Top 5 Hall of Fame Big Man Rookie Cards
While the “traditional” big man may be considered a dying breed in the modern NBA (see Sudeep Tumma’s Evolution of The NBA Big Man article), the center has been the key position throughout basketball’s existence. And the collecting market for Hall of Fame big men reflects this with some of the most desirable cards in all of card collecting. In this post, I will outline the top five cards of Hall of Fame big men. For this ranked list, I will heavily rely on card values and rarity, but I will mention some key cards that are not necessarily that valuable or rare. I will try to keep it to players who played the center position the majority of their career. In my personal collection, I blend centers and power forwards, as at certain points in time these positions have been somewhat interchangeable as “big men”.
#1: 1948 Bowman #69 George Mikan
The number one card on this list is Mr. Basketball’s rookie card. George Mikan is often considered the pioneer of modern basketball and was a dominate force in his playing days. Mikan was so dominate, the NBA had to change to rules to make his less dominate. First, the famed “Mikan Rule” which widen the lane from six to twelve feet in 1951. Today the lane is sixteen feet wide. Second, goaltending is a rule because of him. He won seven championships across three leagues (NBL, BAA, NBA) in only nine seasons. While Mikan may not be a household name to casual basketball fans, you can’t have the game we have today without him. He is the original big man.
Mikan was more than a just great player, but a great contributor to basketball. He was one of the founders of the ABA, which has its own legacy prior to its merge with the NBA. In the ABA, he started the 3-point line (before the NBA did). He was instrumental in fighting for players’ rights in the NBA. He helped form the Minnesota Timberwolves, as he was best known for his years on the original Minneapolis Lakers. The guy earned his nickname as Mr. Basketball.
His rookie card (1948 Bowman #69) is the grail for vintage basketball collectors. Beckett price guide has this card listed between $15,000 and $20,000. As with all 1948 Bowman cards, the conditional rarity is extremely high. There are also some very rare “parallels” of the card that are very expensive if you can find them. Overall, there are less than 400 graded by PSA and only 30 by BGS.
#2: 1957 Topps #77 Bill Russell
At number two is the rookie card of the king of championships, Bill Russell. Beckett price guide says the card ranges from $10,000 to $20,000, and near mint condition cards (extremely rare) can go for $150,000. There quite a few after market signed copies of the card that are also very expensive when they enter the marketplace.
Russell won 11 championships in 13 seasons with the Celtics (and won the NCAA championship and Olympic Gold in 1956, no big deal). He was known as one of the best defenders and rebounders of all time, holding the record for rebounds in 1 half of a game. He became the first black NBA coach and was a rare “player-coach” by being both on the roster as a player and the head coach in 1966. His number is retired throughout the whole NBA. Needless to say, his rookie card is a the top of many collectors want list.
#3: 1961–62 Fleer #8 Wilt Chamberlain
At number three on the list is one of two Wilt Chamberlain rookie cards: 1961–62 Fleer #8. While there is another Wilt card in the set (#47 “In Action”), this one is largely considered is true rookie and is much more desirable. The Beckett value of this card is between $3,000 to $6,000. As always, high condition copies go for much much more. Card number 47 in the “In action” subset of 1961 Fleer goes for only $1000 to $2000.
Wilt was a legit big man, standing over 7 feet tall. He holds basically all records in the NBA, scored 100 points in the game, won 2 championships, and he played for the Harlem Globetrotters before his NBA career. His career accolades are ridiculous, just take a look at his Wikipedia page. His career statistics demonstrate both his dominance in his era and the importance of the center position in basketball. His legacy is intertwined with Bill Russell’s (#2 on this list) as they were yearly opponents. Legacy combined with the 1961 Fleer sets eye appeal makes this card the grail for many collectors, especially vintage basketball collectors.
#4: 1969–70 Topps #25 Lew Alcindor
Number four on this list is Kareem Abdul-Jabber’s rookie card. The Beckett value between $1000 to $2000, with signed or high condition copies going for much more. As I wrote in my 2023 Top 10 PC cards post, This card is arguably the most desirable card in the 1969 set. A BGS 8 of this card is valued at $12K and PSA 6’s regularly go for $1.5K to $2K. The card itself is not that rare, but the conditional rarity and the fact that it is the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar rookie card makes it highly collectable.
Kareem was obviously an icon both on and off the court. In short, he won 6 championships and 6 MVP awards across two franchises as a dominant post threat. His signature sky hook shot is as notable as Jerry West as “the logo” and Jordan’s “Air Jordan” dunk. Off the court he did some acting, writing, and activism. Combined together, his legacy makes his rookie card a key card in many different type of collectors personal collections. Judging by the insanely long lines for his autograph at the 2023 National, his popularity isn’t declining any time soon.
#5: 1957 Topps #19 Tom Heinsohn
For most, number five on this list comes down to personal preference. While the first four cards on this list are clearly the top cards, there are so many great rookie cards of great players that could fit the #5 spot. If we are ranking based on conditional rarity, Arnie Risen’s rookie card (1948 Bowman #58) is a great fit. If we are ranking by fan favorites, 1992 Stadium Club Beam Team 21 Shaquille O’Neal is a good fit. While most of Shaq’s rookie cards were massively over-produced and thus very cheap, the Beam Team card is a shorter printed insert that can go for some money if its in high condition (and even better if it has an after market signature). If we are ranking on eye appeal, many would put iconic 1986 Fleer cards here, such as Ralph Sampson’s (#97), Patrick Ewing (#32), and Akeem Olajuwon’s (#82) rookie cards. However, I think based on value, rarity, and eye appeal, you have to put Tom Heinsohn’s 1957 Topps rookie card here. Beckett price guide has this card listed between $500 and $1000. Again, condition is everything with this era of card. A near mint BGS 8 can go for closer to $2,500.
Now, this card is where I break my pure center rule. Heinsohn mostly played the 4 position as Bill Russell’s teammate. But as a “big man” known for his hard-nosed, tough style of play (and whose career is overlooked by many collectors), I had to include him on this list. Heinsohn was nicknamed “Mr. Celtic” for his long playing and coaching career with the franchise. He is one of the few people who went into the Hall of Fame for both his playing career and his coaching career. The guy was a key contributor to the dominate Celtics franchise of the 50s, 60s, and 70s, winning 8 championships as a player and 2 as a coach. His astounding career is often over shadowed by other great Celtics, such as his teammates and fellow Hall of Famers Bill Russel and Bob Cousy. (He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year over Bill Russell!) The 1957 Topps set is stacked with Hall of Famers, and this card should be at the top of that list with Bill Russell’s rookie card.
