1961-62 Fleer Basketball #8 Wilt Chamberlain
About this card
The 1961-62 Fleer Basketball Wilt Chamberlain is card #8 of 66, in the set's Portrait subset (#1-44, the numbered portraits). It is the recognized Rookie Card for Wilt Chamberlain. It ranks among the five grail cards of the set (Chamberlain, Robertson, West, Baylor and Russell). 1961-62 Fleer was Fleer's only major NBA issue between the 1957-58 Topps set and the 1969-70 Topps era - 66 cards split into 44 Portrait cards (#1-44) and 22 In Action cards (#45-66), every one single-printed with no short prints.
About Wilt Chamberlain
Wilton "Wilt" Chamberlain, the 7-foot-1 center nicknamed "Wilt the Stilt" and "The Big Dipper," starred at the University of Kansas and toured with the Harlem Globetrotters before joining the Philadelphia Warriors as a 1959 territorial pick. He was both Rookie of the Year and MVP in 1959-60, launching a career that brought four MVP awards, seven scoring titles, 11 rebounding titles, 13 All-Star selections, and two NBA championships (1967 with the 76ers, 1972 with the Lakers). Chamberlain remains the only player to score 100 points in a game and the only one to average 50 points in a season — both tied to the 1961-62 campaign, when he averaged an astonishing 50.4 points per game. He retired at 30.1 points and 22.9 rebounds per game and was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979. This rookie card is the crown jewel of the 1961-62 Fleer set — its single most valuable card — capturing Chamberlain at his statistical apex.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1,905 | 3 | 33 | 199 | 263 | 314 | 263 | 745 | 85 |
| SGC | 728 | 0 | 6 | 22 | 44 | 50 | 82 | 428 | 96 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-07-09. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 1961-62 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain a rookie card?
Yes. The 1961-62 Fleer Basketball #8 Wilt Chamberlain is his recognized Rookie Card. The set's 19 rookie cards are all numbered Portrait cards (#1-44); a player's In Action card is a second card, not an RC.
How rare is the 1961-62 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain in high grade?
Condition-scarce. PSA has graded about 1,905 copies and SGC about 728, yet only 3 have reached PSA 10 and 33 are PSA 9. Every card in the set was single-printed - there are no short prints - so all of its scarcity is condition scarcity, and clean, well-centered copies sit far above the raw totals. Population snapshot 2026-07-09.
What makes the 1961-62 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain a key card?
It is one of the five grail cards of the set, from the only major NBA card set issued between 1957-58 Topps and 1969-70 Topps - the defining basketball issue of the 1960s. Value depends heavily on grade and centering; use the links above to check current T206 Cards inventory and live eBay listings.
Sources: Basketball-Reference · hoophall.com · Wikipedia. Bio and card data compiled & maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-10-05.
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