When we started this little adventure, we knew set-themed binders were going to be part of the plan. The only question was: which set would we begin with?

With so many nostalgic favorites over the years, it wasn’t easy narrowing it down. But once we got our list down to the nine designs we’re releasing this fall, one set stood out as the obvious choice to bat leadoff: the iconic 1975 Topps baseball set.

Why 1975?

Sure, it’s partly because of the card design. Those multi-colored borders are so cool! And yes, it's also because it features two of the greatest rookie cards in hobby history ever to appear in the same set: Robin Yount and George Brett. But this one’s also personal for me.

I was about six years old, hanging out in the front yard with my older sister and her friends. (More likely: I was being the annoying little brother.) I mentioned how much I loved the Tigers, and one of her friends casually said he had tons of old baseball cards at home. I could have them for five bucks.

Five bucks!

After some intense begging and a few hollow promises to do chores, my parents caved and funded what would become a life-changing transaction.

This guy returned with a wooden suitcase filled to the brim with glorious, fairly beat-up 1975 Topps cards. Hundreds of them. And yes - no kidding - in a wooden suitcase. That Topps All-Star Rookie trophy. The cool colors. The smell of “basement cardboard” - I actually love that old smell. I was all-in.

Building the Binder

We wanted this binder to do three things - and we think it delivers:

1. Capture the energy of the original wax packs

That patented, 1970s Topps red-and-yellow color combo? It had to be there. The front cover honors the bold and vibrant look of the 1975 packs, because that feeling of ripping open a fresh, sealed wax pack is half the magic.

2. Showcase stars of the '74 season and highlight key players in the ‘75 set

We leveled up from the wax pack homage by bringing in stylized images of key players like Nolan Ryan and Bob Gibson who had dominant seasons, and of course, Yount and Brett. Their cards are iconic, and their presence on the front cover just had to be there. 

3. Incorporate the 1975 Topps card design

The multi-colored borders, the bold 3-D styled team names, the big names - it’s all there. For starters, notice how the “1975 Topps” headline on the front is the same 3-D block letter-style like the cards’ team names. And our favorite part of the whole thing: the multi-colored border of the card images collage - we just love how it emulates the actual card design.  

The back cover also includes faux cards created for the MVPs, Rookies of the Year, Cy Young winners, and some memorable moments from the ’74 season:

• Hank Aaron’s record-setting homerun
• Lou Brock setting the single season stolen base record
• The A’s beating the Dodgers in the Series, and
• Nolan Ryan striking out 300 batters for the third straight year 

This isn’t just a $20 storage binder. It’s a tribute to a great set of cards. A collectible. A way to keep your 1975 Topps cards together in something that feels like it came from the same era and honors the time and money you put towards one of the best Topps sets ever.

Shop the 1975 Topps Baseball binder HERE.