1975 Topps #420 Larry Bowa
About Larry Bowa
Larry Bowa carved out one of the great defensive careers among National League shortstops after Phillies scout Eddie Bockman signed him out of Sacramento City College for a $2,000 bonus in 1965 — a modest price for a player Bockman called "a blur" even on grainy scouting film. Bowa reached the majors in 1970 and anchored Philadelphia's infield through 1981, teaming with Mike Schmidt to end the franchise's long postseason drought. A five-time All-Star (1974–76, 1978–79) and two-time Gold Glove winner, he set an NL record for career games at shortstop and led the league in fielding percentage six times, capping his Phillies tenure by batting .375 in the 1980 World Series as Philadelphia won its first championship. Teammates called him "Gnat" for his small frame and relentless, pestering style afield. Traded to the Cubs in 1982 in the deal that brought Ryne Sandberg to Philadelphia, Bowa closed his playing career with the Mets in 1985. His 1975 Topps card #420 carries the 1974 All-Star flag, recognizing the first of his five trips to the Midsummer Classic.
Sources: Wikipedia · SABR BioProject · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 577 | 20 | 200 | 264 | 54 | 24 | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| SGC | 45 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
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: #46 Philadelphia Phillies
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- #162 Willie Montanez
- #185 Steve Carlton
- #242 Jay Johnstone
- #267 Dick Ruthven
- #292 Ron Schueler
- #326 Wayne Twitchell
- #351 Bob Boone
- #374 Eddie Watt
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1975 Topps #420 card?
It is card #420 of the 660-card 1975 Topps Baseball set, picturing Larry Bowa.
Is 1975 Topps #420 an All-Star card?
Yes - #420 carries the All-Star shield Topps printed on the cards of players it named to its 1974 All-Star roster. Seventeen cards in the set carry it.
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.