(LOT 270)
1968 Topps #80 Rod Carew All-Star Rookie (Second-Year Issue) PSA 10 GEM MINT - Highest Graded Example!
This magnificent PSA 10 GEM MINT 1968 Topps #80 Rod Carew second-year offering joins a mere ten other examples on the illustrious PSA "Pop" Chart as the "best of the best!" Currently PSA has handled over 2,600 1968 Topps #80 Carew subjects, with the eleven "10s" representing a fractional 0.4% of the total graded specimens. Rod Carew's inaugural "full" Topps issue (he shares his 1967 rookie card with Hank Allen), this offering is one of the highly coveted 1968 Topps "All-Star" Rookie Trophy subjects. Ironically, commencing with his 1967 rookie campaign, Carew would go on to be selected to an unfathomable 17 consecutive All-Star teams. One of baseball's greatest all-time pure hitters, Hall of Famer Rod Carew posted a spectacular .328 lifetime batting average and claimed seven A.L. Batting Titles.

His unfathomable .388 mark in 1977, along with his likewise league-leading 1.019 OPS, prompted his only MVP Award. For these reasons alone, Carew's early high-grade Topps cards are ultra-desirable, with none more prestigious than a PSA 10 keepsake. This pack-fresh masterpiece has rightfully earned its pinnacle assessment via the sparkling hues emanating from Carew's classic throwing pose as well as the radiant-like TOPPS 1967 ALL STAR ROOKIE trophy. A gleaming front surface, blistering sharp edging including four pinpoint corners, extremely rare near-perfect centering and a super clean verso complete this museum worthy offering that is virtually pristine in every facet. With a previous "10" fetching nearly $26K in Memory Lane's February 2022 auction, it's clearly obvious that the limited number of available PSA 10s will spur a fierce battle for this offering's next fortunate owner!

MIN BID $4,000