George Brett was one of the greatest third basemen in Major League Baseball history and had an illustrious 21-year career playing for the Kansas City Royals from 1973-1993. Brett was an excellent power hitter and clutch performer who won numerous awards, made 13 All-Star appearances and helped lead the Royals to a World Series championship in 1985. Given his legendary status and longevity in the game, George Brett baseball cards from his playing days in the 1970s through early 1990s can be quite valuable, especially his rare and high-grade rookie cards. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the key George Brett cards that are worth money for collectors.
1973 Topps #520 Rookie Card – Brett’s true rookie card is one of the key rookie cards from the 1970s and in high-grade it can be worth thousands. In PSA Gem Mint 10 condition, the 1973 Topps Brett rookie has sold for over $15,000. Even in excellent centered Near Mint-Mint 8 condition, it has sold for around $2,000. This was Brett’s first major league card issued and the design and photo really capture the young phenom at the start of his career. It’s clearly one of the most desirable George Brett cards.
1974 Topps #188 – Brett’s second year card is also a significant one for collectors. Like his rookie, this card in high grades of PSA 8 or above can fetch thousands. In a PSA 10 perfectgem state, a 1974 Topps #188 Brett card recently sold for nearly $9,000. Even in PSA 8 or PSA 9 condition examples have sold for $1,500-$3,000, showing strong collector demand for high grade copies of this key mid-1970s Brett issue. The photo and design progressed nicely from his rookie look.
1975 Topps #180 – Brett established himself as an All-Star caliber player by 1975 and this card appropriately shows him in the Midsummer Classic. PSA 10 copies in perfect condition have topped $2,000 at auction in recent times. In PSA 9 Near Mint condition, 1975 Topps #180 Brett cards can still sell for $500-$800. This marked Brett emerging as a true superstar and remains a very collectible issue, especially for Royals fans and vintage set builders.
1980 Topps Traded #56T – Brett continued his excellence in the late 1970s and was featured in the new Topps Traded set series in 1980. The Traded issues were produced mid-season and offered rarer player photo variations. Brett’s Traded card shows him batting left-handed and is considerably tougher to find in high grade than his regular issues. A PSA 10 recently sold for $1,375 while PSA 9s have brought $350-550. Very nice examples for those seeking a condition graded Brett card from this era.
1981 Fleer #378 – The first Fleer set issued since the 1950s featured current stars like Brett. This crisp action photo captures Brett fielding at third base. Finding a PSA 10 of this coveted 1981 design is extremely difficult but they have topped $2,000 when they surface. PSA 9 copies in excellent shape still sell for $400-800 showing strong collector interest in the Fleer Brett issued during his peak years. Condition is critical, though, as lower grades are far less valuable.
1985 Donruss #77 – This card commemorates Brett winning the 1985 American League batting title with a .335 average to help lead the Royals to a World Series victory. His defining season and championship success makes high graded examples especially collectible. A PSA 10 recently sold for over $1,300 while PSA 9s have brought between $300-600. It captures a treasured moment for Royals fans and Brett collectors alike during the height of his career.
1992 Score #644 – Brett’s final regular season card before retiring. It marks the end of an incredible two-decade Royals career and shows him in the classic late-career Royals blue pinstripes. This nostalgic final image of Brett remains very popular. PSA 10 examples have sold for over $700 while PSA 9s trade between $150-300. Even in lower PSA 8 grade, they have sold for $100 proving demand for any final Brett issue in collectors’ hands. A true icon of the franchise immortalized here.
1991 Fleer Update #U-53 – Brett’s final Fleer card issued after he broke into the 3,000 hit club cements his place among the game’s all-time great hitters. This scarce updated subset features a rare posed action shot. In the highly coveted PSA 10 perfect condition, it has reached over $650 at auction. PSA 9s still sell for $200-350 showing their allure to vintage card collectors. While tough to grade high, it represents Brett’s incredible hitting achievement at the end of his career.
While there are many other notable George Brett cards that perform well in the collecting marketplace, this sampling showcases some of the true key vintage issues that can be worth large sums of money, especially when earning high numerical grades from services like PSA. With each representing milestones in Brett’s Hall of Fame career and tremendous success with the Royals, these graded examples continue to enthral collectors. As one of the sport’s finest third basemen and consistent star players, George Brett cards, particularly his classic 1970s and 1980s issues, will likely retain and potentially increase in value over time for astute investors. Whether you root for the Royals or simply admire Brett’s greatness, these graded gems make for superb long-term holdings in any collection.
