Lew Alcindor

Lew Alcindor, born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. on April 16, 1947, later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was a dominant basketball player who led Power Memorial Academy to a 79-2 record including a 71-game winning streak, guided UCLA to three straight NCAA titles (1967-1969), and was the #1 pick in the 1969 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, winning Rookie of the Year, leading the league in scoring and field goals, and eventually securing six NBA championships with the Bucks and Lakers over 20 seasons as a 19-time All-Star and 10-time All-NBA First Team member[1][2].

First released in 1969 as part of the Topps Basketball 'Tall Boys' set during Alcindor's rookie season with the Milwaukee Bucks[1][2][3].

• This is Alcindor's only official NBA rookie card and the key card of the 1969 Topps set featuring 99 oversized cards with 32 Hall of Famers[1][2][3].
• Cards were sold in 10-card packs including a 10-inch fold-out ruler featuring one of 24 players, including Alcindor[3].
• Alcindor changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after this card's release but it remains his recognized rookie[1][2].

Condition. Oversized card (2 ½" x 4 11/16") prone to general wear due to size, difficult to find well-centered; check edges, corners, and print defects common in vintage Topps production[1].

Storage. Store in oversized card sleeves and top loaders or semi-rigid holders to prevent bending; maintain in low-humidity environment away from light to preserve color and prevent paper degradation.

Authenticity. Verify centering, print quality, and card stock thickness; fakes rare but check for incorrect back printing or modern paper feel; authenticate via graded, graded, or graded with population reports showing low graded 10 count (2 as of 2016)[1][2].