1969 Topps #474 Tom Murphy
About Tom Murphy
Murphy's 1969 Topps card, #474, comes from the fifth print series and shows him with the California Angels, for whom he started 35 of his 36 games. He struggled with control that season, leading the league in wild pitches and hit batsmen while completing just four starts and finishing 10-16 with a 4.21 ERA. It is a recognized rookie card, arriving after his 1968 major-league debut season was cut short by Army basic training.
Thomas Andrew Murphy, a right-hander born December 30, 1945, in Cleveland, Ohio, pitched 12 major-league seasons from 1968 to 1979 for six teams. He starred at Euclid High School, leading the Panthers to the 1963 Ohio state title, then pitched for Ohio University under coach Bob Wren before signing with the California Angels as the sixth pick of the January 1967 secondary draft. Murphy broke in with California on June 13, 1968, and spent his early seasons as a starter, topping 200 innings three times for the Angels. He was traded to the Kansas City Royals in 1972, then to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973. With the Milwaukee Brewers starting in 1974, manager Del Crandall converted him into a full-time reliever, and Murphy responded with a 1.90 ERA and 20 saves that year. He went on to pitch for the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays before finishing his career in 1979. Murphy retired with a 68-101 record, a 3.78 ERA, and 59 saves across 439 games.
Sources: SABR BioProject · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 220 | 3 | 32 | 106 | 55 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| SGC | 8 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Data as of 2026-09-04. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Shop 1969 Topps cards Live auctions Buy It Now on eBay Sold prices
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
Related cards
More California Angels cards:
- #32 Sammy Ellis
- #59 Jay Johnstone
- #78 Tom Satriano
- #103 Roger Repoz
- #134 Jim Weaver
- #157 Bob Rodgers
- #182 Bill Rigney
- #205 Rick Reichardt
- #224 Angels 1969 Rookie Stars
- #252 Chuck Cottier
- #275 Vic Davalillo
- #296 Andy Messersmith
- #315 Eddie Fisher
- #342 Bubba Morton
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1969 Topps #474 card?
It is card #474 of the 664-card 1969 Topps Baseball set, picturing Tom Murphy of the California Angels.
Is 1969 Topps #474 a rookie card?
Yes - #474 is the 1969 Topps rookie card of Tom Murphy.
How many cards are in the 1969 Topps Baseball set?
664 cards, tracked as 696 collectible states. Numbers run from 1 to 664 with none skipped and no printed number shared by two cards; 32 cards carry catalogued print variations that the master set counts separately, 23 of them the yellow- and white-letter name pairs of #440-511.
Sources: Trading Card Database, PSA CardFacts, Cardboard Connection, Baseball Almanac, Baseball-Reference, the SABR BioProject and the National Baseball Hall of Fame, PSA & SGC population reports. Card data compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-10-12.