(LOT 196)
Significant c.1959/'60 Wilt Chamberlain "Rookie" PSA Type I Encapsulated Calvin D. Campbell Photo – Measures Approx. 7" x 9"
The 1959/'60 basketball season would see the NBA introduce one of its greatest players ever, as Wilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain would forever change the game of basketball. Coming off a single season with the Harlem Globetrotters, this 7'1" center would immediately develop into one of basketball's top five all-time players, proudly standing alongside the likes of Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell as one of the most gifted players to ever grace a hardwood floor. Signed by the Philadelphia Warriors for the 1959/'60 campaign, Chamberlain would not waste time in establishing himself as the NBA's most dominating player via his unfathomable 37.6 points and 27 rebounds per game averages that were a sure sign of things to come for the budding superstar.

This magnificent "rookie" photo portrays Chamberlain donning his classic #13 uniform and lining up with eight other members of his Warrior's team for pre-game introductions. The 7" x 9" illustration is absolutely brilliant, revealing near-perfect contrast and resolution, with a rogue upper left corner wrinkle and some modest surface "rippling" along the upper border not negating the awe-inspiring aesthetics emanating from the ultra-rare central image. The final compliment is the verso's bold "Calvin D. Campbell" photographer stamp and a typed notation reading: "Players line up across court as name is called over PA System in pre-game introduction."

It is no secret that Chamberlain's unfathomable array of NBA records and accolades are so extensive, we could not even begin to list all of his world-class achievements. Among his greatest accomplishments are Wilt's 30,000+ lifetime 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 rebound and 30 points over 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 N.Y. Knicks on March 2, 1962. While there is a myriad of Chamberlain images to choose from, only a handful of them originate from his 1959/'60 rookie campaign, with this PSA Type 1 rookie illustration meriting a final resting place in any world-class photo compilation!

MIN BID $500
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