The Angels traded Jim Fregosi to the Mets in December 1971, but Topps must have already finalized much of its 1972 set because Fregosi appeared on card #115 in an Angels uniform.
Then, later in the release, Topps issued card #755 showing him in a Mets uniform, with the word “TRADED” printed across the front.
Fregosi wasn’t an isolated case. An unusually active offseason, highlighted by the 1971 Winter Meetings in Phoenix, Arizona (November 27–December 3), produced 15 trades involving 53 players, with additional moves continuing into the spring of 1972. The volume of transactions created a real challenge for Topps as it planned and printed its 787-card set.
Historically, Topps would have handled these changes by airbrushing uniforms. Instead, the company took a different approach. For several notable players who changed teams, Topps included two versions of their cards: an earlier card showing the player with his previous team, and a second card in the high-number series featuring the updated uniform. These later cards removed the standard top design and added a bold “TRADED” designation across the front.
In total, seven “TRADED” cards were issued in the 1972 Topps set, numbered 751 through 757:
1972 Topps Steve Carlton
Carlton was traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Philadelphia Phillies for Rick Wise on February 25th, 1972. Carlton’s two cards are numbers 420 and 751.
1972 Topps Joe Morgan
The Houston Astros traded Morgan with Ed Armbrister, Jack Billingham, Cesar Geronimo, and Denis Menke to the Cincinnati Reds for Tommy Helms, Lee May, and Jimmy Stewart on November 29th, 1971. Morgan’s two cards are numbers 132 and 752.
1972 Topps Frank Robinson
Robinson was traded by the Baltimore Orioles with Pete Richert to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Doyle Alexander, Bob O’Brien, Sergio Robles, and Royal Stillman on December 2nd, 1971. Robinson’s two cards are numbers 100 and 754.
1972 Topps Jose Cardenal
The Milwaukee Brewers traded Cardenal to the Chicago Cubs for Jim Colborn, Brock Davis, and Earl Stephenson on December 3rd, 1971. Cardenal’s two cards are numbers 12 and 757.
1972 Topps Denny McLain
The Texas Rangers traded McLain to the Oakland Athletics for Jim Panther and Don Stanhouse on March 4th, 1972. McLain’s two cards are numbers 210 and 753.
1972 Topps Jim Fregosi
The California Angels traded Fregosi to the New York Mets for Frank Estrada, Don Rose, Nolan Ryan, and Leroy Stanton. His two cards are numbers 115 and 755.
1972 Topps Rick Wise
As mentioned earlier, Rick Wise was traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the St. Louis Cardinals for Steve Carlton on February 25th, 1972. His 1972 Topps cards are numbers 43 and 756.
To add something new to the TRADED cards, Topps included some details of the deals on the backs of the cards. Today, the seven traded cards are among the most valuable cards in the last series.
Topps didn’t revisit the concept in 1973, but brought it back in 1974 with a much larger 44-card group late in the season, though without updated uniform photography. The idea resurfaced again in 1976, this time covering players dealt after the printing deadline.
By 1981, the concept had fully evolved. Instead of a subset within the base release, Topps issued a standalone traded set, numbered 727–858, and sold separately in a distinctive red box. The release not only captured in-season player movement but also included key rookie prospects, giving it added appeal.
Looking back, 1972 marked the first time Topps seriously addressed offseason player movement on cardboard. Whether it was a deliberate innovation or simply a response to the unusually active 1971 Winter Meetings, the result was meaningful.
What started as a practical solution became an expectation. Traded cards became a staple of the hobby and it all traces back to 1972.
Happy collecting!
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