(LOT 83)
1962 Topps #320 Hank Aaron PSA 9 MINT – Highest Graded PSA Example!
SCARCE PSA 9 AARON!!! It comes as little surprise that the 1962 Topps set reflects one of the lowest percentages of PSA 10 GEM MINT cards due to their ultra-condition-sensitive wood grain borders. Incredibly, only 126, or 0.047%, of the nearly 266,000 PSA encapsulated copies for all 598 subjects have achieved the pinnacle 10 grade, with the popular Hank Aaron #320 subject yet to boast a single 10 assessment. That said, this highest graded PSA 9 MINT masterpiece has been joined by only 18 additional examples on the PSA Pop Chart, with a microscopic 0.5% of the 3,600+ PSA graded Aaron's earning the prestigious MINT grade! The most meticulous enthusiasts are well aware that any high-grade 1962 Topps subject is worthy of the highest hobby accolades, with their fragile brown borders equal to the sensitivity of the 1955 Bowman and 1971 Topps issues.

No wonder this pristine Hammerin' Hank offering is one of his most sought-after PSA 9 cards. Similar to its proud standing at the top of the renowned PSA population report is Aaron's arguable status as baseball's greatest all-time right-handed hitter (with all due respect to Hornsby and Foxx). Entering the 1962 campaign, a 28-year-old Aaron had already belted 219 homers in only eight seasons, unaware that 12 years later, on April 8, 1974, he would belt an Al Downing fastball over the left-field fence at Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium for his 715th dinger, miraculously eclipsing Babe Ruth's magical 714 mark. Hank would ultimately end his momentous 23-year career with 755 home runs, although Barry Bonds' breaking of that record with 762 home runs was assisted by the use of PEDS to surpass Aaron's "true" all-time record.

What people forget is that the immortal Aaron would not just place his indelible stamp on America's Pastime via the mighty long ball; for his lifetime 2,297 runs batted in and 6,856 total bases still reside as all-time records. He rightfully has earned the respect of being one of baseball's top 10 greatest players, and we cannot imagine a better testament to his unequivocal legacy than this near-impossible-to-find PSA 9 masterpiece. One of Henry's most imposing images ever utilized on a Topps or Bowman issue is the 1962 illustration, revealing a still youthful Aaron donning his classic Milwaukee road flannels, still four years removed from his new Braves home in Atlanta. The breathtaking image rewards its viewers with nearly flawless contrast and clarity, and as previously stated, the wood grain borders have remarkably retained virtually all of their original pack-fresh quality.

Also defying insurmountable odds is the exceptional near-perfect centering that is excruciatingly tough to find on any '62 Topps subject, with Aaron's legendary pose well-positioned between the impeccable wood grain frame. Additional attributes include immaculate surfaces, razor-sharp edges and right-angled corners, with all of the above-mentioned features justifying why this world-class offering just might reside as the finest PSA encapsulated '62 Topps Aaron. It was less than a year ago that another PSA 9 specimen sold for $59K, yet that particular example did not exhibit the same lower corner strength as this arguably finer subject. The extraordinary borders, sparkling image quality, pinpoint corners and magnificent centering all combine to justify the ultra-rare 9 assessment, placing this revered memento as one of the most significant Hammerin' Hank cardboard marvels extant!

MIN BID $15,000

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