On Display: 1973 Topps Hank Aaron PSA 10 GEM MINT
Issued: 1973 by Topps Chewing Gum, Inc.
Card Number: #100
Population: 8 Known PSA 10s
Historical Note: Final full season before breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record in 1974
“My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging.” – Hank Aaron
This 1973 Topps Hank Aaron card, graded PSA 10 GEM MINT, is not only a pristine artifact of baseball history—it is also one of the finest known surviving examples, with only eight cards reaching this ultimate grade out of thousands submitted. Issued during a pivotal moment in Aaron’s career, this card captures the Hall of Famer just one season before breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record, a feat that redefined the baseball record books.
As the 1973 season began, Henry “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron stood at 673 career home runs, needing just 41 more to tie Babe Ruth’s legendary total of 714. That year, Aaron launched 40 home runs, finishing the season one shy of Ruth’s mark. On April 8, 1974, in Atlanta, Aaron hit his iconic 715th home run, forever cementing his place in American sports history.
The 1973 Topps set is known for its condition sensitivity, particularly due to frequent off-centering and tilted images. This card, however, defies those odds—featuring nearly perfect centering, crisp alignment, razor-sharp corners, and brilliant surface quality. Aaron’s calm fielding stance, his sunglasses raised against a high sky, is framed by four flawless white borders, making this card a gem in every sense.
Beyond its visual excellence, the card represents the enduring legacy of Hank Aaron, whose career totals—755 home runs, 2,297 RBIs, and 6,856 total bases—still inspire awe. These achievements are matched only by Aaron’s quiet dignity and resilience during an era of great social change.
This card is more than a collectible—it is a tribute to the integrity, power, and legacy of one of the game’s most revered figures.