November 17, 2022: Fall Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/17/2022
Presented is a rare opportunity to pick up a near-complete set of arguably the most important and coveted basketball issue, an array missing only the key Russell and Cousy Rookie cards and found here in a seldom-seen high grade of essentially Ex-Mt or better, albeit with nearly unanimous centering concerns that have typically afflicted this classic. The 1957 Topps set was the company’s inaugural hoops effort and a pioneering offering that predated Topps’ later commitment to the game by a dozen years. As one of only two mainstream basketball issues over a two-decade span from 1948-68, the set is filled almost entirely with Rookie cards, including some of the most important of the era. As noted above, fully 71 of the 78 cards have a Qualifier status, with just over 20 of those being off-center and the balance miscuts. Even with that disclaimer, the issue provides an attractive presentation with almost ¾ of the near set being Ex-Mt to Near-Mint and an astounding 90 percent Excellent or better, an uncommonly pristine assessment for a genuinely rare and difficult early basketball issue. The breakdown: Near-Mint (8) – No. 5 Sharman Rookie (m/c), 6 (m/c), 13 Schayes Rookie (m/c), 14 o/c, 50 (m/c), 56 (m/c), 60 (m/c) and 68 (m/c); Ex-Mt (49) – No. 2 Yardley Rookie o/c, 3 Johnston Rookie (m/c), 4 Braun Rookie (m/c), 7 (m/c), 8 (m/c), 10 Martin Rookie (m/c), 15 Ramsey Rookie o/c, 16 McGuire Rookie (m/c), 21 o/c, 24 Pettit Rookie (m/c), 25 (m/c), 26 (m/c), 27 McCauley Rookie o/c, 28 Mikkelsen Rookie (m/c), 29 Nauls Rookie (m/c), 32 Kerr Rookie o/c, 35 (m/c), 37 Hagan Rookie o/c, 38 o/c, 39 Loscutoff Rookie o/c, 41 (m/c), 43 o/c, 45 (m/c), 46 (m/c), 48 (m/c), 49 (m/c), 51 o/c, 52 (m/c), 53 (m/c), 54 (m/c), 55, 57 (m/c), 58 (m/c), 59 Bianchi Rookie, 61 o/c, 62 o/c, 63 o/c, 65 o/c, 66, 67 (m/c), 69 o/c, 70 (m/c), 71 Twyman Rookie, 72 o/c, 73 (m/c), 74, 75 Phillip o/c, 76 o/c and 78 Lovelette Rookie o/c; Excellent (13) – No. 1 Clifton Rookie (m/c), 11 o/c, 30, 31 o/c, 33 Costello Rookie (m/c), 34 (m/c), 36 (m/c), 40 Risen Rookie (m/c), 42 (m/c), 44 Gola Rookie (m/c), 47 (m/c), 64 and 79 o/c; Fair (5) – No. 9 (m/c), 10 Arizin Rookie (m/c), 18 (m/c), 20 (m/c) and 80 (m/c); and Poor (3) – No. 19 Heinsohn Rookie (m/c), 22 (m/c) and 23 (m/c).
1957 Topps Basketball High-Grade Near Set (78/80)
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