(LOT 19)
1954 Topps #128 Hank Aaron Rookie (PSA Mint 9) - Only 2 Graded Higher!
Rookie cards of our National Pastime's greatest heroes continue to fetch staggering price tags. There certainly appears to be an infinite-like demand and pricing surge for the inaugural cards of Mantle, Mays, J.Robinson, Aaron, Clemente, Koufax and so many more. The pricing surges of these cardboard immortals is clearly evident by the prices realized for high-grade specimens such as the 52 Topps Mantle, 1955 Clemente and 1954 Aaron rookies. Incredible as it may seem, '52 Topps Mantles in "NM/MT-8" grade have realized over $500,000, a 1955 Topps Clemente has sold for $486,000 and two PSA Mint 9 Aaron's fetching unfathomable sale prices of $312K and $350K!

With regard to Hank Aaron, one of the most undervalued post WWII cards has always been his 1954 Topps rookie card. Fortunately, this inexplicable disservice to "Hammerin Hank's" first cardboard issue no longer exists, with his "Mint 9" rookie card continuing to realize $200K+ sales. Presented here just happens to be one of the finest preserved 1954 Hank Aaron Topps rookie cards, a sensational PSA Mint 9 copy that has been bested by only 2 Gem Mint 10 examples! Hard to believe, that of nearly 4,500 PSA encapsulated copies, only a fractional 0.5% (23 copies) have managed to achieve the "Mint 9" plateau, with this miraculous "time defying" offering destined to be the cornerstone of any prestigious Rookie Card, Hank Aaron of 1954 Topps collection.

Due to the ongoing steroids issue in professional baseball, many diehard baseball fans still consider Aaron's 755 lifetime home runs the all-time mark, dismissing Bond's "tainted" 762 statistical high mark. Additionally, Aaron is a member of the elusive 3,000 hit club and is the undisputed owner of the most lifetime R.B.I.'s in Major League history. For these reasons alone, more hobby enthusiasts are beginning to "jump aboard" the Aaron bandwagon, seizing his prized high-grade cardboard artifacts as they continue to achieve lofty pricing levels.

Similar to legendary cards such as the Babe Ruth M101 and Mickey Mantle '51 Bowman rookie issues, the Aaron rookie was significantly undervalued for quite some time, only recently earning its rightful place among the hobby's most desirable and valuable cardboard keepsakes. Regarding its immaculate eye appeal, the crystal-clear Aaron portrait image accompanied by a well-contrasted black & white fielding pose are both set against a sparkling orange background, with the classic illustration atypically exhibiting fine centering between three dazzling white borders.

For full disclosure, only an extremely microscopic-like image "tilt" towards the upper right corner prevents the card from exhibiting dead-on centering, yet even the most sophisticated enthusiast would agree this peripheral "tilt" barely negates the spectacular overall aesthetics. Pin-point corners, gleaming surfaces, extremely sharp edges, and a pristine-like verso complete one of the finest Hank Aaron rookie cards extant. In closing, considering Aaron's immortal standing among baseball's greatest players, one can easily make the argument that his "Mint 9" rookie card has additional growth potential, especially bearing in mind that, statistically speaking, he stands "heads and tails" above his Mantle and Clemente rookie card peers!

MIN BID $50,000
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