In 1969, Topps made a thunderous return to the basketball card industry, producing its first series since 1957 and the first mainstream basketball product from any company since 1961. The timing of this oversized """"Tall Boy"""" set just so happened to coincide with one particularly huge presence entering the league. Three-time All-America center Lew Alcindor had left UCLA to sign a 5-year, $1.25 million contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. Measuring 7'1 1/2"""" and 235 lbs. according to the back of his iconic card, Alcindor—who later changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar—would have one of the most storied NBA careers of all time.
Outside of typical age considerations that apply to any vintage sports card, several factors make it difficult to find quality copies of 1969-70 Topps basketball cards. One is their abnormal dimensions, which didn’t fit as nicely into standard-sized storage boxes, binders, and protective cases of the era. Unlike today, it wasn’t easy to procure specially-sized storage solutions when the cards were released. This lack of protection options compounds the typical issues that haunt vintage sports cards—many of which stem from an overall lack of concern for preserving their condition. Another factor is the design, which highlights centering issues that plague the release. The round inset border’s proximity to the sides of the card means miscuts and misprints have nowhere to hide, while the largely white border can prominently showcase blemishes.
Graded a NM-MT SGC 8, this card has also earned Fanatics Collect–E Eye Appeal designation.
The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 02/26/2026.
