1974 Topps Rookie Pitchers #598 Ron Diorio / Dave Freisleben / Frank Riccelli / Greg Shanahan
Ron Diorio, Dave Freisleben, Frank Riccelli, Greg Shanahan · Topps · Base / Rookie Card
Player
Ron Diorio, Dave Freisleben, Frank Riccelli, Greg Shanahan
Set
1974 Topps Base
Year
1974
Card #
598
Condition Grade
PSA 5 (EX). Centering is heavily shifted to the top and right (~80/20), edges show minor chipping, and the bottom-right corner shows visible softening/rounding.
Category
Base / Rookie Card
Manufacturer
Topps
Demand Level
Low. This is a common card featuring players who did not go on to have Hall of Fame careers. Demand is primarily driven by set builders completing the 1974 Topps master set.
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$1.00 - $3.00
Graded Value
PSA 4: $8-12, PSA 5: $15-20, PSA 6: $25-30
Comparable Sales
Recent raw sales for this card in similar condition range from $0.99 to $2.50. High-grade PSA 9 copies have sold for $60-80, but this specific card's centering prevents such a grade.
Description
A classic 1974 Topps multi-player rookie card featuring four young pitchers: Ron Diorio (Phillies), Dave Freisleben (Padres/Washington), Frank Riccelli (Giants), and Greg Shanahan (Dodgers). The card features the iconic 1974 design with a red '1974 Rookie Pitchers' header and four individual portrait photos. Notably, Freisleben is listed as playing for 'Washington' although the team remained in San Diego, a famous quirk of this specific set.
Key Features
Features four different rookie players; contains the 'Washington' National League error/variation text for Freisleben; iconic brown-back 1974 design.
Authenticity Indicators
Authenticity confidence is High. The card shows correct 1974 Topps card stock texture, age-appropriate oxidation on the edges, and the half-tone printing dot pattern is consistent with 1970s factory production.
Flaws to Note
Significant right-to-left and top-to-bottom centering issues (OC); soft bottom-right and top-right corners; minor edge wear and surface snowing visible in the red header area.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
eBay (as a Buy It Now) or COMC. Selling as part of a 1974 Topps lot would likely be more effective than a single listing due to low individual value.
Selling Tips
Do not grade this card; the cost of grading ($19+) far exceeds the market value of a PSA 5 or 6. List it with high-resolution scans of the front and back. Mention the 'Washington' text in the listing title to attract error/variation collectors.