Michael Jordan & Summer Premium Auction Closing July 18 10PM Eastern
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/18/2020
Graded EX-MT+ 6.5 by PSA. Hall of Famer. This impeccable example stands alone at its tier – separated from its few, lesser counterparts by a decisive margin – and none has been graded higher. Students of the hobby generally concur in the belief that fewer than ten specimens of this storied rarity have been confirmed to exist.
Rocky Graziano, a knockout specialist during his career and a celebrity afterward, would seem to have been considered a mandatory subject for inclusion in Leaf's skip-numbered 1948 release. The set is noteworthy for the presence of such pugilistic luminaries as Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey, James J. Corbett, Gene Tunney and Sugar Ray Robinson. But, as a consequence of the #50 Rocky Graziano Short Print's excruciating rarity, the 50-card set is universally considered "complete" at 49 cards.
The offered card – far and away the finest example known in the industry – emerged serendipitously, less than a decade ago, in a small lot of raw '48 Leaf Boxing cards submitted to an auction company as a consignment. After grading, the piece made national news as a phenomenal newcomer to the boxing specialty. The card is also important as one of the most challenging entries within PSA's “The Top 200 Sportscards in the Hobby” list, an idealized gallery of the most widely esteemed trading cards extant.
Excellent to Mint-plus condition, with splendid color, favorable centering and just a hint of corner wear. This fabled collectible stands as a legitimate treasure, and the ultimate potential acquisition for the highest-quality assembly.