Hank Aaron is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time and one of the true icons of the sport. Known affectionately as “Hammerin’ Hank,” Aaron established seemingly unbreakable records during his 23-year career in Major League Baseball. Not surprisingly, some of his most valuable and collectible baseball cards chronicle Aaron’s incredible career accomplishments and milestones.
While there are several highly valuable Hank Aaron rookie and vintage cards on the collector market, some of the true gems that can fetch six figures at auction involve Aaron’s record-breaking home run milestones. Perhaps the most famous and highest valued Aaron card commemorates his 715th career home run that broke Babe Ruth’s longstanding all-time home run record.
The 1973 Topps #660 Hank Aaron card is one of the true holy grails for any serious baseball card collection. On April 8, 1974, Aaron launched his 715th career home run off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing. This simple action shattered one of America’s most hallowed sports records. To commemorate this monumental achievement, Topps hastily produced the Aaron #660 card as an insert in the 1973 Topps set prior to the official 1974 season cards.
Given the rushed production schedule to get the 715 HR milestone card into the hands of collectors ASAP, the 1973 Aaron #660 card had a very limited print run believed to number only around 50,000 copies. This extreme scarcity combined with its historical significance representing one of the most iconic moments in baseball history has made the 1973 Topps #660 Hank Aaron 715 HR card the most valuable baseball card in existence today, regularly achieving auction prices well into the six figures. A PSA 10 Gem Mint example sold for an astonishing $2.88 million at auction in 2021, setting a new record.
Aaron’s Topps rookie card from the 1954 baseball card set is also considered one of the foremost key vintage cards for any collection. Featuring Aaron in a Milwaukee Braves uniform during his second MLB season in 1954 after being called up in 1953, the 1954 Topps #311 Hank Aaron rookie card established itself as one of the true icons among vintage rookie cards. Higher graded PSA/BGS examples of the Aaron rookie have sold for amounts ranging between $100,000–$500,000 depending on condition.
Continuing to commemorate Aaron’s career home run milestones are other valuable cards over the years. The 1967 Topps #497 features Aaron after hitting his 300th career home run. High graded versions regularly sell for $10,000–$20,000 prices. Topps produced a special color photo variation of this card in 1980 that has sold for upwards of $40,000 PSA 9 examples. Aaron’s 400th home run is depicted on the 1968 Topps #527 card, with PSA 9 specimens bringing in $15,000–$25,000.
Aaron’s 1957 Topps card #205 from his third full season with the Milwaukee Braves is another of the key Hank Aaron vintage cards sought after by serious collectors. Displaying Aaron’s progression towards superstardom at a young age of just 24, high graded ’57 Topps Aaron cards can sell for $20,000–$40,000 depending on condition. During this time period of the mid-1950s, Aaron began asserting himself as one of the game’s premier power hitters and a budding all-time great talent.
From 1969-1974, Topps produced Hank Aaron cards each year chronicling his relentless pursuit of Babe Ruth’s home run record. These include the 1969 Topps #600 card showing Aaron at 713 career HRs in a dramatic action photo swing pose. PSA 9 copies sell in the $20,000 range. His 1973 Topps card #10 puts Aaron at 713 HRs in an Atlanta Braves uniform on the cusp of history. High graded ’73 Topps Aaron cards sell for $15,000–$30,000 levels.
Later career Hank Aaron cards from the 1970s after breaking Ruth’s record also hold strong value for vintage baseball card enthusiasts and Atlantana Braves collectors. The 1975 Topps #660 card depicts Aaron in an Atlanta Braves cap tipping his helmet acknowledging the fans after demolishing Ruth’s 714 home run plateau permanently. PSA 9 grades of the ’75 Aaron typically sell for $10,000–$15,000 prices today. Meanwhile Aaron’s final career season with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1976 is featured on the 1976 Topps Traded #760T card, a coveted piece for Milwaukee and Aaron completionists.
Any vintage Hank Aaron rookie, record breaker, or star performance baseball cards grading high in condition have the potential to sell for five figures or greater on the enthusiast market. As one of the true icons of baseball who shattered longstanding home run records during his legendary career, Aaron’s on-card achievements command top dollar among collectors years after his retirement. The 1973 Topps #660 Aaron 715 HR card stands above the rest as the highest valued paper collectible in the entire sports memorabilia marketplace today thanks to its unique historical significance.
