Manufacturer: Topps
Set: 1973 Topps Baseball ➡️
Player Name: Rick Reuschel
Position/Team: Pitcher for Cubs
Card #: 482
Card Size: 2-1/2” x 3-1/2”
Card Values: See Pricing Table Below
Rickey Eugene “Rick” Reuschel, often going by the nicknamed “Big Daddy” due to his portly physique and deceptive quickness, was one of the most durable, consistent, and underrated right-handed starting pitchers of his era. His 19-year Major League Baseball career (1972-1991) saw him compile over 200 wins.
Reuschel debuted with the Chicago Cubs in 1972. He quickly became a workhorse for the team, logging significant innings and consistently posting solid ERAs. Reuschel had his finest individual season in 1977, winning a career-high 20 games against 10 losses with a 2.79 ERA for the Cubs. This earned him his first All-Star selection and a third-place finish in the NL Cy Young Award voting. He also famously played alongside his older brother, Paul Reuschel, for the Cubs for a few seasons. On August 21, 1975, they became the only pair of brothers in MLB history to combine on a shutout, with Rick starting and Paul finishing.
He was traded to the New York Yankees mid-season in 1981, gaining experience in a high-pressure environment during their pennant push. After injuries, he returned to the Cubs for a couple more seasons, including their 1984 NL East winning team, though he primarily pitched in relief that year.
Reuschel experienced a remarkable resurgence with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1985, he went 14-8 with a 2.27 ERA for a last-place team, earning the National League Comeback Player of the Year award. He was traded to the San Francisco Giants in mid-1987 and instantly became a vital part of their pitching staff.
He made two more All-Star teams (1987, 1989) and won two Gold Glove Awards (1985, 1987), recognized as an excellent fielding pitcher. Reuschel was the ace of the Giants’ staff in 1989, helping them win the National League pennant and reach the World Series (losing to the Oakland Athletics).
Rick Reuschel was known for his quiet demeanor and strong work ethic. He often went unnoticed compared to the more flamboyant power pitchers of his time, but his consistent effectiveness was undeniable. He is in the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame and the San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame.
Shop current listings for this card on ebay!
Clicking a link to eBay may result in a referral commission being paid if a purchase is made.
Pricing Data For This Rookie Card
➡️ See All 1973 Topps Rookie Card Prices
Pricing chart includes raw card price & some graded card value estimates.
These values are collated from a variety of resources including recently sold listings, sales averages and a variety of other sports card pricing data sources. Please see full disclaimer on “Terms Page” for more information.
(Rookiecardprices.com only shows values for regular base set cards. No prices are shown for errors, parallels, subsets, misprints or other cards unless noted.)
DISCLAIMER: This data is not intended as financial advice and should not be used as such. Please do your own research before making any investment or selling/buying decisions.
More Rookies From 1973 Topps Baseball
