1948 Bowman Basketball Set

Fast Facts

Year(s) Issued: 1948

Number Cards: 72

Card Size: 2-1/16″ x 2-1/2″

Common Card Value (Good Condition): $50

Scarcity Rating: (1 to 10, 10 scarcest):  4

Full 1948 Bowman Basketball Checklist

Keys For Collectors

• It is the first official full basketball release and the only basketball issue ever released by Bowman.
• It features George Mikan’s rookie card, considered one of the early pioneers of basketball. 
• Cards featured black and white photos of players, set on either a blue or red background.
• Twelve cards (out of the 72 in the set) featured various basketball plays with a picture diagram.
• The set features the rookie cards of nine Basketball Hall of Fame players. 
• The set featured players of the BAA (Basketball Association of America) and the NBL–which would only two years later become the NBA, following a merger of the BAA and the NBL
• PSA has graded on average roughly 150 cards of each card  in the 72-card set 

Search For 1948 Bowman Cards on eBay

1948 Bowman Basketball Summary + Design

The 1948 Bowman Basketball set is a landmark set in the history of basketball cards.  It marked the first set devoted entirely to professional basketball players.  And remarkably, it would mark the first and only Basketball card issue for Bowman.  

Cards in the 72 card set, feature a combination of 60 professional basketball players from the BAA and the NBL, along with 12 basketball play cards.  See below for one example. 

One of the Basketball Play cards #17

Card #17 48 Bowman Back

The design of the 1948 Bowman Basketball cards features a monochromatic image of the player, on top of a bright red or blue background.  Many of the player images are accented by blue or red bold coloring around their jersey.  See one example below:

1948 Bowman Paul Armstrong #13

Note that the design for the 1948 Basketball set is identical to their baseball issue from 1949.  See how the 1949 Jackie Robinson card has the same monochromatic image and blue and red color accents. 

Looking To Sell Your 1948 Bowman Cards?

The backs of the 1948 Bowman cards feature the player’s name, card number and biography at the top of the card.  Below the biography is a player summary — we can see with the Mikan card below, that they discuss how Mikan ‘broke every NL scoring record’.   Below the player summary is an offer to get four pencils for 15 cents and three Bowman basketball wrappers!

The set is notorious for printing variations, notably there were many cards produced that did not get the typical blue or red accents.  The theory is that Bowman may have run out of red and or blue ink.  Here is a comparison of the same card – John Palmer with a normal print run and one with the blue and red ink missing:

John Palmer regular print run

John Palmer with missing blue and red accents

It should also be noted that card numbers 37-72 (often referred to as the ‘High Numbers’)  were supposedly in circulation for a shorter period of time and are scarcer than the rest of the set.  It should also be noted that Mikan’s card (#69) is considered to have been a part of the lower print run and are tougher to find.  

Here’s a picture of a 1948 Bowman basketball pack, of which there are only several still known to exist:

1948 Bowman Basketball Key Cards

George Mikan #69 (RC, HOF)

The George Mikan is the true `highlight of the 1948 Bowman set.  A mint condition Mikan card can command in excess of $300K in today’s market and is one of the hobby’s most valuable basketball cards.   Mikan was the first prototypical big man, and at 6’10”, he sported thick glasses, while becoming a prolific rebounder and shot blocker.  

Arnie Risen #58 (RC, HOF)

Risen was a 10-year standout with the Rochester Royals and Boston Celtics, playing from 1948-58. He won NBA titles with the Royals in 1950-51 and the Celtics in 1956-57. 

Jim Pollard #66 (RC, HOF)

Jim Pollard has often been referred to as pro basketball’s first power forward. “He stood 6-5, a human pogo stick gifted with a 42-inch vertical leap. It’s been said he could swipe quarters off the top of the backboard and slam-dunk from the free-throw line”.  (source)

Carl Braun #72 (RC, HOF)

“Braun led the Knicks in scoring seven straight seasons, earning five All-Star nods along the way. The native New Yorker joined the Boston Celtics in 1961 to help Auerbach and the Green win the franchise’s fifth championship in six years” (source)

“Buddy” Jeanette #38 (RC, HOF)

“From 1938 to 1948, Buddy Jeannette was professional basketball’s top backcourt player. One of basketball’s early pioneers, his dexterous passing, clutch shooting, hard-nosed defense, and all-around playmaking earned him four Most Valuable Player awards.” (source)

“Red” Holzman #32 (RC, HOF)

“A street-wise basketball gym rat, Red Holzman was the coaching genius behind the magic the New York Knicks brought to the NBA during the 1970s.  Holzman was named one of the Top Ten Coaches in NBA History in 1996.” (source)

Andy Phillip #9 (RC, HOF)

“Captain and floor general of the “Whiz Kids” of Illinois during their glory years, Andy Phillip was considered one of the early game’s best playmakers. A fierce competitor, Phillip played his best in the big games.”  (source) 

1948 Bowman Basketball Checklist

1. Ernie Calverley
2. Ralph Hamilton
3. Gale Bishop
4. Fred Lewis
5. Basketball play (single cut off post)
6. Bob Feerick
7. John Logan
8. Mel Riebe
9. Andy Phillip RC, HOF
10. Bob Davies RC, HOF
11. Basketball play (single cut with return pass to post)
12. Kenny Sailors
13. Paul Armstrong
14. Howard Dallmar
15. Bruce Hale
16. Sid Hertzberg
17. Basketball play (single cut)
18. Red Rocha
19. Eddie Ehlers
20. Gene Vance
21. Fuzzy Levane
22. Earl Shannon
23. Basketball play (double cut off post)
24. Leo Crystal Klier
25. George Senesky
26. Price Brookfield
27. John Norlander
28. Don Putman
29. Basketball play (double post)
30. Jack Garfinkel
31. Chuck Gilmur
32. Red Holzman – RC, HOF
33. Jack Smiley
34. Joe Fulks – RC, HOF
35. Basketball play (screen play)
36. Hal Tidrick
37. Don Carlson
38. Buddy Jeannette – RC, HOF
39. Ray Kuka
40. Stan Miasek
41. Basketball play (double screen)
42. George Nostrand
43. Chuck Halbert
44. Arnie Johnson
45. Bob Doll
46. Horace McKinney
47. Basketball play (out of bounds)
48. Ed Sadowski
49. Bob Kinney
50. Charlie Black
51. Jack Dwan
52. Connie Simmons
53. Basketball play (out of bounds)
54. Bud Palmer
55. Max Zaslofsky
56. Lee Roy Robbins
57. Arthur Spector
58. Arnie Risen – RC, HOF
59. Basketball play (out of bounds)
60. Ariel Maughan
61. Dick O’Keefe
62. Herman Schaefer
63. John Mahnken
64. Tommy Byrnes
65. Basketball play (held ball)
66. Jim Pollard – RC, HOF
67. Lee Mogus
68. Lee Knorek
69. George Mikan – RC, HOF
70. Walter Budko
71. Basketball play (guards play)
72. Carl Braun – RC, HOF

1948 Bowman Cards for Sale on eBay