(LOT 558)
PSA Gem Mint 10 Johnny Mize 1948 Bowman Rookie Card #4 - One of Only 2 "PSA 10" Examples!
This sensational 1948 Bowman rookie card of Hall of Famer Johnny Mize just happens to have achieved the virtually impossible PSA "Gem Mint 10" assessment! Joining only a single other example at this hallowed plateau, it shares the spotlight as the finest specimen of its kind! The "Big Cat" (Mize's popular nickname) is one of the most underrated Hall of Fame power hitters in baseball history. The left handed swinging slugger still holds the Major League record by swatting 3 home runs in a game an incredible six times, and just happened to slug two home runs in a game 30 times!

Amazingly, he ended his career with 359 home runs and only struck out 524 times, a remarkable ratio for any power hitter. He began his career with the Cardinals in 1936, was traded to the NY Giants after the 1941 season and finished his career with the Yankees as a part-time 1st baseman and successful pinch hitter. Four times he either led or tied for the league lead in home runs, including a staggering 51 round trippers in 1947 and 40 dingers in 1948 (both years tied for the league lead with Ralph Kiner). Likewise, this "jaw-dropping" offering deserves an award for "top of the charts" cardboard stature. Mize's superb black & white" portrait image projects as well as when it was first removed from a pack nearly 70 years ago.

Crystal clear focus and perfect contrast highlight this virtually "perfect card" with the entire image featuring nearly "dead-on" 50/50 centering between four ultra-clean borders. Both the obverse and reverse sides depict pristine like surfaces, the corner tips are un-improvable and the reverse side typography is flawless. Rarely are we afforded the luxury of using the term "perfect", but via its unfathomable Gem Mint 10 assessment, this immaculate card has defied all odds and achieved grading perfection!

MIN BID $2500