(LOT 234)
1957 Topps #77 Bill Russell Rookie PSA 7 NM
NEAR-MINT RUSSELL ROOKIE!!! One of the hobby's most coveted rookie cards is the 1957 Topps #77 Bill Russell subject, presented here in an outstanding PSA 7 NM holder! Synonymous with this card's championship caliber is Bill Russell's unparalleled resume, which includes a miraculous 11 NBA Championships in his 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics. Arguably the greatest winner in American sports history, Russell's uncanny success dates to his college days at the University of San Francisco, where he led his team to two consecutive NBA championships in 1955 and 1956. If that wasn't enough, before he graced the hard-wood court in Boston, he added an Olympic Gold Medal to his blossoming list of superlatives, leading the 1956 U.S. basketball team to an 89-55 win over the Soviet Union in Melbourne, Australia. While choosing the finest NBA all-time player is a seemingly impossible task, there are many historians who give Bill Russell this distinguished nod based on his unparalleled winning legacy. He claimed five League MVPs and played in 12 All-Star games, and legendary coach John Wooden always claimed Russell was basketball's greatest defensive player.

Save for hockey great Henri Richard, who also claimed 11 professional championships, no American athlete has ever enjoyed Bill Russell's uncanny level of winning success — not Ruth, Mantle, DiMaggio, Gretzky, Jordan, or even Tom Brady. Russell's knack for winning the biggest games has created an unequivocal legacy for this immortal basketball center, and it comes as no coincidence that his exalted inaugural Topps card is one of the most sought-after cardboard keepsakes extant. Regarding this masterpiece's eye-pleasing aesthetics, the classic Russell pose revealing his iconic white #6 Celtic jersey has stubbornly defied time, retaining many of its original surface attributes, including fine clarity and a host of sparkling hues. As with most subjects, the iconic image is slightly skewed, in this case favoring the upper right edges. Of utmost significance, the background has somehow eluded the standard surface snow that, along with the off-centering issues, typically plagues a myriad of Russell's rookie cards. The final exclamation points are right-angled corners consistent with the grade and a relatively clean verso, with the Bill Russell rookie card's compelling stature and PSA 7 assessment worthy of any world-class gathering!

MIN BID $12,500
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