(LOT 81)
1962 Topps #320 Hank Aaron PSA 9 MINT - Highest PSA-Graded Example!
PINNACLE HAMMERIN' HANK!!! Most meticulous collectors would not be surprised 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 0.05%, of the 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. This pinnacle 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 subjects earning the sanctified 9 MINT grade!

The most meticulous hobbyists 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 ultra-sensitivity of the 1911 T205 Gold Border, 1955 Bowman, and 1971 Topps issues. No wonder this pristine Hammerin' Hank offering is one of his most sought-after PSA 9 cards, for 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, and although Barry Bonds has since surpassed that mark, it's no secret that Bonds tested positive for PEDs, ably assisting him in surpassing Aaron's abundantly accepted "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 MLB all-time highs. 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 impeccable contrast and crystal-clear 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 centering that is excruciatingly tough to find on any '62 Topps subject, with Aaron's legendary pose only revealing the slightest partiality towards the right edge. Additional attributes include immaculate surfaces, razor-sharp edges and pinpoint corners (only some microscopic touching on several corners barely visible to the naked eye prevents the perfect 10 grade), with all of the above-mentioned features justifying why this world-class offering was rewarded with the hallowed 9 assessment. It was only a few months ago that another PSA 9 specimen sold for a staggering $103K, with this grand offering's remarkable borders, breathtaking image quality, razor-sharp corners and excellent centering all combine to truly substantiate its best of the best standing on the illustrious PSA Pop Chart!

MIN BID $15,000
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