(LOT 103)
1957 Topps #77 Bill Russell Rookie SGC 7 NM
RUSSELL ROOKIE!!! One of the outstanding highlights of this SGC 7 NM 1957 Topps Bill Russell rookie card offering is the seldom seen excellent centering. Well positioned between four clean borders, the classic Russell image only reveals a slight partiality towards the left edge. It's no secret that poor centering issues plague the esteemed Russell rookie card, with virtually all of the existing examples revealing extremely skewed images. Synonymous with this card's championship caliber is Bill Russell's miraculous 11 NBA championships in his 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics. Russell's uncanny success dates back to his collegiate days at the University of San Francisco, where he led his team to two consecutive NCAA championships (1955-56). He also added an Olympic Gold Medal to his incredible list of superlatives, leading the 1956 U.S. basketball team to an 89-55 clinching win over the Soviet Union in Melbourne, Australia.

While choosing the finest NBA all-time player is an excruciating task, many historians give Bill Russell this distinguished nod based on his aforementioned winning legacy. Except for hockey great Henri Richard, who also claimed 11 professional championships, no North American athlete has ever enjoyed Russell's unparalleled level of winning success. Most of the card's attributes are consistent with the world-class assessment, including the lack of any glaring surface snow, the formidable centering, fine resolution, right-angled corners and the lack of any obtrusive flaws. Indeed, this pack-fresh prize conjures up vivid memories of how the iconic Russell dominated the paint as well or better than any NBA player who ever graced a hardwood floor!

MIN BID $5,000
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