George Brett is considered one of the best third basemen in Major League Baseball history. Playing his entire 21-year career with the Kansas City Royals from 1973 to 1993, Brett was an 18-time All-Star and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999. Unsurprisingly given his legendary status, George Brett baseball cards from his playing days are extremely popular with collectors and can hold significant value depending on the card and its condition. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top George Brett cards and what they may be worth.
One of the most valuable George Brett rookie cards is his 1974 Topps card. Featuring Brett in a Royals uniform during his first full season in the majors, the 1974 Topps Brett rookie is highly sought after. In pristine near-mint to mint condition (graded Nm-Mt 8 or higher), examples of this card in top grades can sell for over $10,000. Even well-centered cards in excellent condition (rated Ex 5) will fetch $1,000 or more. The 1974 Topps Brett is one of the keys to any serious baseball card collection given his eventual Hall of Fame induction.
Another hugely valuable Brett rookie is his 1975 Topps issue. Considered even rarer than the 1974 due to a much lower print run, a PSA/BGS 10 grade 1975 Topps Brett in gem mint condition could sell at auction for well over $20,000. Most PSA 9 or BGS 9 copies trade hands between $5,000-$10,000. Likewise, a nicely centered Ex-Mt 8 example might sell for $2,000-$3,000. For raw, ungraded ’75s you’ll be very lucky to find one in good centered condition for under $1,000. The ’75 is truly Brett’s rarest and most investable rookie card.
Besides rookie cards, many of Brett’s iconic issued from the peak of his career in the 1970s and 1980s hold substantial value as well. His 1977 Topps and 1979 Topps Traded cards are especially coveted, as those were Brett’s breakout seasons where he started posting huge offensive numbers year after year. A PSA 10 ’77 Topps Brett can bring over $1,000 while PSA 9s sell for $500-700. For the rare 1979 Topps Traded card, PSA 10s easily sell for $2,000-3,000 and near-mint to mint PSA 8s go for $500-800 depending on centering quality.
Other highly valuable late-70s/early-80s Brett issues include his 1980, 1981, and 1982 Topps flagship cards. For the 1980 in top grades, PSA 10s sell between $600-800 with PSA 9s around $300-400. The 1981 has similar values, with gem mint 10s around $500-700 and near-mint 9s around $250-350. Perhaps the most aesthetically pleasing Brett card design is found on his 1982 Topps, which features a colorful action photo from his magical 1980 season. High-grade ’82s in PSA 10 can reach $800-1,000 with nicely centered PSA 9s around $400-500. All three of these core 1980s Brett cards represent the peak of his tremendous success with the Royals.
Besides flagship Topps issues, Brett cards from other contemporaneous sets also hold value depending on condition. His 1977 through 1981 Fleer cards typically sell well from $100-300 in PSA 8-9 grades. The 1980 and 1981 Donruss cards are also popular, with PSA/BGS 9s trading hands for $150-250. His 1983 Donruss is another eye-catching design, with colorful multi-photo showing Brett pitching and hitting. High-grade ’83 Donruss Brets can reach $150 raw in near-mint to mint condition. Finally, Brett’s 1981, 1982, and 1983 Traded/Update issues from Topps are quite scarce and command $200-500 for mint 9s depending on the particular parallel card.
The late 1980s and early 1990s saw Brett maintain excellence past his prime years. Cards like his 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990 and final 1991 Topps issues retain value especially in top condition. Most notably, Bretts 1985 and 1990 flagship Topps cards graded PSA/BGS 9 can reach $100-150 due to their iconic photos capturing key moments in the latter stages of his career. The 1985 shows an action shot from his record-breaking 3000th hit season while the 1990 features Brett rounding third base during what would be his final playoff run. Both serve as bookends representing the brilliant twilight years of a surefire Hall of Famer.
As one of the true superstars and greatest third basemen ever, George Brett cards hold tremendous value for serious collectors. Prices are dictated mainly by condition, with high-grade examples from his rookie seasons through playing prime routinely selling for thousands. Even well-centered copies of his most iconic 1970s/80s issues can sell for hundreds. For dedicated Royals and Brett aficionados, acquiring vintage cards is a worthwhile long-term investment chronicling one of baseball’s enduring legends. With Hall of Fame credentials and a devoted following, demand for George Brett’s renowned baseball cards show no signs of slowing down.
