1948 Bowman Basketball Cards

The first nationally-distributed basketball card set was released by Bowman in 1948. There are 72 cards in the set, 60 of which are portrait shots and the remaining 12 are play cards. Before being sold to Topps in the 1950s, this would be Bowman's lone collection of basketball cards. Professional basketball was still a very new and fledgling league at the time.

Of the 12 teams included in the set, half would fold shortly after the cards were released (Indianapolis Jets and Providence Steamrollers in 1949, Chicago Stags and St. Louis Bombers in 1950, Washington Capitols in 1952, and Baltimore Bullets in 1954), and 2 would move cities and change names in 1957 (Rochester Royals to the Cincinnati Royals in 1957 and Fort Wayne Pistons to the Detroit Pistons). In fact, the only 4 teams in the set to appear in the 1957 Topps set are the Boston Celtics, Minneapolis Lakers, New York Knicks, and Philadelphia Warriors (the Lakers and Warriors would relocate by 1962). The 1948 Bowman set is also the only set to include players from the Basketball Association of America, which merged with the National Basketball League in 1949 to create the NBA.

The PSA set registry includes a Basic 1948 Bowman basketball set as well as a Master 1948 Bowman basketball set. The master set includes two distinct variations: (1) the No Red Ink on Front ("No Red") and (2) the No Red/Overprint Back ("Overprint"). The missing ink is most likely due to the printing press running out of ink (or sheets printed for test runs). The PSA pop report has separate pop counts for both types of variations. Scroll down for more information about these two variations.

Below is a numerical checklist, team checklist, images of 1948 Bowman box and wrappers and 1948 Bowman Evaluation Secrets.

#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

#18 Red Rocha - St. Louis Bombers
#19 Eddie Ehlers - Boston Celtics
#20 Gene Vance - Chicago Stags
#21 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 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

#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

#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

#54 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

#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

#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 play

#72 Carl Braun - New York Knicks

Providence Steamrollers (5 players)

#1 Ernie Calverley
#12 Kenny Sailors
#22 Earl Shannon
#42 George Nostrand
#56 Lee Roy Robbins

Fort Wayne Pistons (5 players)

#2 Ralph Hamilton
#13 Paul Armstrong
#24 Leo Crystal Klier
#33 Jack Smiley
#49 Bob Kinney

Philadelphia Warriors (5 players)

#3 Gale Bishop
#14 Howard Dallmar
#25 George Senesky
#34 Joe Fulks
#48 Ed Sadowski

Indianapolis Jets (5 players)

#4 Fred Lewis
#15 Bruce Hale
#26 Price Brookfield
#36 Hal Tidrick
#50 Charlie Black

Washington Capitols (5 players)

#6 Bob Feerick
#16 Sid Hertzberg
#27 John Norlander
#46 Bones McKinney
#61 Dick O'Keefe

St. Louis Bombers (5 players)

#7 John Logan
#18 Red Rocha
#28 Don Putman
#45 Bob Doll
#60 Ariel Maughan

Boston Celtics (5 players)

#8 Mel Riebe
#19 Eddie Ehlers
#30 Jack Garfinkel
#43 Chuck Halbert
#57 Arthur Spector

Chicago Stags (5 players)

#9 Andy Phillip
#20 Gene Vance
#31 Chuck Gilmur
#40 Stan Miasek
#55 Max Zaslofsky

Rochester Royals (5 players)

#10 Bob Davies
#21 Fuzzy Levane
#32 Red Holzman
#44 Arnie Johnson
#58 Arnie Risen

Minneapolis Lakers (5 players)

#37 Don Carlson
#51 Jack Dwan
#62 Herman Schaefer
#66 Jim Pollard
#69 George Mikan

Baltimore Bullets (5 players)

#38 Buddy Jeannette
#52 Connie Simmons
#63 John Mahnken
#67 Lee Mogus
#70 Walter Budko

New York Knicks (5 players)

#39 Ray Kuka
#54 Bud Palmer
#64 Tommy Byrnes
#68 Lee Knorek
#72 Carl Braun

1. Short Prints

The set was issued in two series of 36 cards each. The second series (#37-#72) is tougher to find because they were in circulation for a shorter period of time. Therefore, the short-printed series two stars and commons should carry a premium.

2. Registration Issues

Registration issues happen when the photograph and background are misaligned. Specifically, the photo of the player should be in sync with its background color. A 1948 Bowman card with a registration problem has a white gap on one side of the player (and a darker outline on the opposite side). While not as common in this set compared to the 1961 Fleer, it is something to look out for.

2. No Reds (or Grays) Variation

A No Red card is missing the red ink on the front but not its blue ink. Some collectors call them grays or gray backs but “no red” is a better description, in my opinion, as it encompasses both types of No Red cards: (1) gray background and blue highlights, and (2) blue background with gray highlights. No Reds can be found in all cards in the high series (Nos. 37-72) except the 6 high number play cards (Nos. 41, 47, 53, 59, 65 and 71). Because the 6 high numbered play cards have no blue or red, it is impossible to no if any of these come from a "no red" sheet. So I would say that there are a total of 30 "no red" cards. The gray background cards with blue highlights are more easily discerned variations than the blue background cards with the missing red highlights. Thus, you often see the latter "no reds' mislabeled, or mistakenly sold as raw, non-variation cards.

