We're only at number 3 on a list of some of the most iconic baseball cards, but already there is a pattern emerging. For us, a lot of the most iconic cards involve the rookie cards of baseball legends. And this 1954 Topps Hank Aaron rookie card is just one of what will likely be many rookie cards of legends featured here.
Legends, huh? I've got a tendency to overuse that word when talking about baseball players, but without question it is a description worthy of the late Henry Louis Aaron.
But before we get into why Hank Aaron helps make this card so iconic for me, let's get into the card itself a little first.
In all honesty, there were plenty of choices we could have made within the 1954 Topps set; Ernie Banks, Willie Mays and Ted Williams to name just a few. But the vivid orange background, the old school Milwaukee Braves logo and Aaron himself really sets his card apart from the others. We can easily understand why others might prefer another from the 1954 Topps set though.
This was the first time that a Topps design featured 2 photographs on one card; the close up colour image of the face and a black & white image of Aaron fielding a ball. We're big fans of the facsimile autograph on these cards too, something which still has a place in modern cards - most recently Topps Heritage.
This card sells anywhere from around £1,800 to £145,000, depending on condition. That means that, like most of the cards that'll feature here, we've long accepted that it's incredibly unlikely to ever make its way into our collections. But it's a striking card and goes for those prices for a reason.
Aaron started his baseball career with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro Leagues before he was signed up by the Braves, then of Milwaukee. What followed was an unbelievable career. 25 All Star appearances, breaking Babe Ruth's all time HR record (which had lasted nearly 40 years) and a Hall of Famer.
Aaron's record 755 homeruns would last 33 years before Barry Bonds - insert optional asterisk here - would top that mark in August 2007.
His 2297 RBI and 6856 total bases are still 1st all time and both look to be under no threat of being surpassed any time soon after the Covid-19 shortened season likely put an end to Albert Pujols' already slim hopes.
Hank Aaron sadly passed away in January but his legacy will last long into the future. That is just one of the reasons why this card is so sought after and valuable within the card collecting community.
Do you know of a card that you think should be featured here?
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