Another 2013 Collecting Goal Complete! Come Check Out My 2000 Topps Hank Aaron Commemorative Set!

Another 2013 Collecting Goal Complete!  Come Check Out My 2000 Topps Hank Aaron Commemorative Set!

I am so excited to be able to announce that after collecting this set for almost one full year that I have finally completed the Hank Aaron 2000 Topps Commemorative set.

This 23-card set features a re-print of each of Hank’s Topps base cards issued from his rookie season of 1954 to his final season in the majors of 1976.

The set features some truly classic Topps card designs, and I also like watching the Braves logo transform through three decades as you scroll from the top of the set to the bottom.

Enjoy.

I consider Hank Aaron to be the greatest hitter of all-time, and putting together a set of cards like this truly makes me proud.

I do wish that Topps never stopped producing these commemorative sets as there are some fantastic talents that are worthy of being showcased in this manner, but I am so happy that they chose wisely and make sure to honor Mr. Aaron in this way before they ceased the production of these sets.

Cheers to Henry Aaron!!!

Hank Aaron 2000 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #8 – 1961 Topps Design

Hank Aaron 2000 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #8 – 1961 Topps Design

I continue to work to add more cards from this set to my collection set since officially declaring that I wanted to build the full set as one of my 2013 collecting goals.

This is the 8th card in the set, a re-print of Aaron’s 1961 Topps baseball card:

 

Hank Aaron was spectacular in 1961.  His numbers are MVP-worthy, yet he finished in 8th place for the honor.

The numbers:  .327 batting average, .381 on-base percentage, 197 hits, 39 doubles, 10 triples, 34 home runs, 120 RBI, 115 runs scored, and 358 total bases.  He was an All-Star for the National League squad, and when reviewing his numbers and comparing them to the MVP of the league in 1961, Frank Robinson, they are on par or better in every major offensive category.

Hank Aaron 2000 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #10 – 1963 Topps Design

Hank Aaron 2000 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #10 – 1963 Topps Design

I continue to work to add more cards from this set to my collection set since officially declaring that I wanted to build the full set as one of my 2013 collecting goals.

This is the 10th card in the set, a re-print of Aaron’s 1963 Topps baseball card:

 

 

 

Henry Aaron was a beast during the 1963 baseball season – his 10th in the league.

By the time that the 162-game schedule was complete, Aaron was the National League’s leader in seven major offensive statistical categories.

The are:

• Runs – 121
• Home Runs – 44
• RBI – 130
• Slugging – .576
• OPS – .977
• OPS+ – 179
• Total Bases – 370

His performance led to a 3rd place finish for the NL MVP Award.  He finished behind Sandy Koufax and Dick Groat.

Hank Aaron 2000 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #7 – 1960 Topps Design

Hank Aaron 2000 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #7 – 1960 Topps Design

I continue to work to add more cards from this set to my collection set since officially declaring that I wanted to build the full set as one of my 2013 collecting goals.

This is the 7th card in the set, a re-print of Aaron’s 1960 Topps baseball card:

Hank Aaron’s offensive output was so spectacular in 1960 that I was shocked to find that he finished 11th in the MVP voting at the end of the year.  Aaron led the league in three categories at the conclusion of the season: RBI (126), Total Bases (334), and sacrifice flies (12).  In addition to that, he connected for 172 hits which included 20 doubles and 40 home runs.  He scored 102 runs, stole 16 bases, and struck out just 63 times in 664 plate appearances.

 

Hank Aaron 2000 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #15 – 1968 Topps Design

Hank Aaron 2000 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #15 – 1968 Topps Design

I continue to work to add more cards from this set to my collection set since officially declaring that I wanted to build the full set as one of my 2013 collecting goals.

This is the 15th card in the set, a re-print of Aaron’s 1968 Topps baseball card:

Hank Aaron had another solid season in 1968.  He played in 160 games during the ’68 campaign, the second highest count of any single season in which he played.