As of March 28, 2026, the PSA pop report shows only 325 total graded examples of these cards, with George Mikan (No. 69) leading the way at 25. Tommy Byrnes (No. 64) and Carl Braun (No. 72) are the lowest graded No Reds with only 6 each. Clearly, all 30 different No Reds cards are super scarce especially compared to their regular-issued Bowman counterparts which have over 4,800 graded by PSA.

There are also overprint cards. These are also limited to the high series cards. These have 3 stamps on the back from artwork from other Bowman sets. These often look different than the "no reds" on the front because they do not have blue or red ink.

3. Recency of Grade

PSA's grading standards have tightened up through the years. Therefore, a recent slab with the same grade as an older one often (but not always) is a better condition card. In fact, we've seen recently-graded slabs with lower grades that appear nicer than some older slabs with higher grades. If you really are forward thinking, when AI becomes mainstream in card grading, these lower graded cards could earn a higher grade than their older predecessors. To identify a newer slab, look for the red, white, and blue PSA logo in the middle, bottom portion of the label. Also, usually the higher slab numbers are more recent than lower numbers.

4. POP Realignment

As of March 28, 2026, there are only 12 Bowman basketball cards that have attained a PSA 10 grade, remarkably including a PSA 10 George Mikan. The Smithsonian Museum possesses this perfect Mikan card. Eddie Ehlers #19 and John Norlander #27 have the most PSA 9s with 11 and 10, respectively. A PSA 9 is essentially like a PSA 10. There are only 252 PSA 9s and 71 PSA 8.5s, respectively, out of the entire 72-card set, and the majority of these are for the first series cards (#1-#36).

To build a Master 1948 Bowman set (a daunting task), you will need to understand the two types of variations: No Reds and Overprints. Both variations can only be found among the second series cards 37-72) and have difference appearances.

No Reds (or Grays) Variation

A No Red card is missing the red ink on the front but not its blue ink. Some collectors call them grays or gray backs but “no red” is a better description, in my opinion, as it encompasses both types of No Red cards: (1) gray background and blue highlights, and (2) blue background with gray highlights. No Reds can be found in all cards in the high series (Nos. 37-72) except the 6 high number play cards (Nos. 41, 47, 53, 59, 65 and 71). Because the 6 high numbered play cards have no blue or red, it is impossible to know if any of these come from a "no red" sheet. So I would say that there are a total of 30 "no red" cards (ie, exclude the play cards). The gray background cards with blue highlights are more easily discerned variations than the blue background cards with the missing red highlights. Thus, you often see the latter "no reds' mislabeled, or mistakenly sold as raw, non-variation cards.

Overprint Variation

The Overprints lack both red AND blue ink on the front. Compared to the No Reds, an Overprint looks very different because they only display shades of gray (while the No Reds display either a blue background or have blue highlights). All 36 cards in the high numbered series (including the 6 high-numbered play cards) have an Overprint variation (No. 37-78), although No. 65 has yet to be found or included in the PSA pop report … but is presumed to exist. Further, you can only tell if a high-numbered play cards is an Overprint from the back.

The backs of an Overprint cards have 2 erroneous stamps, one from artwork and one text from 2 other Bowman sets. Specifically, an Overprint card has a black ink facial image from the fronts of 1948 Bowman Movie Stars set, and second, dark blue text from the backs of 1949 Bowman America Salutes The FBI.

The 1948 Bowman Movie Stars set is a vintage non-sports issue featuring popular Hollywood actors and actresses of the era, while 1949 Bowman America Salutes The FBI is a patriotic, non-sports set that highlights important American institutions, historical subjects, and national themes. The America Salutes The FBI cards have a blue and red back but only the blue text from this set appears on the back of an Overprint card.

Looking at the PSA Pop Report as of March 28, 2026, the 1948 Bowman “No Red/Overprint Back” basketball cards are even scarcer than the No Reds. There are only a total of 80 graded by PSA out of the 36 different types. The most heavily graded example is Ed Sadowski (No. 48) with only 6 total. Hall of famers Jim Pollard (No. 66) and George Mikan (No. 69) only have 4 each, while many others have populations of only 1, 2, or 3, highlighting the difficulty of assembling a full Overprint run.

Author’s Note: In my opinion, the current prices currently do not reflect the scarcity of these variations, especially when compared to prices of the regular issues.

Hall of Famers with No Red and Overprint variations:

#38 Harry Jeannette
#58 Arnie Risen
#66 Jim Pollard
#69 George Mikan
#72 Carl Braun

The #1 Master 1948 Bowman set put together by PSA member “Knicks4life” contains the below Overprint cards. It is the only known Master 1948 Bowman set ever assembled (less Card #65). Card #65 is in bold because it has not yet been found but presumed to exist given the rest of the sequences of the other overprints in this set.

With that said, I have looked at 6 other Overprints and these have the same 1948 Movie Stars imagery and 1949 Salute To The FBI text combination as in the Knicks4life set but these overprints are found on different 1948 Bowman basketball cards. So it appears the combination of extra prints on the back are consistent when it comes to the 1948 Movie Stars imagery and 1949 Salute To The FBI text but inconsistent when it comes to on which 1948 Bowman basketball card they were stamped.