1948 Bowman

6 Original Photos That Transformed into Iconic Basketball Cards

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Today, here’s a short basketball-dedicated list of 6 original pictures that Topps, Kahn’s Wieners, Fleer, and Bowman used to create some awesome cards.

1968 Topps Test #5 John Havlicek

In February 2020, Heritage Auctions sold this unique 8×10’’ photograph of John Havlicek, which Topps used for their scarce 1968 Topps Test Issue, for just $312.

John Havlicek Photo – Front
John Havlicek Photo – Reverse
1968 Topps Test #5 John Havlicek

1960 Kahn’s Wieners Jerry West

I don’t know if this photograph is a Type 1 example, but it is autographed and authenticated by JSA. In early 2023, the photo was listed for sale on eBay for $8,750.

Jerry West Photo – Front
Jerry West Photo – Reverse
1960 Kanh’s Wieners Jerry West

1961 Fleer #19 Tommy Heinsohn

The following 8×10’’ Type 1 image of Tommy Heinsohn was listed for sale on eBay for $1,800 in January 2023 but is now listed for $749.99. Heinsohn was an all-time great and was elected to the Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach.

Tommy Heinsohn Photo – Front
Tommy Heinsohn Photo – Reverse
1961 Fleer #19 Tommy Heinsohn

1961 Fleer #22 K.C. Jones

Robert Edward Auctions sold this Type 1 image of Boston Celtics Hall of Fame great K.C. Jones for $1100 in their 2020 fall auction.

K.C. Jones Photo – Front
K.C. Jones Photo – Reverse
K.C. Jones Photo – LOA
1961 Fleer #22 K.C. Jones

1976 Topps #60 Pete Maravich

Lelands’ 2022 Summer Classic Auction had three great Type 1 basketball photos used for the 1976 Topps basketball set, but the Maravich stood out. It sold for $1375.

Pete Maravich Photo – Front
Pete Maravich Photo – Reverse
Pete Maravich Photo – LOA
1976 Topps #60 Pete Maravich

1948 Bowman #69 George Mikan

This Mikan Type 1 image was signed and sold for $30k at Robert Edwards Auction’s 2018 Spring Auction. 

George Mikan Photo – Front
George Mikan Photo – Reverse
George Mikan Photo – LOA
1948 Bowman #69 George Mikan

I hope you enjoyed seeing these amazing original photographs. Please reach out if you have any other type photographs used to create basketball cards, particularly any from the ’80s Fleer basketball sets.

Happy collecting!

The Set That Never Was – The 1976-77 HRT/RES 1947 Bowman Baseball Cards

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Ted Taylor and Bob Schmierer created three series of 1947 Bowman Baseball cards in 1976 and 1977 to promote the 2nd and 3rd Philly Baseball Card Shows! They placed this advertisement in the July 1976 issue of The Trader Speaks to promote the show and cards!

Here’s what The Standard Catalog has to say about the 1976-77 HRT / RES 1947 Bowman Baseball Cards:

Advertised as “The Set That Never Was,” this collectors’ issue from Ted Taylor and Bob Schmierer used a 2-1/8” x 2-1/2” black-and-white format and gray cardboard stock to replicate the feel of the first post-WWII baseball cards. The set was issued in three series with advertising on back promoting the second (1976) and third (1977) annual EPSCC ‘Philly’ shows. Series one (#1-49) was issued in 1976; series two (#50-81) and three (#82-113) were 1977 issues.

PSA has graded more of these than I expected, considering it’s a bit of an odd collectors’ issue. There are 32 total PSA-graded cards across the 113-card set; here’s an example of one I found on eBay, card #17, in the 1st series, Jackie Robinson.

I found two complete sets for sale on eBay (January 2025); one was asking $295, and the other $285.

The $295 set included a T206 Honus Wagner promotional card, a sort of 114th card.

The seller of the $295 set also added a bit more information. First, they mentioned that the set was patterned after the 1948 Bowman baseball cards; surprisingly, The Standard Catalog didn’t write that; maybe it’s too obvious. They also said that Ted Taylor was HRT and Robert Schmierer was RES, adding that they printed 2000 series one sets while limiting series two and three to just 1000 sets each.

Happy collecting!

The Lone PSA 10 1948 Bowman Yogi Berra Card

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Before Memory Lane Inc. sold the lone PSA 10 1948 Bowman Yogi Berra RC for $192k in 2017, Mastro moved the gem mint example in their April 2006 Sports Catalog Auction.

Mastro wrote, “This singular card is the ultimate complement to a high-grade assembly of its series, and it dominates the field in establishing the industry standard.”

Today, of just over 2200 graded samples, it’s still the only Gem Mint example.

As I said, Memory Lane Inc. sold the card for $192k in May 2017. You can see that it had been reholdered into a case I believe it remains in today.