This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/2/2021
Graded NM/MT 8 by PSA. Although the 1954 Topps collection doesn't contain a card of Mickey Mantle, it's a pretty safe bet that even if it did, it would be one of the few Topps collections where the Mantle card isn't the marquee pasteboard. And while rookie cards of Al Kaline and Ernie Banks would provide more than enough power to lead any Topps series, it's the introduction of home run legend Hank Aaron that rises to the top as one of the most coveted debut cards ever produced. Graded by PSA, the presented NM/MT example has easily met the increasingly rigid standards set forth by the California grading company, delivering a pristine specimen that outclasses most in its grading tier. The centering is within a degree or two of perfection while each edge and endpoint meets the specifications of NM/MT or better. The image of the young "Hammer" shows crystal-clear sharpness, flanked by a glowing orange backdrop that fails to garner even a speck of unwanted stray print. Flip the card over and you're treated to a highly colored reverse, beaming with green pigment that is unwilling to relinquish its hold on the edges and corners. Among the top-five post-war HOF rookie issues produced, and an absolute necessity in any respectable high-grade HOF collection. At recent price levels we see tremendous upward mobility for this exceptional card.