(LOT 103)
1961 Fleer #8 Wilt Chamberlain Rookie Card SGC 9 Mint - Highest SGC Graded Example!
Wilt Chamberlain's incredible list of NBA records and/or accomplishments is so extensive we can only begin to touch upon his sheer greatness. Wilt "The Stilt" 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 N.Y. Knicks on March 2, 1962. He unquestionably stands as one of the top 10 players in NBA history, with some historians still considering him the greatest all-time player. As with any sports icon, their most desirable cardboard keepsake is their inaugural issue, and Chamberlain's exalted 1961 Fleer #8 rookie card is presented here in a breathtaking SGC 9 Mint holder. One of only six at this stratospheric plateau, it stands as the highest graded SGC example, with PSA's "Pop" Chart listing only a meager three "10 Gem Mint" specimens. 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 by-pass 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 foremost careers in NBA history. Synonymous with his storied achievements is this extraordinary offering, with the highlight of this "rare for the grade" marvel being the atypical near-perfect centering between four dazzling white borders. Indeed, the timeless Chamberlain pose reveals only a microscopic favoritism towards the right edge, and it would take an excruciating search to locate a finer centered example. Pack-fresh to say the least, Chamberlain's classic black & white Philadelphia Warriors pose is virtually flawless, with the youthful Chamberlain about to embark on an unprecedented career. Gleaming surfaces, razor sharp corner tips, and no obtrusive flaws whatsoever complete one of the premier finer '61 Chamberlain subjects in the hobby. It is no secret that high-grade rookie cards continue to soar in value, with "9 Mint" Chamberlain rookies having achieved staggering price tags last year including a record setting $461K in April 2021 and an additional $400K sale in February. That said, we will let you, the sophisticated collector, ultimately decide the true value of this SGC "9 Mint" inaugural Chamberlain marvel that reflects sensational eye appeal equal to or finer than any other example on the planet!
MIN BID $25,000
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