(LOT 66)
1957 Topps #77 Bill Russell Rookie SP PSA 7 NM
ICONIC RUSSELL ROOKIE!!! This spectacular PSA 7 NM 1957 Topps #77 Bill Russell inaugural gem truly stands as one of the hobby's most celebrated rookie cards! Similar to its championship caliber is Bill Russell's unparalleled resume, including a miraculous 11 NBA Championships in his 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics. Arguably the greatest winning athlete in American sports history, 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 in 1955 and 1956. If that wasn't enough, before he graced the hardwood 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 clinching 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 unmatched championship legacy. He claimed five League MVPs and played in 12 All-Star games, with immortal coach John Wooden always claiming that Russell was basketball's greatest all-time defensive player. Save for hockey great Henri Richard (who also claimed 11 professional championships), no North American athlete has ever enjoyed Bill Russell's uncanny level of winning the final game of virtually each and every season; not Ruth, Mantle, DiMaggio, Gretzky, Jordan, or even Tom Brady. Russell's knack for winning the biggest games has created an unequivocal stature for this iconic basketball center, and it comes as no coincidence that his exalted inaugural Topps card is one of the most sought-after cardboard keepsakes on the planet.

With regard to this cardboard masterpiece's stellar eye appeal, the classic Russell pose boasting his iconic white #6 Celtic jersey has stubbornly defied time, retaining the majority 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 dark background only reveals some extremely faint snow, eluding a majority of the obtrusive white surface blemishes frequently plaguing a host of Russell's rookie subjects. Additional features consistent with the grade are right-angled corners, vivid print registration and a fine perimeter, with the prestige of this PSA 7 keepsake tantamount to Russell's championship caliber!

MIN BID $10,000
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