Outstanding early basketball set, the first nationally-distributed card issue documenting the fledgeling sport.  Since this is the first basketball issue, the 72-card set is loaded with rookies, the most notable of which is Hall of Fame center George Mikan. The earliest cardboard example of the game's first dominant big man, the 1948 Bowman Mikan is considered to be the most important vintage basketball card in the hobby, and is certainly among its most desirable. Part of the issue's scarce high-number series, the card is difficult to obtain in any grade (in 12 years, the example included in this set is the first we have ever offered).

The set is, of course, filled with other important rookie cards, including Andy Phillip, Bob Davies, Jim Pollard, Carl Braun, and more. 

Presented here is an attractive, mid grade set, carefully assembled by an advanced collector with special attention paid to overall eye appeal. The chief technical flaw with the cards is, as one would expect, centering, as Bowman's quality control with this early issue was lax. A technical breakdown of the set would be approximately 4% EX-MT, 27% EX, 37% VG-EX, 27% VG, and 4% GOOD or lesser, though the eye appeal is considerably stronger than the technical grade.  A breakdown of the set's keys is as follows: #9 Phillip (VG), #10 Davies (VG), #32 Holzman (VG), #34 Fulks (VG-EX), #38 Jeannette (EX), #43 Halbert (VG), #46 McKinney (EX), #48 Sadowski (VG-EX), #52 Simmons (EX-MT), #54 Palmer (EX), #55 Zaslofsky (EX-MT), #58 Risen (VG-EX), #60 Maughan (SGC VG/EX 4), #66 Pollard (SGC GD 2), #69 Mikan (BVG VG-EX 4), and #72 Braun (SGC VG 3). An outstanding example of the game's earliest nationally-distributed card sets, highlighted by a beautiful, well-centered Mikan rookie. 72 cards total.