CSC Collector Guide · Basketball

Pete Maravich

1970-71 Topps #123 base

Pete Maravich's game invited attention; his tall Topps rookie has room to hold it. Number 123 belongs to the oversized 1970-71 issue, giving a Pistol Pete collection a first NBA-era card whose physical format is part of its appeal.²

Quick Facts

Player: Pete Maravich
Sport: basketball
Year / season: 1970-71
Manufacturer: Topps
Set / product: Topps
Card Number: 123
Variation / parallel: base
Autograph: NON AUTOGRAPH
Relic: NO RELIC
Serial denominator: Not serial numbered
Rookie status: ROOKIE

PSA recognizes Pete Maravich’s Topps #123 as a rookie card.

This scope covers the original vintage issue across conditions, excluding later reprints or reissues.

Sources

PSA — Pete Maravich exact card and historical context

Identification

The exact issue is Pete Maravich, 1970-71 Topps #123, base. Match that full identity when comparing copies.²

Why This Card Matters

The recognized Maravich rookie combines an early-career identity with the oversized Topps format. It is a specific target for a basketball rookie collection, rather than a generic card featuring the Pistol Pete nickname.²

Player Legacy

Pete Maravich developed the improvisational passing and ballhandling that made him one of basketball's most recognizable entertainers. At LSU, playing for his father Press, he scored 3,667 points in three seasons and averaged 44.2 points per game, records in NCAA men's basketball. His professional career brought five NBA All-Star selections and the 1976-77 scoring title, when he averaged 31.1 points for the New Orleans Jazz. He spent 10 seasons in the NBA, and the Basketball Hall of Fame inducted him in 1987. The achievements help explain why collectors return to his rookie, but the style is part of the story too: inventive passes and difficult shots made his game more than a row of scoring totals. The 1970-71 Topps places that personality at the opening of his NBA card history.^{1, 2}

Card and Set Context

The large design and narrow borders make centering especially noticeable on this issue. Think of presentation and storage together: the format affects how the card looks in a collection as well as how it is protected.²

Collector Context

A Maravich page can center on the NBA rookie while letting college achievements explain the player behind it. Keep those stages distinct; the LSU records do not make this a college-issued card.²

Grading and Condition

Compare left-right and top-bottom balance before relying on the headline grade. The card reference highlights off-center examples, so a full, square-on photograph is particularly useful.²

What to Verify

Allow the full height of Maravich #123 into the image. Narrow borders make alignment easy to judge only when the photograph shows the whole card squarely.²

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Marketplace listings retrieved Oct 17, 2026 02:55:09 UTC.

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