In 1938, the four sons of Brooklyn entrepreneur Morris Shorin decided to revive their father’s tobacco business by creating Topps Chewing Gum, Inc. The Shorin sons translated Topps, the name of a candy company they absorbed, to mean being the “tops” or best in the business. In 1952, Topps salesman Sy Berger designed Topps’ first set of baseball cards at his kitchen table in Brooklyn. His design transformed the trading card industry, setting off a collecting frenzy that would last decades. By 1957, Topps had already produced five stunning baseball card sets, purchased Bowman, and established itself as the manufacturing powerhouse for trading cards. In 1957, Topps designed its first basketball set.
Since Russell’s uniform is not visible in the 1955 All-American Sports Club Hand Cut issue that preceded it, the iconic ‘57 Topps issue is also considered his rookie card since it is his first appearance in a Celtics uniform. And Topps did not disappoint. The card shows #6 playing defense with his hands ready to block a pass and includes a distinct nameplate on the front of the card. The bio on the back of the card highlights Russell’s success at USF and the Olympics and praises his defensive play in the previous season. While this printing can be known for its poor resolution, this SGC 5 example presents beautifully, earning Fanatics Collect–E Eye Appeal designation.
Topps did not produce basketball cards again until 1969—a reminder that sports fans typically only collected baseball cards during this era. Basketball cards now rank among the most popular sports and non-sports trading cards, so the demand for this set, and the Russell rookie in particular, remains strong, approaching 70 years after its production.
Learn more about this icon in our Guide to Bill Russell's Basketball Cards:
https://www.fanaticscollect.com/definitive-guides/a-guide-to-bill-russells-basketball-cards
The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 02/28/2025.
