Mantle, Jackson, Wagner, Cobb, Ruth, and Aaron all have one thing in common — besides baseball that is. Their most pristine trading cards routinely sell for six and seven figures at auction. When it comes to Hank Aaron baseball cards, these are the home runs you don’t want to miss out on.
7 Valuable Hank Aaron Baseball Cards
Hammerin’ Hank Aaron may have launched onto the Major League Baseball scene in 1954, but he has just as much resonance today as he did back then. A World Series Champion, Major League MVP, and 3x Gold Glove Award winner, Hank Aaron is one of the most prolific players in baseball history.
With a legacy like that, who wouldn’t want whatever piece of it they could get, trading cards and all?
| Most Valuable Hank Aaron Baseball Cards | Record Sales Prices |
|---|---|
| 1954 Topps #128 Rookie | $645,000 |
| 1963 Topps #390 | $220,000 |
| 1968 Topps #110 | $174,000 |
| 1960 Topps #300 | $90,000 |
| 1971 Topps #400 | $60,000 |
| 1958 Topps #418 | $58,800 |
| 1962 Topps #320 | $58,800 |
1954 Topps #128 Rookie: $645,000
Rookie cards are doubtlessly one of the most valuable kinds of baseball trading cards in print. Hank Aaron’s Topps rookie card debuted at the tail-end of the Golden Age of Baseball Trading Cards, and some of that residual luster still lingers on it.
These orange-backed portrait rookies sell for $50,000+. And in the best condition, they’ll easily hit six figures. Currently, the most expensive of these #128 rookies — and Hank Aaron trading cards in general — sold for $645,000.
1963 Topps #390: $222,000
Jumping ahead two decades in his career to 1963, Hank Aaron was still playing for the Milwaukee Braves. The Topps card commemorating this great season features an almost candid portrait of the famous ball player, with a teal stripe at the bottom and a coral mid-bat callout shot.
It’s got that lovely off-color grain of 60s film and is a fairly valuable card. But the #380 card that made it rise to number two on our list is the only example to reach gem mint 10 status. In non-assessors’ terms, it’s as perfect as a 70+ year old card can be. In 2022, it sold for $222,000 through Heritage Auctions.
1968 Topps #110: $174,000
Much like the Topps #390 card, Topps #110 from 1968 is just as lacking in the impressive grades department. With sports cards, the more pristine the condition, the more they’ll be worth.
Naturally, a mid-century Hank Aaron card featuring a more animated portrait would draw attention. But a gem mint 10 card in perfect condition is the true diamond of the lot. One of only five gem mint #110s went to sale in 2023 and sold for $174,000.
Professional grading services like PSA and BGS appraise cards on a specific rubric and give them a grade. The higher the grade, the more a card is worth.
1960 Topps #300: $90,000
Landscape-oriented baseball cards aren’t as common as vertical ones, making Hank Aaron’s horizontal #300 Topps card from 1960 a curious departure. This card features a casual black-and-white hips-and-up photograph alongside a portrait that shows off his strong bone structure. It’s delightfully technicolor and commemorates the third year he won the Gold Glove.
Only nine of these cards have been professionally graded at a mint 9 or higher, making any that come to auction a prize to be won. Collectors fought for one of these cards in 2021, and one walked away with it for $90,000.
Related: How to Use Baseball Card Appraisals to Maximize Your Investment
1971 Topps #400: $60,000
Incredibly, Hank Aaron stayed with the Milwaukee (and later Atlanta) Braves for two decades — a feat not many pro players achieve. With a strong batting arm and a responsive outfield game, he was just as competitive in 1971 as he was in 1954.
His 1971 Topps #400 card shows the face of a mature ball player. Despite losing some of the bells-and-whistles that make 1950s and 1960s cards so charming, perfect 10 gem mint versions do well at auction. One came up for sale in 2020 and went for $60,000.
1958 Topps #418: $58,800
When it comes to the most expensive baseball cards, Mickey Mantle may top the list. But you can’t get better than a 1958 Topps Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron batting enemies-themed trading card. The two stand next to each other, with their bats at the ready.
Aaron and Mantle fans alike flock to this card when it comes to auction. One near-perfect example recently sold in a Heritage Auction’s listing for $58,800.
1962 Topps #320: $58,800
Noted for its wood grain border, the 1962 Topps #320 Hank Aaron card rounds out our list. While it’s not a particularly memorable card, it is hard to find it in higher grades. So, when a mint 9 #320 came to auction in 2023, people’s interests were piqued, and it raked in an altogether impressive $58,800.
There Are No Curveballs Here
Given his legend-making two-decade career in Major League Baseball, there’s no surprise that his well-preserved trading cards still go for five and six figures. You don’t need to be a baseball fan to know Hank Aaron’s name. And it's this immediate association that’s launched him — and his trading cards — into pop culture stardom.
