1948 Bowman George Mikan #69

Before Michael Jordan, before LeBron James, before anyone could name a single basketball card worth real money, there was George Mikan. The 1948 Bowman set was the first major basketball card set produced in the United States. Card #69, George Mikan, was the set's star attraction. It remains the most important basketball rookie card ever printed and the foundation stone of the entire basketball card market.

Mikan was 6'10" at a time when that height was almost freakish in basketball. He wore thick glasses. He did not look like an athlete. He looked like the guy who fixed your car. But he dominated the sport so completely that the NBA literally changed its rules to limit his impact. The lane was widened from 6 feet to 12 feet specifically because of Mikan. They called it the "Mikan Rule."

His 1948 Bowman card, a small black-and-white photograph measuring roughly 2-1/16" by 2-1/2", has become one of the most valuable basketball cards in existence. A PSA 3 last sold for $7,500. A PSA 8 appeared at Sotheby's in 2024. The card is basketball's answer to the T206 Wagner.

Quick Value Summary

• Item: 1948 Bowman George Mikan #69 (Rookie Card)

• Year: 1948

• Category: Sports Cards

• Condition Range:

  • PSA 1 (Poor): $2,000 - $3,500
  • PSA 3 (VG): $6,000 - $8,000
  • PSA 5 (EX): $15,000 - $25,000
  • PSA 7 (NM): $50,000 - $80,000
  • PSA 8 (NM-MT): $100,000 - $200,000+
  • PSA 9+ (Mint): $300,000+

• Record Sale: PSA 9 examples have sold in the six-figure to high-six-figure range

• PSA Population: Over 400 graded; only 5 at PSA 8 or higher (as of recent cataloging)

• Rarity: Rare in high grades

The Story

George Mikan grew up in Joliet, Illinois. He was tall, clumsy, and nearly blind without his glasses. Notre Dame rejected him. He ended up at DePaul University under coach Ray Meyer, who spent two years teaching Mikan footwork drills that transformed the awkward giant into a scoring machine. By his senior year, Mikan was the best player in college basketball.

He turned pro in 1946, first with the Chicago American Gears of the National Basketball League, then with the Minneapolis Lakers (who would later become the Los Angeles Lakers). Mikan led the Lakers to five championships in six years, playing with a ferocity that belied his bookish appearance. He broke bones, played through injuries, and posted scoring numbers that no one could match.

In 1950, the Associated Press named him the greatest basketball player of the first half of the twentieth century. When the NBA needed a gate attraction for a doubleheader at Madison Square Garden, the marquee didn't read "Knicks vs. Lakers." It read "Geo. Mikan vs. Knicks." He was the first player who was bigger than his team.

The 1948 Bowman basketball set captured this moment. The set contained 72 cards featuring players from the Basketball Association of America (BAA), the precursor to the NBA. The cards were small, printed in black and white, and inserted into packs of Bowman bubble gum. Nobody saved them carefully. They were gum cards for kids. Seven decades later, the survivors are the earliest documentation of professional basketball in card form.

Mikan's card #69 shows him in a Minneapolis Lakers jersey, looking directly at the camera. The image is grainy, the printing quality modest. The card stock is thin and susceptible to creasing, chipping, and staining. Finding one in high grade is genuinely difficult.

How to Identify It

• Size: Approximately 2-1/16" x 2-1/2". These cards are noticeably smaller than modern trading cards.

• Front: Black-and-white photograph of Mikan in a Lakers jersey. "GEORGE MIKAN" printed below the photo. Card number "69" in the set.

• Back: Brief biographical text and statistics. The back is printed in a single color.

• Card stock: Thin, gray-white stock. The cards were designed to be inserted in gum packs and were not built for longevity.

• Centering: Most 1948 Bowman cards are poorly centered, with the image shifted left, right, or vertically. Well-centered examples are uncommon and command premiums.

Common confusions: There is no other Mikan rookie card to confuse this with, but the 1948 Bowman set is sometimes confused with later Bowman basketball issues (1950, 1951). The 1948 cards are noticeably smaller and have a different card stock and printing style.

Value by Condition

PSA 1 (Poor): $2,000 - $3,500 Heavy creasing, staining, or paper loss. The card is identifiable but damaged. Even at this level, it is a $2,000+ card because of what it represents.

PSA 2-3 (Good to VG): $4,000 - $8,000 Visible wear including rounded corners, light creases, and surface wear. The image is clear and the card is structurally sound. A PSA 3 last sold for $7,500 on the secondary market.

PSA 4-5 (VG-EX to EX): $10,000 - $25,000 Minor wear. Corners show handling but are not rounded. Surface is clean with minimal staining. This is where the card starts to look like something you'd want to display.

PSA 6-7 (EX-MT to NM): $30,000 - $80,000 Sharp corners, clean surfaces, good centering. Light wear detectable only on close inspection. PSA 7 examples are uncommon and command strong prices at auction.

PSA 8 (NM-MT): $100,000 - $200,000+ Only 5 copies have been graded PSA 8 or higher out of over 400 submissions. At this grade, the card is nearly perfect: sharp corners, clean surfaces, well-centered, and free of print defects. A PSA 8 was offered through Sotheby's in September 2024 as part of the Fanatics Collect auction.

PSA 9-10 (Mint to Gem Mint): $300,000+ If PSA 10 examples exist, they would be among the most valuable basketball cards ever sold. The fragile card stock and small size make gem-mint survival extremely unlikely.

Trending: Values have appreciated significantly since 2019, driven by the broader basketball card boom. The market cooled slightly in 2022-2023 but has stabilized. Long-term demand is supported by Mikan's historical significance as basketball's first superstar.

Authentication and Fakes

• PSA or BGS grading is essential. The value differential between raw and graded examples is large, and counterfeits exist.

• Trimming: Some owners have trimmed card edges to remove damage and improve centering. PSA and BGS check for trimming as part of the grading process.

• Reprints: Modern reprints of the 1948 Bowman set exist. They are typically on heavier, whiter card stock and lack the slightly rough texture of original cards.

• Restoration: Chemical cleaning to remove stains, pressing to remove creases, and corner rebuilding are all forms of restoration that major grading companies check for.

• Grading cost: PSA charges vary by declared value and service tier. For a card worth $7,500+, expect $75-$150 for standard grading, or more for faster service.

Where to Sell

• Auction houses: Heritage Auctions, PWCC Marketplace, Goldin, and Sotheby's (through their Fanatics Collect partnership) all handle high-value vintage basketball cards. Seller's commissions: 5-15% depending on the venue and sale price.

• Online marketplaces: eBay is active for graded examples. Fees: 12-13%. COMC (Check Out My Cards) and other consignment platforms offer alternatives.

• Card shows: The National Sports Collectors Convention and regional shows connect sellers with dealers. Expect 70-85% of market value on direct dealer sales.

• Costs to budget: PSA grading ($75-$300 depending on tier and declared value), insured shipping ($20-$50), and platform fees (5-15%).

Not sure about the condition of your vintage basketball card? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for an AI estimate.

Related Items