George Brett had a long and illustrious baseball career spanning from 1973 to 1993 that saw him become one of the greatest third basemen in MLB history with the Kansas City Royals. Naturally, Brett’s on-field accomplishments translated to tremendous popularity and demand for his baseball cards throughout his playing days and beyond. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most significant and valuable baseball cards featuring George Brett over the years.
1973 Topps George Brett (Rookie Card) – Brett’s rookie card came in the 1973 Topps set during his first season in the majors. The card features a color photo of a young Brett in a Royals uniform. High-grade graded versions of this rookie card in mint condition have sold for over $20,000 in recent years, reflecting Brett’s status as a true baseball legend and Hall of Famer. Even well-worn copies still trade hands for several hundred dollars. This rookie card started the journey of chronicling one of the game’s great careers.
1980 Topps George Brett – Brett’s 1980 Topps card commemorates one of the finest individual seasons by a hitter in baseball history. In 1980, Brett batted an astounding .390 en route to winning the American League batting title. He became only the second player since Ted Williams in 1941 to hit over .390. High-grade versions of this iconic card have sold for over $4,000. It captures Brett at the peak of his powers and remains one of his most visually striking and historically significant cards.
1985 Topps Sticker George Brett – The 1985 Topps set featured “sticker” parallel cards that could be placed on surfaces. Brett’s sticker card from this issue stands out due to its unique sticker format and the fact it depicts Brett during one of his best seasons statistically. He batted .335 with 22 home runs and 99 RBIs. High-quality examples in near-mint condition have sold for over $500 given its novelty as a sticker parallel.
1989 Upper Deck #1 Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie / George Brett – This dual rookie card featuring Ken Griffey Jr. and Brett was the most sought-after card when the innovative Upper Deck brand shook up the baseball card industry in 1989. Brett was still contributing as the Royals’ all-time hits leader at this point. PSA 10 gem mint versions have changed hands for $3,000 or more over the years. It brought two all-time greats together in one historic rookie card issue.
1991 Score George Brett “Final Season” Career Summary – Brett’s final major league season was 1991 at age 38. Score commemorated the occasion with this “final season” career retrospective card looking back on Brett’s career highlights to that point. It marks the official end of one of baseball’s great third basemen. Higher grade copies have sold for around $150-$200 given its significance as a bookend to Brett’s Hall of Fame career.
1997 Pacific Wrestling Legend George Brett – In a bizarre footnote, Pacific trading cards produced a series dedicated to “Wrestling Legends” in 1997 that included Brett. While humorous given Brett’s actual sport, the card is a true oddity. Brett himself even found it amusing and signed examples for fans. A signed copy would certainly be a conversation piece for any collector.
2001 Upper Deck Legends George Brett – Released a decade after Brett’s retirement, this card was part of an Upper Deck tribute set honoring legendary players from past eras. It encapsulates Brett’s incredible career accomplishments as one of the Royals’ most prolific hitters and a true ambassador of the game. Higher quality PSA/BGS graded versions have traded hands for $100 or more.
2006 Topps Allen & Ginter Mini George Brett – Topps paid homage to Brett with this mini card parallel released in the premium 2006 Allen & Ginter set long after his playing days. Measuring a mere 1″ tall, it’s more of a novelty but still features one of Brett’s classic early Royals photos. Even low-grade copies can fetch $20-30 based on Brett’s name value alone.
In summary, George Brett’s iconic playing career and Hall of Fame credentials have translated to tremendous interest and secondary market value for his baseball cards across different decades and brands. While his 1970s rookie cards and peak 1980 Topps issue command the highest prices, virtually any card featuring Brett retains collector interest. He remains one of the most celebrated and collectible players of his era. Tracking the visual chronology of Brett’s career through his vintage and vintage-style cards is a compelling journey for any baseball card enthusiast.
