Still the floppy-haired hoops wizard you had to see to believe, the 1970-71 Topps Pete Maravich rookie card is a favorite with collectors of vintage basketball cards.
LSU Legend
His college career was the stuff of legend and there was much anticipation as Pete Maravich entered the pro ranks. Would his flashy ball skills and shooting range translate to the next level? At a time when only a limited number of college basketball games were on television, most fans got to know Maravich through the magazine covers on which he appeared during his college days at LSU.
1970-71 Topps Basketball Set
Topps had returned to the basketball card market in 1969 after a 12-year absence. Their first issue of the new decade was nearly double the size of the last one at 175 cards. Packs were 10 cents each and the set was released in two series; one early in the season and another one during the winter months. The set includes numerous Hall of Famers and a few other key rookie cards including Pat Riley.
The Rookie Gets a Card
Topps hustled to get Maravich into its set as a rookie during a time in which most first-year players weren’t featured on trading cards until their second year but adding a second series gave them a little more time. Like many of the photos from his youth and college days, Maravich is pictured cradling a basketball, wearing a generic uniform thanks to some creative editing by Topps.
The Back
Unlike many players in the era, Maravich’s rookie card was produced during his actual rookie season. With no pro highlights to list at the time, the back of his card details his exploits as the “most prolific scorer in the history of college basketball”. There’s also a cartoon that mentions Pete playing for his father Press at LSU.
Smart Shopping for Pistol Pete
While high-grade Pete Maravich rookie cards can be out of reach for the average collector, it’s best to go by a card’s overall eye appeal rather than a technical grade if you’re buying for your own private collection. A nicely centered card, front, and back, with good focus, color, and photo clarity with perhaps a touch of light corner wear can still be a very attractive card. You can see them for sale and auction on eBay by clicking here.