Some of Aaron’s notable numbers from that season include: 174 hits, 33, doubles, 29 home runs, 84 runs scored, 86 RBI, 302 total bases, and a batting average of .287.  In 676 plate appearances, Aaron was walked 64 times and struck out just 62 times.

Hank Aaron 2000 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #12 – 1965 Topps Design

Hank Aaron 2000 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #12 – 1965 Topps Design

I continue to work to add more cards from this set to my collection set since officially declaring that I wanted to build the full set as one of my 2013 collecting goals.

This is the 12th card in the set, a re-print of Aaron’s 1965 Topps baseball card:

 

Amazingly, the 1965 baseball season was Hank Aaron’s 12th year in the big leagues.   And he was just 31 years old!

Aaron paced the National League with 40 doubles in 1965, the second highest tally of his career.  He also hit .318 on the year with 319 total bases and an OPS of .938.

Aaron finished 7th in the voting for the NL MVP in 1965 while making the All-Star team as a starting outfielder.

Hank Aaron 2000 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #1 – 1954 Topps Design

Hank Aaron 2000 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #1 – 1954 Topps Design

I continue to work to add more cards from this set to my collection set since officially declaring that I wanted to build the full set as one of my 2013 collecting goals.

This is the 1st card in the set, a re-print of Aaron’s 1954 Topps baseball card:

Ah, the rookie card – Hank Aaron’s first baseball card!!!  What a beauty!!

Aaron had a pretty solid debut season in 1954 with the Atlanta Braves.  He finished in 4th place for the league’s Rookie Of The Year Award behind Wally Moon, Ernie Banks, and Gene Conley.

Still, the numbers were impressive for a 20-year old:  131 hits in 122 games played, .280 batting average, 27 doubles, 13 home runs, 58 runs scored, 69 RBI, and just 39 strikeouts in 509 plate appearances.

Hank Aaron 2000 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #23 – 1976 Topps Design

Hank Aaron 2000 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #23 – 1976 Topps Design

I continue to work to add more cards from this set to my collection set since officially declaring that I wanted to build the full set as one of my 2013 collecting goals.

This is the 23rd card in the set, a re-print of Aaron’s 1976 Topps baseball card:

As for Aaron’s 1976 baseball season, Aaron appeared in just 86 games for the Milwaukee Brewers.  He still showed some pop with 10 home runs and 35 RBI, but his ability to put the ball in play on a consistent level had fallen off pretty sharply.  Hank hit just .229 in 1976, 76 points below his career average of .305.

Hank Aaron 2000 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #18 – 1971 Topps Design

Hank Aaron 2000 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #18 – 1971 Topps Design

I continue to work to add more cards from this set to my collection set since officially declaring that I wanted to build the full set as one of my 2013 collecting goals.

This is the 18th card in the set, a re-print of Aaron’s 1971 Topps baseball card:

As for Aaron’s 1971 baseball season, his baseball abilities were still respected at the highest level by his peers and competition.  He drew a league leading 21 intentional walks while hitting .327 with 47 home runs and 118 RBI.  He also led the league in slugging percentage (.669), OPS (1.079), and OPS+ (194).

Hank Aaron 2000 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #2 – 1955 Topps Design

Hank Aaron 2000 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #2 – 1955 Topps Design

I continue to work to add more cards from this set to my collection set since officially declaring that I wanted to build the full set as one of my 2013 collecting goals.

This is the 2nd card in the set, a re-print of Aaron’s 1955 Topps baseball card:

The 1955 baseball season was Hank Aaron’s second season in the big leagues.  And Hank started to put his baseball skills on display for the world with an extremely successful sophomore effort.

The numbers: 153 games played, 189 hits, 37 doubles, 27 home runs, 105 runs scored, 106 RBI, a .314 batting average, a .366 on-base percentage, and best of all – just 61 strikeouts in 665 plate appearances.

Aaron was selected to his first All-Star Game in 1955 – starting a streak of 21-straight selections!

Not bad for a 21-year old kid from Mobile, Alabama!!