The Honus Wagner of vintage basketball cards is here, the key to the 1948 Bowman basketball set. This extraordinary #69 George Mikan Rookie is a rare high-grade example from the first-ever Bowman issue devoted exclusively to basketball. Without a doubt the most famous and coveted card to come out of that all-important set. Unlike their Bowman baseball & football counterparts, the basketball cards are distinguished by their attractive full color print. There is a great future in vintage basketball collecting, given the youth involved and the growth potential of the sport of basketball in America, and it is only fitting that this card, inspired by the first dominant big man in basketball will be at the forefront of the hobby. With just 3 major vintage basketball sets ever produced (Bowman was the first in ’48, Topps in ’57, and Fleer in 1961), expect a strong upturn in demand for the more important cards. George Mikan paved the way for such legendary big men as Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul Jabbar & Bill Russell, and his 1948 Bowman is the most famous and important card you can get.