George Brett had a Hall of Fame baseball career that spanned from 1973-1993 as he established himself as one of the greatest third basemen to ever play the game. Brett was an 18-time All-Star, won the American League batting title a record five times, and hit over .300 thirteen times in his career while playing his entire career for the Kansas City Royals. Unsurprisingly, Brett’s iconic baseball career has led to some of his vintage baseball cards becoming extremely valuable collectors items today. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the most valuable and sought after George Brett baseball cards.
One of the holy grails for any George Brett card collector is his 1973 Topps rookie card. Brett’s rookie card featured him as a member of the Royals organization even though he had not yet made his MLB debut. Only about 50 of the 1973 Topps George Brett rookie cards are graded Mint or Near Mint condition by professional grading companies like PSA or BGS today. The high demand from collectors combined with the slim supply of Gem Mint graded 1973 Brett rookie cards has pushed the value of this iconic card up significantly over the years. A PSA 10 or BGS 9.5 graded 1973 Topps George Brett rookie in pristine condition would easily fetch $25,000-$35,000 or more at auction depending on the market. Even lower graded versions in the PSA 8-9 range still command prices well over $1,000.
Another key George Brett card that is highly valued is his 1975 Topps card. Brett’s 1975 Topps card was his true rookie card as it was the first card issued after he broke into the Majors in 1974. Similar to his 1973 rookie, only a very small number of the 1975 Topps Brett rookie cards still exist in top condition today. A Mint PSA 10 1975 Topps Brett rookie in unbelievable state of preservation could sell for $15,000+ at the right auction. Near Mint PSA 9 copies still trade hands for $4,000-$7,000 depending on demand. The 1975 Topps Brett rookie is one of the true iconic cards from the 1970s era and remains a must-have for serious Royals and Brett collectors.
Speaking of iconic 1970s cards, Brett’s iconic 1979 Topps Traded card stands out as another hugely valuable piece in any collection. Brett absolutely exploded onto the national scene in 1979 by winning the American League batting title with a record .390 batting average. His epic season led Topps to issue a traded variant featuring Brett in a different uniform pose. Only about 150-200 PSA 10 Gem Mint graded copies are believed to exist of the ultra-tough 1979 Topps Traded Brett card. When a PSA 10 surfaces at auction, it often realizes prices north of $10,000. Even well-centered PSA 9s still trade in excess of $3,000. Brett’s magnificent .390 batting average season is immortalized on this iconic card.
Card collecting truly reached new heights during the 1980s era. As such, several of Brett’s most valuable and significant card appearances came during that boom period. One such examples is his 1981 Donruss card where Brett is pictured in a classic batting stance. Only a small population of the 1981 Donruss Brett cards still grade PSA 10 Mint, and when one crosses the auction block it can potentially sell for $7,000-$9,000. Another monster 1980s Brett card is the iconic 1985 Topps card that features Brett in a Royals away jersey. Fewer than 10 PSA 10 grades are believed to exist of this incredibly tough Brett card to preserve in pristine condition. But when one does surface for auction, it often realizes over $5,000 due to its extreme rarity and representation of Brett in the mid-1980s.
The late 1980s and early 1990s saw Brett winding down his HOF career but still providing epic moments. His incredible 1990 score rookie phenom card that came as part of the set’s Diamond Kings subset stands out. Only a tiny population of the 1990 Diamond Kings George Brett card still grade PSA 10 Gem Mint today. Being one of the final notable Brett rookie type cards issued as he neared retirement, along with its premium Diamond Kings parallel status, a PSA 10 1990 Brett commands over $3,000 at auction due to its prestige and rarity. Brett also had a memorable 1989 Upper Deck card that features a unique bronze style parallel. Well-centered PSA 9 copies in great condition still sell in the $1,000 range showing this final chapter Brett card also holds strong value.
In conclusion, George Brett’s Hall of Fame career and iconic status with the Kansas City Royals franchise has translated into tremendous collector demand and value for many of his vintage baseball cards over the years, especially those in pristine preserved condition. Cards like his rare 1973 and 1975 Topps rookies along with the 1979 Topps Traded, 1981 Donruss, and prized 1980s/90s issues represent the true creme de la creme for Brett collectors. With Brett’s legacy continuing to grow after his retirement, the rarest and highest graded examples of his classic cards will likely maintain their coveted statuses and premium price tags for dedicated George Brett collectors.
