Having returned to its customary 3D look in 1974, Kellogg’s continued that with their 1975 baseball card set. As a whole, not much changed in the 1975 Kellogg’s set from the previous year as the company had an established formula for creating its trading cards. However, there were some differences as well as a few variations to keep things interesting.
1975 Kellogg’s Basics
One thing that did change in 1975 was the size of the cards. After maintaining a 2 1/4″ x 3 1/2″ size in previous years, Kellogg’s miniaturized its cards just a bit, going with a smaller 2 1/8″ x 3 1/4″ version. Another change for the 1975 cards was the size of the set. For the first time, Kellogg’s printed a set with 57 cards, adding three from previous years.
Kellogg’s maintained its basic front with “3-D Super Stars” printed along the top as well as a blue and white border with stars. Fronts also included the players’ last names, position, and a replica signature to go along with a full color, three-dimensional image. Backs were again printed in blue ink with stats, a small player headshot, and a biography.
Cards were available both in cereal boxes and as part of a mail-in offer.
Variations In the 1975 Kellogg’s Set
As was customary to some degree in the Kellogg’s sets of the 1970s, a few variations existed. Bob Grich’s No. 4 card included a typographical error as well as a correction. The error can be found in his biographical information on the reverse. In the error version, the last line in his bio begins with ‘1973 work.’ The corrected issue says ‘because his.’
The other variation is found in Catfish Hunter’s 
card No. 44. The original version of the card has him as a member of the Oakland Athletics. On it, he is pictured in an A’s uniform and with an Oakland logo on the back. The corrected version uses the same photograph on the front, but lists him as a member of the New York Yankees. Unlike Grich’s card, however, Hunter’s wasn’t an error. The All-Star signed with the Yankees as a free agent in the 1974 offseason shortly after winning an arbitration case in December of that year. The logo change on the back was Kellogg’s way of reflecting him as a member of his new team.
Collector experiences may vary, but the Grich correction and the Hunter A’s logo variations appear to be the more difficult to acquire.
1975 Kellogg’s Stars
As usual, Kellogg’s relied on a large collection of stars to fill its set. One key player added for the first time in 1975 was Mike Schmidt. The 1975 Kellogg’s card isn’t a rookie for him but is a third year card of the Hall of Famer. Also noteworthy is Schmidt’s signature. As with many players, his autograph changed with age. This early signature shows a significant change from his current autograph, which features a ‘sharper’ “M”, a more dramatic “S”, and less detail in the other letters of his name.
In addition to Schmidt and the aforementioned Hunter variations, collectors should also look for Nolan Ryan, Pete Rose, Rod Carew, Johnny Bench, Reggie Jackson, Brooks Robinson, Fergie Jenkins, Joe Morgan, Carl Yastrzemski, Richie Allen, and Rollie Fingers, among others.
The biggest omissions all these years later are probably the rookie cards that could have been included, headlined by George Brett and Robin Yount, the two key cards in the 1975 Topps set. Others not included in the 1975 Kellogg’s set are first-year cards of Hall of Famers Gary Carter and Jim Rice. It wasn’t terribly surprising that these players were left out since rookies don’t often make it into oddball issues. Their cards, however, would have made this set even better.
Tougher Cards in High Grade
While most cards in the ’75 Kellogg’s set aren’t tough to find, there are a few challenges for those collecting high-grade sets. Those with fewer than 20 cards in the PSA 9 grade include #1 Roy White; #10 Jon Matlack; #12 Leroy Stanton; #55 Rollie Fingers and #57 Richie Hebner. The corrected Grich variation is also somewhat scarce.
1975 Kellogg’s Prices
Most ungraded commons don’t sell for much more than $2-$3 and even some stars can be purchased for $5 or less. Schmidt, Ryan, and Rose lead the way at approximately $10-$20. However, cards that are graded at 9 or 10, especially of the Hall of Famers, can go for significantly more. A NM-MT/Gem Mint graded set sold for $1,200 this summer. Ungraded complete sets typically bring $125 and up.
1975 Kellogg’s cards seem more prone to cracks in the coating that creates the 3D look. It’s why those higher grade sets and singles do carry a premium. When buying singles, be sure to examine closely and don’t be afraid to ask about cracked cards.
You can see 1975 Kellogg’s cards for sale and auction on eBay by clicking here.
1975 Kellogg’s Checklist
1 Roy White
2 Ross Grimsley
3 Reggie Smith
4 Bob Grich
5 Greg Gross
6 Bob Watson
7 Johnny Bench
8 Jeff Burroughs
9 Elliott Maddox
10 Jon Matlack
11 Pete Rose
12 Lee Stanton
13 Bake McBride
14 Jorge Orta
15 Al Oliver
16 John Briggs
17 Steve Garvey
18 Brooks Robinson
19 John Hiller
20 Lynn McGlothen
21 Cleon Jones
22 Fergie Jenkins
23 Bill North
24 Steve Busby
25 Richie Zisk
26 Nolan Ryan
27 Joe Morgan
28 Joe Rudi
29 Jose Cardenal
30 Andy Messersmith
31 Willie Montanez
32 Bill Buckner
33 Rod Carew
34 Lou Piniella
35 Ralph Garr
36 Mike Marshall
37 Garry Maddox
38 Dwight Evans
39 Lou Brock
40 Ken Singleton
41 Steve Braun
42 Richie Allen
43 John Grubb
44 Catfish Hunter
45 Gaylord Perry
46 George Hendrick
47 Sparky Lyle
48 Dave Cash
49 Luis Tiant
50 Cesar Geronimo
51 Carl Yastrzemski
52 Ken Brett
53 Hal McRae
54 Reggie Jackson
55 Rollie Fingers
56 Mike Schmidt
57 Richie Hebner
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1976 Kellogg’s Set Included Many Stars, A Key Rookie, Short Prints, And … Errors
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1981 Kellogg’s Set Included New Size, New Distribution
1980 Kellogg’s Baseball Set Went Skinny
1974 Kellogg’s Baseball Set Brought 3D Back
1973 Kellogg’s Set Broke With Tradition
1972 Kellogg’s Sets Offered Collectors Best Of Current And Former Players
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