1948 Bowman Basketball is the sport’s first major set of trading cards. It’s a humble start without much flash but it’s a landmark release nonetheless. It’s also home to what’s considered to be one of the most important and valuable basketball cards ever produced.
In vintage sports card circles, Bowman is best known for its baseball cards. But the company did dabble in other areas. In 1948, that meant dabbling in hoops. 1948 Bowman Basketball is the first and only hoops set under the brand until Topps (their former competitor) reintroduced it with the chromium 1996-97 Bowman’s Best Basketball. Topps would continue to do various rookie-focused Bowman sets through the end of their run with the NBA license in 2009-10.
1948 Bowman Basketball Checklist Details
The 1948 Bowman Basketball checklist has 72 total cards. It’s split in half with Series 1 covering the first 36 cards. Series 2 starts at #37 and runs through the end. Like many vintage High Numbers, Series had a shorter shelf life. The result was a smaller print run and cards available in shorter supply.
The set covers the Basketball Association of America, the precursor to the NBA. Because it’s the first set of basketball cards, all player cards can be considered rookies. George Mikan is easily the most cards in 1948 Bowman Basketball. Other key cards include Jim Pollard, Joe Fulks and Carl Braun.
In addition to standard player cards, there are also a Play Diagram subset that give pointers on how to play basketball.
The cards themselves are smaller than today’s traditional dimensions, measuring 2 1/16″ buy 2 1/2″. Tinted photos are cast against solid blue or red backgrounds. Gray variations also exist, although in extremely small numbers. There are believed to have been a result of printer running out of the ink required for the usual bright colors.
In July, 2021, a pack of 1948 Bowman Basketball cards graded PSA 8 sold for $69,000 through Heritage Auctions.
1948 Bowman Basketball Checklist
Click on the links to shop for cards on eBay or to check current market values.
Set size: 72 cards
Cards per pack: 5
Packs per box: ?
Shop for 1948 Bowman Basketball boxes and packs on eBay.
Base Set Checklist
72 cards.
Buy on eBay:
1 Ernie Calverley, Providence Steamrollers
2 Ralph Hamilton, Fort Wayne Pistons
3 Gale Bishop, Philadelphia Warriors
4 Fred Lewis, Indianapolis Jets
5 Single Cut Off Post
6 Bob Feerick, Washington Capitols
7 John Logan, St. Louis Bombers
8 Mel Riebe, Boston Celtics
9 Andy Phillip, Chicago Stags
10 Bob Davies, Rochester Royals
11 Single Cut with Return Pass to Post,
12 Kenny Sailors, Providence Steamrollers
13 Paul Armstrong, Fort Wayne Pistons
14 Howard Dallmar, Philadelphia Warriors
15 Bruce Hale, Indianapolis Jets
16 Sid Hertzberg, Washington Capitols
17 Single Cut Using Post as Screen for Short Shot
18 Red Rocha, St. Louis Bombers
19 Eddie Ehlers, Boston Celtics
20 Gene Vance, Chicago Stags
21 Andrew “Fuzzy” Levane, Rochester Royals
22 Earl Shannon, Providence Steamrollers
23 Double Cut Off Post
24 Leo Crystal Klier, Fort Wayne Pistons
25 George Senesky, Philadelphia Warriors
26 Price Brookfield, Indianapolis Jets
27 John Norlander, Washington Capitols
28 Don Putman, St. Louis Bombers
29 Double Post
