This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/8/2023
The Michael Jordan rookie card may be the standard bearer for iconic basketball cards, but the far more difficult Wilt Chamberlain debut card from the 1961 Fleer series still serves as a "white whale" for advanced enthusiasts pining for a high-grade example. While MJ's exploits on the court are well-documented, few realize how utterly dominant Wilt "The Stilt" was in his day. Chamberlain averaged over 50 points and 25 rebounds per game in 1961. Averaged .... not season highs .... averaged! But perhaps even more incredible is that he also played 48.5 minutes per game that year. Yeah, a game is only 48 minutes, but Wilt played virtually every minute of every game and all of the added overtime minutes. Even in his last season, at the age of 36, he was still playing over 43 minutes per game. Graded PSA 8, the featured rookie card of the immortal Wilt Chamberlain shows outstanding centering, an incredible trait considering the centering-challenged nature of the 1961 Fleer series, and sports a wonderful rough cut along the vertical edges. The image of the young Chamberlain is sublime, bolstered by pack-fresh surface colors and staunch NM/MT or better endpoints. The reverse shows the usual moderate toning. One of the most important pieces ever to represent the hard court and a cornerstone to any advanced collection!