The lone PSA 10 graded example of George Mikan’s 1948 Bowman rookie card sold for $403,664 in SCP Auctions’ 2015 Fall Premier online auction, which concluded early Sunday morning. The card previously sold in 2009 when SCP purchased it for a client, but this auction nearly doubled its previous world record price. The entire auction of more than 1,000 sports memorabilia lots brought in more than $4 million.
I must admit that I barely ever heard of George Mikan, dubbed “Mr. Basketball” for his pioneering play and dominance, until his card came up for auction. But now I’ll have a hard time forgetting him. His 1948 Bowman rookie card— the only specimen ever graded a PSA 10 gem mint— will probably reach $.5 million in an auction that closes on December 5th. “This particular card sold for $218,500 in 2009 and we certainly anticipate that will double that price this time out,” says Terry Melia of SCP Auctions, in Laguna Niguel, California. “It’s basketball’s equivalent of the Honus Wagner T206 baseball card.” As of this posting, the card is up to $129,690 at www.scpauctions.com.
SCP Auctions is proud to present legendary Boston Celtics’ point guard and recently inducted Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member Jo Jo White’s personal memorabilia collection as part of its 2015 Fall Premier online auction. Bidding began on Wednesday, Nov. 18, and will conclude on Saturday, Dec. 5 at SCPAuctions.com. As the organization’s director of Special Projects and a longtime community relations representative, White was awarded a 2008 Boston Celtics NBA Championship 14K white gold ring upon the 2008 squad’s claiming of the franchise’s 17th title. It tops the list of valuable items amongst White’s two dozen lots with a current bid of $17,270. View Jo Jo’s lots here.
“We are extremely pleased to be offering many of Jo Jo’s coveted basketball heirlooms,” said David Kohler, president of SCP Auctions.
White helped the Celtics win a pair of NBA titles (1974 and ’76) during his 10-year tenure in Beantown. Selected by Boston with the No. 9 overall pick in the 1969 NBA Draft out of Kansas University, he finished his career with Boston averaging 18.3 points per game and led the team in assists four different times. An outstanding post-season performer, he played key roles in Boston’s run to both titles, finishing with a 21.5 career playoff scoring average. In a jaw-dropping exhibition of his incredible conditioning, White played 60-plus minutes and scored a game-high 33 points in the Celtics’ historic triple-overtime win over the Phoenix Suns on the Boston Garden’s parquet floor in Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals, and was later named the series MVP. He is still remembered as one of the most durable Celtics of all-time as his streak of 488 consecutive games played remains a franchise record. A seven-time All-Star, his No. 10 jersey was retired by the Celtics in a ceremony at the Boston Garden on April 9, 1982.
Among the other items up for bid will be White’s 1974 and ‘76 NBA championship rings (minimum bids are $2,500 each) that he was given as replacements when the originals were lost, as well as numerous warmup and game-used uniforms from his participation in NBA All-Star Legends games, his 1976 NBA Finals MVP digital wristwatch, two of his College All-American award plaques from Kansas, his Kansas Sports Hall of Fame induction plaque, and his 1976 and 1977 NBA All-Star Game plaques.
Bidding is open to registered bidders only. For more information on how to participate, please visit SCPAuctions.com or call (949) 831-3700. -Terry Melia
Jo Jo White, who was finally inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame earlier in 2015, is auctioning off some of his most prized personal sports memorabilia. The former Boston Celtics guard, who won two NBA titles (1974 and 1976), will have some of the most valuable pieces of his career up for the highest bidder until Dec. 5. According to an announcement from SCP Auctions, White is putting many notable aspects of his career up for sale.
Hall of Famer Jo Jo White, who helped the Boston Celtics win a pair of NBA titles in the 1970s, has consigned some of his career memorabilia to SCP Auctions, which will offer it at auction in 25 lots beginning next week.
