---
title: "1948 Bowman Basketball George Mikan #69 price, verified sales and population"
url: https://cardvolume.com/sports/basketball/1948-bowman-george-mikan-69/
category: Sports cards
updated: 2026-09-27
as_of: 2026-09-27
source: CardVolume (https://cardvolume.com)
---

# 1948 Bowman Basketball George Mikan #69: price, verified sales and population

> The 1948 Bowman George Mikan #69 is the central card in Bowman's first basketball set. Collectors search for it because Mikan is basketball's early dominant star and the card sits in the set's scarcer high-number run.

## Key facts

- CardVolume lists 19 verified sales of the 1948 Bowman Basketball George Mikan #69 as of September 27, 2026.
- No grade has the 5 verified sales in 90 days needed for a market price; the most recent verified sale was $3,602 for a Base high number PSA 1 on July 7, 2025 at eBay.
- The highest verified sale on record is $426,000 for a Base high number PSA 9 on June 11, 2021 at Memory Lane, Inc..

## Market price by version and grade

Market price = median of at least 5 verified sales in the last 90 days for that exact version, grader and grade. "—" means not enough verified sales.

| Version | Grade | Market price | Sales in window | Last verified sale | Record sale | Population |
|---|---|---:|---:|---|---|---:|
| Base high number | PSA 10 | — | 0 | $403,664 (2019-11-12) | $403,664 (2019-11-12) | — |
| Base high number | PSA 9 | — | 0 | $426,000 (2021-06-11) | $426,000 (2021-06-11) | — |
| Base high number | PSA 8 | — | 0 | $147,484 (2022-02-20) | $147,484 (2022-02-20) | — |
| Base high number | PSA 7 | — | 0 | $32,100 (2023-04-09) | $33,210 (2021-03-12) | — |
| Base high number | PSA 6.5 | — | 0 | $16,856 (2020-10-20) | $16,856 (2020-10-20) | — |
| Base high number | PSA 6 | — | 0 | $12,200 (2023-05-27) | $20,400 (2021-09-30) | — |
| Base high number | PSA 5.5 | — | 0 | $12,104 (2023-10-09) | $12,104 (2023-10-09) | — |
| Base high number | PSA 5 | — | 0 | $15,300 (2022-01-09) | $15,300 (2022-01-09) | — |
| Base high number | PSA 4 | — | 0 | $7,970 (2025-03-25) | $18,695 (2020-09-21) | — |
| Base high number | PSA 3 | — | 0 | $18,000 (2021-02-21) | $18,000 (2021-02-21) | — |
| Base high number | PSA 2 | — | 0 | $5,643 (2021-01-07) | $5,643 (2021-01-07) | — |
| Base high number | PSA 1.5 | — | 0 | $3,400 (2024-10-04) | $4,527 (2021-07-29) | — |
| Base high number | PSA 1 | — | 0 | $3,602 (2025-07-07) | $5,369 (2021-04-02) | — |
| Base high number | PSA Auth | — | 0 | $5,412 (2022-04-08) | $5,412 (2022-04-08) | — |

## Verified sales

Each sale was confirmed on the linked page by an automated check or an independent second pass.

| Date | Version | Grade | Price (USD) | Buyer's premium | Venue | Source |
|---|---|---|---:|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-07 | Base high number | PSA 1 | $3,602 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/george-mikan-69/3629) |
| 2025-03-25 | Base high number | PSA 4 | $7,970 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/george-mikan-69/3629) |
| 2024-10-04 | Base high number | PSA 1.5 | $3,400 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/george-mikan-69/3629) |
| 2023-10-09 | Base high number | PSA 5.5 | $12,104 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/george-mikan-69/3629) |
| 2023-05-27 | Base high number | PSA 6 | $12,200 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/george-mikan-69/3629) |
| 2023-04-09 | Base high number | PSA 7 | $32,100 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/george-mikan-69/3629) |
| 2022-04-08 | Base high number | PSA Auth | $5,412 | not stated | Huggins and Scott Auctions | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/george-mikan-69/3629) |
| 2022-02-20 | Base high number | PSA 8 | $147,484 | included | Memory Lane, Inc. | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/george-mikan-69/3629) |
| 2022-01-09 | Base high number | PSA 5 | $15,300 | not stated | Goldin | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/george-mikan-69/3629) |
| 2021-09-30 | Base high number | PSA 6 | $20,400 | not stated | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/george-mikan-69/3629) |
| 2021-07-29 | Base high number | PSA 1.5 | $4,527 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/george-mikan-69/3629) |
| 2021-06-11 | Base high number | PSA 9 | $426,000 | included | Memory Lane, Inc. | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/george-mikan-69/3629) |
| 2021-04-02 | Base high number | PSA 1 | $5,369 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/george-mikan-69/3629) |
| 2021-03-12 | Base high number | PSA 7 | $33,210 | not stated | Huggins and Scott Auctions | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/george-mikan-69/3629) |
| 2021-02-21 | Base high number | PSA 3 | $18,000 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/george-mikan-69/3629) |
| 2021-01-07 | Base high number | PSA 2 | $5,643 | not stated | Sirius Sports Auctions | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/george-mikan-69/3629) |
| 2020-10-20 | Base high number | PSA 6.5 | $16,856 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/george-mikan-69/3629) |
| 2020-09-21 | Base high number | PSA 4 | $18,695 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/george-mikan-69/3629) |
| 2019-11-12 | Base high number | PSA 10 | $403,664 | included | SCP Auctions | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/george-mikan-69/3629) |

## How to identify each version

- **Base high number**: Small 1948 Bowman format with George Mikan on card #69; card belongs to the high-number group #37-72 and should be separated from grey-background variations and hand-cut sheet material.

