Proudly presented here is the coveted rookie card of basketball's first superstar. When your nickname is “Mr. Basketball” and you were the foundational player in the history of the sport, what elite basketball card collection would be complete without a George Mikan 1948 Bowman rookie? It's like building a vintage baseball card collection without owning a significant Babe Ruth!
Mikan's rookie card was issued in 1948 just as he was embarking on what would become the most decorated professional hoops career in the sport's early years. More than any player of his generation, George was responsible for making basketball a nationally recognized sport. As the game's first dominant big man, the level of personal and team success that he achieved would pave the way for future greats such as Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. From 1947 tthrough '54, Mikan guided the Minneapolis Lakers to seven championships (NBL, BAA & NBA) in eight years and led the league in scoring on three separate occasions, retiring in 1956 as basketball's all-time scoring leader. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959, Mikan became the start-up ABA league's first commissioner in 1967. He was named to the 25th and 35th NBA Anniversary Teams and was selected as one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1996.
The 1948 Bowman set was the first nationally distributed basketball issue. It includes pro cagers of the day in two series of 36 cards each, with this Mikan card in the scarcer second series. It would not be until almost a decade later in 1957 that Topps issued its next national set. Mikan, pictured here with his trademark glasses, is the key card in the ’48 set, strangely wearing #21 rather than his better known #99. 1948 Bowmans are often found off-center with toning along the edges, making it tough to locate any in high-grade form. This Mikan PSA NM-MT 8 is a rare cardboard treasure. Out of 406 authenticated examples in PSA's population report, only five are graded higher (four 9s and one 10). The colorful blue background pops beautifully against Mikan's dribbling figure in the foreground, with super clean borders, well-defined edges and corners, and a remarkably smooth surface. Easily one of the finest copies you will ever lay your eyes on.