This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/11/2016
Less than three years after an allied victory in WWII, one of America's great traditions returned when the Bowman company reconstituted the hobby of baseball card collecting, producing a 48-card series that reintroduced the nation to many of America's greatest diamond heroes. Not since the 1941 Play Ball series had there been a mainstream baseball card set, an unfortunate side-effect of the war effort, so Bowman's collection was loaded with "rookie cards" of players that had actually been in the league for many years. Six of those rookies went on to Hall of Fame careers led by St. Louis icon Stan Musial. Stan "The Man" was the National League's answer to the great Ted Williams, a 7-time National League batting champion that frequently led the league in doubles, triples, and runs scored. Musial never won a home run crown, but his consistent output of 25-35 round trippers per year has landed him at #30 on the all-time home run list with 475. By the time this rookie card of Stan Musial made its way to the candy counter, he'd already won the National League MVP award twice, and that's while missing a season for military service. His '48 Bowman card is one of the most straightforward introductions of any card ever produced, a simple but serious black and white close-up portrait with a small bio of his already masterful achievements. The offered rookie card of Musial is graded PSA 9 with only one example graded higher. As with virtually all inaugural issues, the 1948 Bowman set is riddled with poor centering and print issues, but this phenomenal pasteboard is completely problem-free, offering up a central image of "The Man" that is beyond reproach, framed within a stunning white border that clearly outlines the card's near perfect centering. Three of the corners show only the slightest of microscopic imperfections that might keep them from GEM MINT consideration but easily meet the mark for MINT status, while the fourth corner, yeah, that's GEM MINT. The reverse stands equally up to the task, delivering unusually bold black print on a remarkably bright cardboard canvas that is precise in clarity. Over the past two years we've seen high-grade rookie cards of Clemente, Koufax, Aaron and, while not technically a rookie card, the 1952 Topps Mantle take exponential leaps in price. And with all due respect, each of those cards are relatively common compared to a MINT level specimen of this caliber. Here's the opportunity to acquire a true museum-caliber prize that is nothing short of extraordinary!