This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/6/2015
The 1957-58 Topps Basketball set consists of 80 standard sized cards and represented the only basketball card release for the Topps Company until it came out with its 1968-69 Topps Test set. The 1957-58 Topps basketball cards were released as one series and many cards were double printed. In total, the set contains 49 double prints, 30 single prints, and 1 quadruple print. The key rookie cards for this set include: #1 Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton; #17 Bob Cousy; #19 Tom Heinsohn; #24 Bob Pettit; and #77 Bill Russell. Presented here is an extremely rare, and possibly unique, uncut sheet from the set. Measuring 28” wide by 43” high, it features many of the card fronts and corresponding card backs in repeating fashion as is the norm for the card production process so the entire card sheet actually reflects 132 player cards. After a quick perusal of the sheet, it’s easy to note that there are four copies of the Pettit card and two copies apiece of Clifton, Cousy, Heinsohn, as well as other players such as Clyde Lovellette (card #78), Slater Martin (#12), Dick McGuire (#16), Dolph Schayes (#13), Bill Sharman (#5), Gene Shue (#26), Frank Ramsey (#15), Rod Hundley (#43), Jim Krebs (#25), Walter Dukes (#30), and George Yardley (#2). Bill Russell’s esteemed rookie card is represented just once on this uncut set (eighth row down, eight cards over from the left). Though there are several creases throughout the uncut sheet, and a small border section cut from one of Jim Paxson's two cards (#73), this incredible, one-of-kind uncut sheet remains a singularly historic and important collectible in the field of basketball card collecting.