1975 Topps #143 Cliff Johnson
About Cliff Johnson
Clifford Johnson was Houston's fifth-round pick out of Wheatley High School in San Antonio in the 1966 draft, then worked through seven minor-league seasons before sticking with the Astros in 1974. His 1975 Topps card, #143, doubles as his rookie card, catching him just as the 6-foot-4 slugger settled into a first base/catcher/outfield mix - he led Houston with 20 home runs that year despite fewer starts than sluggers Bob Watson, Doug Rader, and Cesar Cedeno. Traded to the Yankees in 1977, Johnson won back-to-back World Series titles in 1977 and 1978, then moved through Cleveland, the Cubs, Oakland, Texas, and two stints in Toronto as one of the game's most feared designated hitters. An April 1979 clubhouse fight with Rich "Goose" Gossage, sparked by Reggie Jackson's teasing, tore ligaments in Gossage's thumb and helped cost the Yankees a shot at a third straight pennant. Johnson retired in 1986 holding the career pinch-hit home run record with 20 - a mark that stood until Matt Stairs passed it in 2010.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 268 | 1 | 48 | 154 | 40 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| SGC | 9 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
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: #487 Houston Astros
More Houston Astros cards:
- #25 Lee May
- #49 Larry Dierker
- #73 J.R. Richard
- #96 Mike Cosgrove
- #119 Tommy Helms
- #165 Doug Rader
- #188 Tom Griffin
- #218 Jerry Johnson
- #227 Bob Watson
- #252 Fred Scherman
- #279 Milt May
- #301 Dave Roberts
- #334 Greg Gross
- #357 Ken Forsch
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1975 Topps #143 card?
It is card #143 of the 660-card 1975 Topps Baseball set, picturing Cliff Johnson.
Is 1975 Topps #143 a rookie card?
Yes - #143 is the 1975 Topps rookie card of Cliff Johnson, one of 64 rookie cards in the set.
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.