Lot # 80: 1961 Fleer #8 Wilt Chamberlain Rookie PSA 8 NM-MT

Category: Basketball

Starting Bid: $10,000.00

Bids: 17 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Winter Premier 2024 Auction",
which ran from 1/17/2024 9:00 AM to
2/3/2024 7:00 PM




(LOT 80)
1961 Fleer #8 Wilt Chamberlain Rookie PSA 8 NM-MT

WILT THE STILT ROOKIE!!! Of the long list of iconic rookie cards circulating throughout the hobby, only a handful can boast the unparalleled prestige of the 1961 Fleer #8 Wilt Chamberlain subject, presented here in an incredible PSA 8 NM-MT holder! Of the approximate 2,000 PSA encapsulated examples, only a meager 2% have managed to achieve a higher assessment! Yet, of utmost significance, this absolutely spellbinding heirloom just happens to reveal a well-centered image, with Wilt's classic pose only revealing a slight partiality towards the right edge. As sophisticated hobbyists are well aware, locating a Wilt the Stilt 1961 Fleer rookie card with an extremely well-positioned illustration is synonymous with finding a needle in a haystack.

Indeed, even a myriad of high-grade '61 Fleer Chamberlain examples portray somewhat skewed images, with PSA's grading tolerance allowing up to a 65/35 to 70/30 centering range for 8 NM-MT cards. Chamberlain's incredible list of NBA records and accomplishments is so extensive that we can only begin to touch upon his sheer greatness. The towering 7' center scored over 30,000 points to the tune of a 30.07 points per game average that only stands a shade behind Michael Jordan's 30.12 all-time mark. Amazingly, Chamberlain averaged over 20 rebounds and 30 points throughout his entire 15-year career and is the only player to score 100 points in a game, a feat he accomplished in a game against the NY Knicks on March 2, 1962. This feat continues to be recognized as the number one feat ever achieved in a single sporting event and is arguably basketball's most unbreakable record.

He unquestionably stands as one of the foremost players in NBA history, along with the likes of Jordan, Abdul-Jabbar, Russell, Robertson, and James, with some historians still placing him at the top of that formidable list. Chamberlain's early basketball years can be traced back to when he was displaying his miraculous skills with the Harlem Globetrotters after completing his final collegiate campaign with the Kansas Jayhawks squad (1957-58) where he averaged over 30 points and 17 rebounds per game. Chamberlain chose to bypass his senior season to play for the legendary Harlem Globetrotters for the 1958-59 season to the tune of an astounding $50,000. Ultimately, Chamberlain would join the NBA's Philadelphia Warriors for the 1959-60 season and roll out the red carpet for one of the most storied careers in NBA history. Synonymous with his exalted achievements is this breathtaking offering, with the highlights of this world-class marvel being Chamberlain's near-perfectly centered half-body pose as he looks into an unknown future that would ultimately see him embark on one of the greatest careers in NBA history.

Pack-fresh, to say the least, Chamberlain's classic black and white Philadelphia Warriors pose reveals his #13 jersey, with the classic illustration encompassed by a bold red crimson background. Brilliant colors, four bright white borders, super clean surfaces, square corners, and no glaring surface blemishes complete one of the superior PSA 8 NM-MT Chamberlain rookies extant. It is no secret that high-grade rookie cards continue to soar in value, with 9 MINT and 8 NM-MT Chamberlain rookies having achieved record shattering pricing points of $461K and $72K, respectively, in 2021. This truly justifies the potential bidding frenzy for this world-class offering that appears to have been just pulled from a 1961 Fleer wax, miraculously emanating a Wilt the Stilt image exhibiting excellent centering!

MIN BID $10,000

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