1957 Topps Basketball Set Guide: Key Cards, Rookies, and Checklist
Set Description
1957 Topps is perhaps the most important basketball set of all time. In 1948, Bowman released the first main steam basketball set. No other sets were produced until Topps decided try their luck in 1957. Since there was a gap of 9 years between sets, 1957 Topps contains many rookie cards. In fact, 33 of the 80 cards are rookies. Even more remarkable, 25 of those rookies are of Hall of Famers. An interesting note is 31 cards are short printed, and 1 is quadruple printed. Topps used real photographs for the image on the front of the card, which led to many striking in action shots. This set is highlighted by the Bill Russell rookie card. Print and centering issues plague this set, and as a result, high grade cards are extremely valuable and sought after. A PSA 8.5 of Russell sold for $630,000 in 2021. The second most important card in the set features Bob Cousy. The 1957 set was Topps' first and last basketball set it would release until 1969.
Set Information
Manufacturer: Topps
Year: 1957
Cards in Set: 80
Card Size: 2-1/2" by 3-1/2"
Series
Series 1: 1-80
Notes
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There are 31 short printed cards and 1 quadruple printed card
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1957 Topps is notorious for print and centering issues, making high grade extremely valuable
Key Rookie Cards
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Nat Clifton (#1)
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Bob Cousy (#17)
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Tom Heinsohn (#19)
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Bob Pettit (#24)
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Ed Macauley (#27)
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Bill Russell (#77)
Errors and Variations
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No significant errors/variations
Key Cards/Hall of Famers
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Carl Braun (#4)
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Arnie Risen (#40)
Subsets
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None
1957 Topps Basketball Checklist
#1 Nat Clifton - Detroit Pistons
#2 George Yardley - Detroit Pistons
#3 Neil Johnston - Philadelphia Warriors
#4 Carl Braun - New York Knicks
#5 Bill Sharman - Boston Celtics
#6 George King - Cincinnati Royals
#7 Kenny Sears - New York Knicks
#8 Dick Ricketts - Cincinnati Royals
#9 Jack Nichols - Boston Celtics
#10 Paul Arizin - Philadelphia Warriors
#11 Chuck Noble - Detroit Pistons
#12 Slater Martin - St. Louis Hawks
#13 Dolph Schayes - Syracuse Nationals
#14 Dick Atha - Detroit Pistons
#15 Frank Ramsey - Boston Celtics
#16 Dick McGuire - Detroit Pistons
#17 Bob Cousy - Boston Celtics
#18 Larry Foust - Minneapolis Lakers
#19 Tom Heinsohn - Boston Celtics SP
#20 Bill Thieben - Detroit Pistons
#21 Don Meineke - Cincinnati Royals
#22 Tom Marshall - Cincinnati Royals SP
#23 Dick Garmaker - Minneapolis Lakers SP
#24 Bob Pettit - St. Louis Hawks (Quadruple Print)
#25 Jim Krebs - Minneapolis Lakers
#26 Gene Shue - Detroit Pistons
#27 Ed Macauley - St. Louis Hawks
#28 Vern Mikkelsen - Minneapolis Lakers SP
#29 Willie Naulls - New York Knicks SP
#30 Walter Dukes - Detroit Pistons
#31 Dave Piontek - Cincinnati Royals
#32 John Kerr - Syracuse Nationals SP
#33 Larry Costello - Syracuse Nationals
#34 Woody Sauldsberry - Philadelphia Warriors
#35 Ray Felix - New York Knicks SP
#36 Ernie Beck - Philadelphia Warriors SP
#37 Cliff Hagan - St. Louis Hawks SP
#38 Guy Sparrow - New York Knicks
#39 Jim Loscutoff - Boston Celtics SP
#40 Arnie Risen - Boston Celtics
#41 Joe Graboski - Philadelphia Warriors SP
#42 Maurice Stokes - Cincinnati Royals
#43 Rod Hundley - Minneapolis Lakers
#44 Tom Gola - Philadelphia Warriors
#45 Med Park - St. Louis Hawks SP
#46 Mel Hutchins - New York Knicks
#47 Larry Friend - New York Knicks
#48 Lennie Rosenbluth - Philadelphia Warriors
#49 Walt Davis - Philadelphia Warriors SP
#50 Richie Regan - Cincinnati Royals SP
#51 Frank Selvy - St. Louis Hawks
#52 Art Spoelstra - Minneapolis Lakers
#53 Bob Hopkins - Syracuse Nationals SP
#54 Earl Lloyd - Syracuse Nationals SP
#55 Phil Jordon - New York Knicks
#56 Bob Houbregs - Detroit Pistons
#57 Lou Tsioropoulos - Boston Celtics
#58 Ed Conlin - Syracuse Nationals SP
#59 Al Bianchi - Syracuse Nationals SP
#60 George Dempsey - Phila Warriors SP
#61 Chuck Share - St. Louis Hawks SP
#62 Harry Gallatin - Detroit Pistons
#63 Bob Harrison - Syracuse Nationals SP
#64 Bob Burrow - Minneapolis Lakers
#65 Win Wilfong - St. Louis Hawks
#66 Jack McMahon - St. Louis Hawks
#67 Jack George - Philadelphia Warriors SP
#68 Charlie Tyra - New York Knicks
#69 Ron Sobie - New York Knicks SP
#70 Jack Coleman - St. Louis Hawks SP
#71 Jack Twyman - Cincinnati Royals
#72 Paul Seymour - Syracuse Nationals SP
#73 Jim Paxson - Cincinnati Royals SP
#74 Bob Leonard - Minneapolis Lakers SP
#75 Andy Phillip - Boston Celtics SP
#76 Joe Holup - Syracuse Nationals SP
#77 Bill Russell - Boston Celtics SP
#78 Clyde Lovellette - Cincinnati Royals
#79 Ed Fleming - Minneapolis Lakers
#80 Dick Schnittker - Minneapolis Lakers SP