(LOT 244)
1961 Fleer #8 Wilt Chamberlain Rookie PSA 8 NM-MT
WILT THE STILT ROOKIE!!! One of the most sought-after rookie cards in our illustrious hobby is the ultra-popular 1961 Fleer #8 Wilt Chamberlain subject, presented here in a spellbinding PSA 8 NM-MT holder! Of the approximate 2,000 PSA encapsulated examples, only a meager 2% have managed to achieve a higher assessment at the time this was written. However, most significantly, this absolutely remarkable keepsake just happens to reveal a near-perfectly centered image. 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 Feller Chamberlain examples portray somewhat skewed images, with PSA's grading tolerance allowing up to a 65/35-70/30 centering range for 8 NM-MT cards.

Chamberlain's incredible list of NBA records and/or accomplishments is so extensive that we can only begin to touch upon his sheer greatness. The towering 7-foot 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 New York Knicks on March 2, 1962. This 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, 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 in 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 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 crimson background.

Sparkling hues, four white borders, clean surfaces, right-angled corners, and no obtrusive flaws whatsoever complete one of the finer '61 Chamberlain subjects extant. In fact, had it not been for some diminutive touching at the upper left corner's utmost tip, this card might be residing in a PSA 8.5 holder. It's no secret that high-grade rookie cards continue to soar in value, with 9 MINT and 8 NM-MT Chamberlain Rookies having achieved record-breaking pricing points of $461K and $72K, respectively, in 2021. This truly justifies the potential bidding frenzy for this outstanding PSA 8 gem that appears to have been just pulled from a 1961 Fleer wax pack, miraculously portraying an abundance of its original factory-issued attributes as well as a near-impossible to find well-centered Wilt the Stilt image!

MIN BID $12,500
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