(LOT 385)
1973 Topps #615 Mike Schmidt Rookie Card PSA 9 MINT
SCHMIDT ROOKIE!!! Presented here is the seldom-surfacing PSA 9 Mint 1973 Topps #615 Mike Schmidt high-number rookie card of the player widely considered to be baseball's greatest all-time 3rd baseman. Of the approximate 8,500 PSA encapsulated Schmidt rookie cards, only 2.9% have managed to achieve the sanctified "9" assessment, with a paltry six specimens graded higher! One look at this card begs the question: what does it take to be awarded the hallowed "10 Gem Mint" grade? Nearly every attribute of this highly coveted heirloom is equivalent to sheer perfection, including the virtually impossible to find near-50/50 centering with no tilt (most '73 Topps cards are plagued by off-positioned/tilted images). Additional pack-fresh qualities include vibrant hues, original surface gloss, dazzling white borders, a razor-sharp perimeter and four pinpoint corner tips.

Schmidt's MLB legacy commenced in 1972 when the slugging 3rd sacker played in a mere 13 games for the Phillies as a rookie add-on in September, belting only a single home run in 34 official plate appearances. In 1973, Schmidt started to display a hint of his enormous power by clubbing 18 home runs, a bona fide glimpse of the storied career upon which he was about to embark. The following '74 campaign, Schmidt crushed 36 home runs to lead the Senior Circuit, the first of his amazing run of walloping 30+ homers in 13 of 14 seasons (including four seasons of 40 or more). His lifetime accolades include 548 lifetime home runs, three N.L. MVPs, ten consecutive Gold Glove awards ('76 thru '85), a four-homer game accomplished on April 17, 1976, a 12-time All-Star, a 1980 World Championship, and a nod on the All-Century Team along with Brooks Robinson at 3rd base. Synonymous with Schmidt's remarkable list of accomplishments is this sensational offering that boasts nearly all of the pristine attributes of the six PSA 10 examples!

MIN BID $2,500
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