In the annals of basketball, certain legends shine brighter, resonating with fans across generations. Players like Kareem-Abdul Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, and Bill Russell have etched their names in history due to their unparalleled prowess and game-changing contributions. However, tracing the sport’s lineage, we uncover an earlier icon: the incomparable George Mikan.
Hailing from Joliet, Illinois, Mikan’s basketball journey took off at DePaul University. By the time he transitioned to the NBA in the late 1940s and the early ’50s, he was already redefining the sport. His impressive height of 6-10 gave him a distinct advantage, letting him set the stage for the modern center’s role. From 1948 to 1951, Mikan’s scoring records were exemplary, with averages soaring beyond 27 points each year. By the time he hung up his jersey after an illustrious seven years, he had accumulated an average of 23.1 points and 13.4 rebounds per game. Thanks to Sports Card News for This Article
Parallel to Mikan’s ascendancy, the card manufacturing company, Bowman, unveiled its exclusive basketball card set in 1948. This venture, lasting merely a year, has rendered the set a gem in the eyes of card collectors.
Mikan’s rookie card from this Bowman set stands out as the crown jewel. Its rarity and significance came to the fore when a PSA 9 graded card from this set was auctioned for a staggering $800,000 on eBay, via OTIA Sports surpassing preceding sales by a substantial margin.
Decades have passed, but the card’s appeal hasn’t waned. At a recent Goldin 100: Part 2 auction, a Mikan rookie card from 1948, graded SGC MINT 9, was clinched for a significant $228,000. Documentation from Goldin emphasizes the exclusivity of this card, noting its grade as singular and unparalleled.
The Goldin auction wasn’t just about Mikan, though. A record was set for a 1984-85 Star #101 rookie card of none other than Michael Jordan, which, with its PSA 8.5 grade, garnered $144,000. Adding a touch of vintage, a 1916 M101-4 Blank Back #151 Babe Ruth rookie card, bearing the SGC 1.5 FR 1.5 grade, fetched a price of $288,000 – a first for a card of this grade.
The staggering prices achieved at such auctions do more than just exhibit monetary exchange. They are a testament to the reverence and passion that enthusiasts harbor for the titans of the game. It’s a testament that even amidst emerging sports stars, the impact of pioneers like Mikan remains undiminished. These cards, beyond their material value, are time capsules. They’re mementos that celebrate and immortalize the eras they hail from and the indelible imprints left by the athletes they depict.