**Identity note:** Seed identity was correct; the key added identity point is that #69 is part of the scarcer 1948 Bowman high-number group.

## Why this card matters

PSA's 1948 Bowman set profile describes the release as a 72-card debut basketball set and identifies George Mikan #69 as the key card. The same profile states that all athletes in the set are technically official rookie cards because it was the first basketball set. Mikan's card also belongs to the high-number group, which PSA says circulated for a shorter period than the low numbers. That makes the exact #69 card important for both player collectors and basketball-set collectors.

## Identifying the exact version

Identify this as 1948 Bowman Basketball George Mikan #69, English, original base high-number card. PSA notes the card measures about 2 1/16 by 2 1/2 inches and that some examples are hand-cut because uncut sheets entered the hobby. Keep standard pack-issued examples, hand-cut examples, grey-background material, other Mikan cards, and later reprints separate. For comps, do not mix PSA 8, PSA 9, raw, qualified, or authentic-only copies without labeling each separately.

## What moves the price between versions and grades

The largest price differences come from grade, qualifier, card cut, centering, toning, and whether the item is treated as a standard issue or a hand-cut/sheet-origin example. PSA CardFacts shows very small counts in PSA 10 and PSA 9 relative to lower grades, and PSA's standards explain why corners, centering, surface issues, staining, and alterations matter. The high-number identity affects supply, but a population count still measures graded submissions only, not all existing Mikan rookies.

## Authenticity checks

Compare against official references; multiple checks; no destructive tests; copied cert numbers exist. Confirm the original Bowman size, photo tint, card number, back design, and stock against known references. Because PSA notes both off-centering and hand-cut examples, measure carefully and avoid assuming every sharp-edged copy is standard pack-issued. On slabs, verify cert, grade, and item description, then compare the holder and label with seller photos. PSA cert lookup reduces risk but does not authenticate every online image.

## Common misconceptions

- **Myth:** All 1948 Bowman Mikan cards should be priced together. **What the evidence says:** The evidence requires separating grades, qualifiers, standard examples, hand-cut examples, and possible grey-background material before using a comp.
- **Myth:** The high-number label means the factory print run is known. **What the evidence says:** PSA supports that #37-72 circulated for a shorter period, but the opened sources do not establish a precise print run.
- **Myth:** A PSA 10 population of 1 proves only one Mikan rookie exists in top condition across the whole market. **What the evidence says:** It proves only one PSA 10 count in PSA's database as accessed; raw cards and other graders are outside that count.
- **Myth:** A clean-looking raw copy can be priced like a PSA 8 or PSA 9. **What the evidence says:** Chapter 04 requires grading-risk analysis; centering, toning, trimming, hand-cut status, and surface defects can materially change the outcome.

## FAQ

### How much is a PSA 9 1948 Bowman George Mikan #69 worth?

A PSA 9 sold for $426,000 on 2021-06-11 in PSA CardFacts' auction history.

### How many PSA 10 Mikan rookies exist?

PSA CardFacts showed 1 PSA 10 example of 1948 Bowman George Mikan #69 as accessed on 2026-09-26.

### Is 1948 Bowman George Mikan #69 a rookie card?

Yes; PSA's set profile says 1948 Bowman was the first basketball set and that its player cards are technically official rookie cards.

### Is the Mikan card a high number?

Yes; PSA identifies #37-72 as high numbers and notes Mikan #69 is part of that more challenging component.

### What size should a 1948 Bowman Mikan be?

PSA describes the Mikan card as approximately 2 1/16 inches by 2 1/2 inches, with caution that some hand-cut examples exist.

### Can I use a hand-cut Mikan comp for a standard Mikan card?

Not without labeling it separately, because PSA notes hand-cut examples exist and hand-cut status can change grading and buyer demand.

## Sources

1. [1948 Bowman George Mikan PSA CardFacts](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/george-mikan-69/3629) (PSA)
2. [Basketball Cards - 1948 Bowman PSA CardFacts](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1948-bowman/33) (PSA)
3. [PSA Grading Standards](https://www.psacard.com/gradingstandards) (PSA)
4. [PSA Cert Verification](https://www.psacard.com/cert) (PSA)

## How to cite

> 1948 Bowman Basketball George Mikan #69. CardVolume, https://cardvolume.com/sports/basketball/1948-bowman-george-mikan-69/ (accessed 2026-09-27).

Machine-readable: https://cardvolume.com/api/v1/cards/sports--basketball--1948-bowman-george-mikan-69.json · Method: https://cardvolume.com/methodology/