Hank Aaron is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He held the record for most career home runs for over 30 years until it was broken by Barry Bonds in 2007. Aaron played professionally for 23 seasons from 1954 to 1976, spending the majority of his career with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves. His prolific home run hitting and consistency at the plate have made many of his baseball cards highly sought after collectibles. Here are some of the best and most valuable Hank Aaron cards collectors look for:
1954 Topps #81 – Aaron’s rookie card is one of the true “holy grails” for baseball card collectors. The 1954 Topps set marked Aaron’s rookie season with the then-Milwaukee Braves after making his MLB debut late in the 1953 season. The card features a clean black and white photo of Aaron from his rookie year. In near-mint to mint condition, examples of this rare Aaron rookie card can fetch well over $100,000 due to its significance and the fact that Topps only printed about 50,000 copies of the 1954 set. Even well-worn copies in poor condition sell for thousands.
1957 Topps #290 – Aaron’s second Topps card from 1957 is also extremely valuable, routinely selling for five figures or more in top grades. By his third MLB season, Aaron was already establishing himself as a star, batting .322 with 27 home runs in 1957. This colorful card shows Aaron batting from the left side of the plate. It remains highly sought after by collectors. Pristine mint copies have reached astronomical prices upwards of $150,000 at auction.
1957 Topps #162 – Considered the key card from the 1957 Topps set, Aaron’s second-year card is also his first card featuring an action pose. It depicts Aaron taking a mighty swing which foreshadowed his future home run prowess. This iconic card image made it one of Aaron’s most popular among collectors. High-grade examples still command impressive prices in the $10,000+ range.
1957 Topps #162 – Considered the key card from the 1957 Topps set, Aaron’s second-year card is also his first card featuring an action pose. It depicts Aaron taking a mighty swing which foreshadowed his future home run prowess. This iconic card image made it one of Aaron’s most popular among collectors. High-grade examples still command impressive prices in the $10,000+ range.
1960 Topps #250 – Aaron’s first card sporting an Atlanta Braves uniform, as he and the franchise moved from Milwaukee after the 1965 season. By 1960, Aaron was well on his way to superstardom, having led the NL in home runs in back-to-back years. The colorful design remains a favorite among collectors. Near-mint copies sell for $3,000-$5,000, while a true gem mint example could be worth $10,000 or more.
1961 Topps #250 – Aaron’s 1961 issue is another highly coveted card showing him playing for the Milwaukee Braves. He won his first NL MVP award in 1957 and was a three-time batting champion at this point in his career. The vibrant design and action photo increased its popularity. High-grade versions regularly sell for $2,000-$4,000.
1965 Topps #250 – Aaron’s final card in a Milwaukee Braves uniform before the franchise moved to Atlanta after the 1965 season. By this point, Aaron had established himself as one of baseball’s true elite players. He had collected over 300 career home runs and was a seven-time All-Star. This transitional card marks the end of an era for Aaron and the Braves. Near-mint copies can sell for $1,500-$2,500 depending on condition.
1974 Topps #250 – Aaron’s last Topps card before retiring was issued in 1974 by which time he held the all-time career home run record. The card shows #44 batting from the left side with the Braves logo in the background. It was a fitting way to memorialize Aaron’s legendary 23-year MLB career on cardboard. High-grade copies remain a must-have for any Aaron collection, valued around $500-$1,000.
1957 Topps #162 – Considered the key card from the 1957 Topps set, Aaron’s second-year card is also his first card featuring an action pose. It depicts Aaron taking a mighty swing which foreshadowed his future home run prowess. This iconic card image made it one of Aaron’s most popular among collectors. High-grade examples still command impressive prices in the $10,000+ range.
While Hank Aaron had many other notable baseball cards issued over his career by brands like Fleer and Post, the ones mentioned here from his rookie season in 1954 through his retirement in 1974 with Topps remain the most historically significant and financially valuable in the hobby. As one of the true home run kings and most accomplished players in MLB history, Aaron’s on-field greatness is immortalized through the classic cardboard collectibles featuring his likeness from his playing days with the Braves. Any serious card collection pays homage to “Hammerin’ Hank” with examples from these premium issues chronicling his Hall of Fame baseball journey.
