You can’t fully understand this card without reading… This link about the 1933 Goudey Sport Kings set as a whole.
Because the Sport Kings set is desired by collectors of various sports, all the cards, including this Ed Wachter, have retained their value. After the #3 Nat Holman card, this card is the second appearance of a basketball player in the set. Also, Nat Holman and Ed Wachter were the only two cards printed in the first 1933 series. The other two basketball players (Eddie Burke and Joe Lapchik) come in the 1934 printing. Prices in the 2001 Standard Catalog of Basketball Cards were $1350/$850/$350 form Mint, NM-MT, and NM respectively. The card has increased in value from that time. A PSA 8 sold for $3,050 on eBay on November 8, 2016 with nearly all of them commanding at least a $50 price tag.
In Short: Sometimes a single sentence really puts things into perspective. The first cards featuring professional basketball players are from this 1933 Goudey set. This is the #5 Ed Wachter. We know that’s old, but will you take a second and think about this phrase on the back, “Known as the greatest center in the history of the game…” Do you realize, this is 39 years before Shaq was even born? In fact, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wasn’t even born yet! Even more, Wilt Chamberlain wasn’t even born yet! This will blow your mind, Bill Russell wasn’t even born when this card was printed. Seriously! In fact, it would be another 9 years before George Mikan even started playing college ball. Imagine being in 1933 reading “the greatest center in the history of the game,” not knowing what would come. Amazing card! Probably was one of the only collegiate coaches of both sculling and basketball in history…
An important card and a piece of history!
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