The illustrious history of Topps baseball cards dates back to the early 1950s. Over the past 70 years, Topps has produced countless sets celebrating America’s pastime. Despite releasing new editions year after year, certain sets from the company’s archive stand out as particularly noteworthy. The 1970 Topps baseball card set – featuring card #700 – is widely considered one of the greatest and most iconic releases in the hobby’s history.
Card #700 from the 1970 set honors one of the most prolific hitters in baseball history – Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves. In 1969, Hammerin’ Hank toppled Babe Ruth’s longstanding career home run record by belting #715. Entering the 1970 season, Aaron was poised to further extend his new all-time mark. Topps commemorated Aaron’s historic achievement with a regal card fitting of the home run king.
The design of #700 breaks the mold from the rest of the 1970 set. Rather than featuring a primarily red border, Aaron’s card changes to a solid gold-colored frame befitting his status. Topps also increased the size of Aaron’s image considerably compared to normal cards. The photo captures Aaron in all his glory, mid-swing and following through on one of his majestic moon shots. In elegant script across the top, it reads “Hank Aaron…Broke Babe Ruth’s Record…715 Home Runs.”
Beyond just being aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, card #700 from the 1970 Topps set holds immense cultural and historical significance. At the time, breaking the Babe’s hallowed record was no small feat. Ruth dominated in the 1920s and 1930s in a manner that seemed untouchable for decades. But Aaron persevered through racism, threats, and adversity to finally surpass The Babe in 1969. Topps rightfully acknowledged the magnitude of Aaron’s achievement with its regal design for #700.
Sadly, Aaron’s skin color and chasing of Ruth made him a target for racism and hate throughout 1969 and beyond. He received death threats every day that season from segregationists who didn’t want a black man to hold the home run record over a white icon. Topps’ card helped enshrine Aaron as the new home run king for all fans and collectors to admire. For young Black children in particular, Aaron inspired hope and dreams of one day making their mark in the national pastime despite facing degrading racism.
Aaron played through 1983, retiring with 755 home runs – a record that stood for over 30 years until it was broken by Barry Bonds in 2007 amidst steroid controversy. Over half a century later, Aaron remains one of the most respected figures in all of sports for how he handled the adversity. The historical magnitude and cultural impact of his breaking Ruth’s record in 1969 still resonates today. Card #700 from the 1970 Topps set captured Aaron at the pinnacle of his powers and sealed his place in baseball immortality.
Decades later, the card remains one of the true gems in the hobby. With its oversized photo, gold border treatment, and acknowledgement of Aaron’s career accomplishment – few cards compare in terms of visual appeal, history, and cultural resonance like #700. It’s routinely featured in magazine articles, documentaries, and highlight reels celebrating Topps’ rich history from their early years of defining the baseball card industry. Even at auction houses, #700 consistently fetches bids in the tens of thousands of dollars from collectors seeking to own this coveted piece of sports history.
Along with the iconic 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle and 1909 T206 Honus Wagner, Hank Aaron’s 1970 Topps #700 is part of the holy trinity of the most valuable and sought after vintage cards. It will likely only increase in cultural prominence and collector value as time goes by. Not only does #700 illustrate Aaron’s place in baseball history, but also his symbolism in the ongoing fight against racism. That Topps honored such a unifying, heroic figure with one of the most grandly designed cards in their archive further cemented the 1970 set as an untouchable classic amongst enthusiasts and historians. Aaron’s legacy as one of sport’s true heroes marches on over 50 years later, as does the grandeur and mystique of his one-of-a-kind Topps card #700 from 1970.
