Key Deal Facts
According to PSA, “when it comes to collecting cardboard of “Hammerin’ Hank,” there is no disputing what card sits atop the rest. Aaron’s 1954 Topps rookie card #128 is not only the key to a set filled with other stars and rookies, it remains one of the most recognizable images in the entire collecting world.”
Graded an 8.5 by PSA, sports collectibles leading grading agency. This 1954 Topps Henry Aaron is one of 7 to have received that grade, with only 27 examples graded higher out of 5,175 graded examples.
The PWCC Top 100 index, an index that tracks the price movements of the top 100 most valuable trading cards sold at auction and which includes other comparable cards, has risen 264% since January 2008.
Notoriously difficult to grade due to poor centering, print defects in the vivid orange background, and chipping issues along the edges on the green backside of the card are common problems throughout the set.
The 1954 Topps set carries historical significance for the history of the trading card industry. It was produced during heated competition between two rival manufacturers, the more established Bowman and the upstart Topps.
According to Heritage Auctions, this card is considered “one of the most essential post war rookies” ever produced with its “bright colors, sharp corners and clear surfaces [as] keys to its success.”
A Hank Aaron 1954 Topps PSA 9 sold for $645,000 on February 27th, 2021. A PSA 8 sold for $95,000 in February 2021, up from $43,000 in December 2020. The last recorded public sale of a Hank Aaron 1954 Topps PSA 8.5 was for for $66,000 in February 2020, before Aaron’s passing.
The consignor retained $55,000 of equity in the offering.
