Plummer, Mel Behney)

All Stars - 16 (Hal McRae, Denis Menke, Johnny Bench x3, Clay Carroll x2, Jack Billingham, Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Gary Nolan, Tony Perez, Jim McGlothlin, Ross Grimsley, George Foster, Dave Concepcion)

Hall of Famers - 6 (Johnny Bench x3, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Sparky Anderson)

Reds Hall of Famers - 15 (Clay Carroll x2, Gary Nolan, Jack Billingham, Johnny Bench x3, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Sparky Anderson, Dave Concepcion, Don Gullett, George Foster, Cesar Geronimo, Pedro Borbon)

Vintage In-Game Action Shots - 15

All-Time Non-Reds Making Appearances - Dick Allen, Sparky Lyle, Bert Campaneris, Willie McCovey

Checklist:

8 Tom Hall

28 Hal McRae

52 Denis Menke 

62 Johnny Bench - Dick Allen LL HR

63 Johnny Bench - Dick Allen LL RBI
68 Clay Carroll - Sparky Lyle LL Fireman  

89 Jack Billingham

130 Pete Rose

156 Cesar Geronimo

177 Bill Plummer

195 Clay Carroll

202 NL Playoffs Foster's Run Decides it

205 World Series Game 3  Reds win a squeaker

207 World Series Game 5 Odom out at the plate

208 World Series Game 6 Red's Sluggers tie series

230 Joe Morgan

260 Gary Nolan

275 Tony Perez

296 Reds Mgr/Coaches

318 Jim McGlothlin

335 Bob Tolan

357 Ross Grimsley

380 Johnny Bench

399 George Foster

447 Joe Hague

492 Pedro Borbon

507 Darrel Chaney

533 Larry Stahl

554 Dave Concepcion

595 Don Gullett 

602 Rookie Pitchers Mel Behney - Ralph Garcia - Doug Rau

626 Bob Barton

641 Reds Team 

Bonus:
410 Willie McCovey  ft. Johnny Bench

Go Reds.