1975 Topps #623 1975 Rookie Infielders
The Rookie Infielders card with Keith Hernandez (listed batting right — he hit left) alongside Phil Garner.
Keith Hernandez listed "Bats: Right" — he batted left.
About this card
Cards #614-624 are the multi-player Rookie cards, four prospects to a card grouped by position - the run that carries the Rice, Carter, Lynn and Hernandez rookies.
About the players on this card
Phil Garner
Phil Garner's rookie card, 1975 Topps #623 "Rookie Infielders," is shared with fellow future big leaguers Keith Hernandez, Bob Sheldon, and Tom Veryzer — Hernandez's stardom helps make it one of the key rookie cards in the set. Drafted by Montreal out of Tennessee in 1970, Garner didn't sign, and Oakland took him instead in the 1971 secondary draft. He broke in with the A's in 1973, moved to second base in 1975, and made the first of three All-Star teams in 1976 (also 1980, 1981) after a trade sent him to Pittsburgh. With the Pirates he won the 1979 World Series, batting .500 (12-for-24) against Baltimore — still the highest average in Series history for a player with at least 25 plate appearances. His nickname, "Scrap-Iron," traces to broadcaster Milo Hamilton, who heard Willie Stargell describe the tough, competitive infielder as scrap metal that bends but never breaks. Garner starred seven seasons with Houston, later managed the Astros to their first pennant in 2005, and died in April 2026 at 76.
Sources: Wikipedia · SABR BioProject · Baseball-Reference
Keith Hernandez
Keith Hernandez was born October 20, 1953, in San Francisco and grew up near San Bruno, California. The Cardinals took him with the 783rd and final pick of the 1971 draft, and he went on to become the last player from that entire draft class to reach the majors, debuting August 30, 1974. His 1975 Topps card, #623, is a four-player "Rookie Infielders" issue shared with Phil Garner, Bob Sheldon, and Tom Veryzer — one of the set's key rookie cards — and lists him as a right-handed batter, though he threw and hit left-handed. Hernandez broke out in 1979, winning the NL batting title at .344 and sharing the MVP award with Willie Stargell. A five-time All-Star, he anchored World Series champions with the 1982 Cardinals and the 1986 Mets, becoming Mets captain after a June 1983 trade. Nicknamed "Mex" by teammates who wrongly assumed his surname meant Mexican ancestry — his father was Castilian Spanish, his mother Scots-Irish — he redefined defense at first base, winning 11 consecutive Gold Gloves (1978-1988), the most ever at the position, and the Mets retired his No. 17.
Sources: Wikipedia · SABR BioProject · Baseball-Reference
Bob Sheldon
Bob Mitchell Sheldon, a left-handed-hitting second baseman, graduated from Montebello High School in California and played at Loyola Marymount University before the Milwaukee Brewers drafted him in the 22nd round in 1972 (the Los Angeles Dodgers had already drafted him out of high school in 1968). He debuted with Milwaukee on April 10, 1974, and got his most extensive big-league look in 1975, starting 45 games at second base and designated hitter while batting .287. Sheldon returned for a final stint in 1977, closing a three-season career with a .256 average, 67 hits and 17 RBI in 94 games. He shares his key 1975 Topps rookie card, #623 — one of the set's most collected issues — with fellow rookies Phil Garner, Tom Veryzer and Keith Hernandez, whose own card back famously lists him as batting right when he actually batted left. Sheldon's playing career ended after the 1977 season.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Tom Veryzer
Tom Veryzer was a Long Island-born shortstop whose sure glove kept him in the majors for twelve seasons. Detroit's first-round pick (11th overall) in the 1971 draft out of Islip High School, he debuted with the Tigers on August 14, 1973, and took over the starting shortstop job in 1975, batting a career-best .252 with 5 home runs and 48 RBIs while earning a spot at short on the Topps Rookie All-Star team. That breakout season put him on 1975 Topps #623, a "1975 Rookie Infielders" card shared with Phil Garner, Bob Sheldon, and Keith Hernandez — whose "Bats: Right" listing is a well-known error, since Hernandez actually hit left-handed. Traded to Cleveland for Charlie Spikes after the 1977 season, a deal that cleared the way for Alan Trammell in Detroit, Veryzer went on to play for the Indians, Mets, and Cubs, finishing his 996-game career in 1984. His career fielding range factor ranks among the best in major-league history. He died in 2014 at age 61.
Sources: Wikipedia · SABR BioProject · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 2,927 | 12 | 225 | 1,061 | 745 | 417 | 205 | 260 | 2 |
| SGC | 511 | 1 | 15 | 116 | 139 | 105 | 70 | 57 | 8 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-08-19. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. The graders do not split the 1975 Topps Mini or O-Pee-Chee issues into this set.
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Related cards
Team card: #561 Oakland Athletics
More Oakland Athletics cards:
- #21 Rollie Fingers
- #45 Joe Rudi
- #69 John Odom
- #91 Dick Green
- #121 Bill North
- #145 Ken Holtzman
- #170 Bert Campaneris
- #209 1971 MVPs
- #211 1973 MVPs
- #230 Jim Hunter
- #253 Jesus Alou
- #278 Paul Lindblad
- #300 Reggie Jackson
- #309 1974 Stolen Base Leaders
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1975 Topps #623 card?
It is card #623 of the 660-card 1975 Topps Baseball set, picturing Phil Garner, Keith Hernandez, Bob Sheldon, Tom Veryzer. Cards #614-624 are the multi-player Rookie cards, four prospects to a card grouped by position - the run that carries the Rice, Carter, Lynn and Hernandez rookies.
Is 1975 Topps #623 a rookie card?
Yes - #623 is a rookie card. Topps grouped four prospects on each card in the 1975 Rookies run, so the rookie designation covers every player pictured: Phil Garner, Keith Hernandez, Bob Sheldon, Tom Veryzer.
Does 1975 Topps #623 have an error?
Keith Hernandez listed "Bats: Right" — he batted left. It was never corrected, so there is no variation to chase - every copy of #623 reads the same way.
How many cards are in the 1975 Topps Baseball set?
660 cards, numbered 1-660, with no variations and no short prints - PSA reports the cards were printed in equal quantities. The 1975 Topps Mini and the 1975 O-Pee-Chee issues are separate products with their own checklists.
Sources: Trading Card Database, Cardboard Connection, the PSA price guide, 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 2026-10-05.