(LOT 146)
1970 Topps #123 Pete Maravich Rookie PSA 9 MINT
One of the hobby's most iconic vintage rookie cards is the exalted 1970 Topps #123 Pete Maravich inaugural basketball subject, presented here in a truly breathtaking PSA Mint 9 holder! Incredible to say the least, PSA has currently encapsulated over 2,800 "Pistol Pete" rookie cards with only a microscopic two graded higher. It comes as little surprise that basketball collectors actively seek Maravich's rookie marvel in the highest possible grade, for he easily stands as one of the greatest all-time players to ever grace a hardwood floor and was selected as one of the NBA's "Top 50" all-time greats. Who could ever forget the flashy brilliance of "Pistol Pete" Maravich who dazzled the professional basketball world for a decade; averaging a sensational 24.2 points per game after posting an unfathomable 44.2 points per game average in his remarkable NCAA Division 1 tenure.

A Number 3 first round pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1970 amateur draft, his unparalleled and creative offensive skill-sets led to legendary Hall of Famer John Havlicek's classic quote: "Pete Maravich is the best ball-handler of all-time". Sadly, his life was cut short when he tragically died at the tender young age of 40 during a 1988 basketball pick-up game due to a previously unknown heart defect. Yet, as an enduring testament for his unbridled legacy, this museum worthy masterpiece just happens to surface in "pack-fresh" condition. An irrefutable "blazer", its factory-issued attributes have miraculously retained their pristine quality, somehow defying father-time for the past half-century.

The impeccable obverse side surface reveals an extraordinary Maravich image and the boldest green-hued background you will ever see, as he secures an NBA basketball donning his snow-white uniform. Near-perfect centering between four blinding white borders, scintillating corner tips, and a super clean verso revealing a brief "bio" and L.S.U. collegiate stats are additional superlatives justifying the seldom-surfacing assessment. Bottom line is a "picture is worth a thousand words" and the aesthetics emanating from the spellbinding Maravich offering certainly speak for themselves. This miraculous 51-year-old keepsake truly stands as one of the finest "Mint 9" examples extant, and while "Pistol Pete" is unfortunately no longer with us, his sensational achievements will surely echo for eternity!

MIN BID $7,500
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