30 Jack Garfinkel, Boston Celtics
31 Chuck Gilmur, Chicago Stags
32 William “Red” Holzman, Rochester Royals
33 Jack Smiley, Fort Wayne Pistons
34 Joe Fulks, Philadelphia Warriors
35 Screen Play
36 Hal Tidrick, Indianapolis Jets
37 Don Carlson, Minneapolis Lakers
38 Buddy Jeannette, Baltimore Bullets
39 Ray Kuka, New York Knicks
40 Stan Miasek, Chicago Stags
41 Double Screen with Center Court Kept Open
42 George Nostrand, Providence Steamrollers
43 Chuck Halbert, Boston Celtics
44 Arnie Johnson, Rochester Royals
45 Bob Doll, St. Louis Bombers
46 Bones McKinney, Washington Capitols
47 Out of Bounds Play
48 Ed Sadowski, Philadelphia Warriors
49 Bob Kinney, Fort Wayne Pistons
50 Charlie Black, Indianapolis Jets
51 Jack Dwan, Minneapolis Lakers
52 Connie Simmons, Baltimore Bullets
53 Out of Bounds Play
54 John “Bud” Palmer, New York Knicks
55 Max Zaslofsky, Chicago Stags
56 Lee Roy Robbins, Providence Steamrollers
57 Arthur Spector, Boston Celtics
58 Arnie Risen, Rochester Royals
59 Out of Bounds Play
60 Ariel Maughan, St. Louis Bombers
61 Dick O’Keefe, Washington Capitols
62 Herman Schaefer, Minneapolis Lakers
63 John Mahnken, Baltimore Bullets
64 Tommy Byrnes, New York Knicks
65 Held Ball Play
66 Jim Pollard, Minneapolis Lakers
67 Lee Mogus, Baltimore Bullets
68 Lee Knorek, New York Knicks
69 George Mikan, Minneapolis Lakers
70 Walter Budko, Baltimore Bullets
71 Guards Down Play from a Center Jump
72 Carl Braun, New York Knicks
1948 Bowman Basketball Team Set Lists
Baltimore Bullets
38 Buddy Jeannette RC
52 Connie Simmons RC
63 John Mahnken
67 Lee Mogus
70 Walter Budko
Boston Celtics
8 Mel Riebe
19 Eddie Ehlers
30 Jack Garfinkel
43 Chuck Halbert RC
57 Arthur Spector
Chicago Stags
9 Andy Phillip RC
20 Gene Vance
31 Chuck Gilmur
40 Stan Miasek
55 Max Zaslofsky RC
Fort Wayne Pistons
2 Ralph Hamilton
13 Paul Armstrong
24 Leo Crystal Klier
33 Jack Smiley
49 Bob Kinney
Indianapolis Jets
4 Fred Lewis RC
15 Bruce Hale RC
26 Price Brookfield
36 Hal Tidrick
50 Charlie Black
Minneapolis Lakers
37 Don Carlson
51 Jack Dwan
62 Herman Schaefer
66 Jim Pollard RC
69 George Mikan RC
New York Knicks
39 Ray Kuka
54 Bud Palmer RC
64 Tommy Byrnes
68 Lee Knorek
72 Carl Braun RC
Philadelphia Warriors
3 Gale Bishop
14 Howard Dallmar RC
25 George Senesky
34 Joe Fulks RC
48 Ed Sadowski
Providence Steamrollers
1 Ernie Calverley RC
12 Kenny Sailors RC
22 Earl Shannon
42 George Nostrand
56 Lee Roy Robbins
Rochester Royals
10 Bob Davies RC
21 Fuzzy Levane RC
32 Red Holzman RC
44 Arnie Johnson
58 Arnie Risen RC
St. Louis Bombers
7 John Logan
18 Red Rocha
28 Don Putman
45 Bob Doll
60 Ariel Maughan
Washington Capitols
6 Bob Feerick RC
16 Sid Hertzberg
27 John Norlander
46 Bones McKinney RC
61 Dick O’Keefe
10 Most Valuable 1948 Bowman Basketball Cards
1. 1948 Bowman Basketball George Mikan RC #69
2. 1948 Bowman Basketball Jim Pollard RC #66
3. 1948 Bowman Basketball Carl Braun RC #72
4. 1948 Bowman Basketball Joe Fulks RC #34
5. 1948 Bowman Basketball William “Red” Holzman RC #32
6. 1948 Bowman Basketball Buddy Jeanette RC #38
7. 1948 Bowman Basketball Arnie Risen RC #58
8. 1948 Bowman Basketball Max Zaslofsky RC #55
9. 1948 Bowman Basketball Ernie Calverley RC #1
10. 1948 Bowman Basketball John “Bud” Palmer RC #54
