1957-58 Topps Basketball marks the first time the card maker went exclusively to the hardwood. It’s not the only reason the set gets landmark status. The checklist includes multiple Hall of Fame rookie cards including one of the game’s all-time legends.
1957-58 Topps Basketball Checklist Details
The 1957-58 Topps Basketball checklist has just 80 cards. Not only is it on the small side, but it had some consequences as far as rarity goes. If there was ever a “Is the glass half full or half empty?” set, this is it. The checklist has 80 cards. Production sheets have 132. This makes a significant number of cards double prints. Or does it make a large number of cards short prints? Either way, some cards are easier to find than others and it was by design — from a practicality standpoint at the time, not shenanigans.
The most valuable 1957-58 Topps Basketball card is Bill Russell. One of the best to ever play the game, his many accolades include an unprecedented knack for winning. Russell helped lead the Boston Celtics to 11 championships in 13 seasons. He was also a five-time MVP and an All-Star 12 times.
In addition to Russell, other Hall of Fame members include Bob Cousy, Bob Pettit, Dolph Schayes, Paul Arizin, Tom Heinsohn, Jack Twyman and Bill Sharman. For Sharman, it’s his only mainstream card from his playing days.
Besides the typical issues that come from age and handling, 1957-58 Topps Basketball cards have some other common problems that make it a tough set to find in top condition. Cards are often off-center, something that’s even more noticeable to the eye due to the thin borders. Production issues like substandard images and white specks or snow in the background also bring down condition grades.
1957-58 Topps Basketball Checklist
Click on the links to shop for cards on eBay or to check current market values.
Base Set Checklist
80 cards.
* notes double prints.
Buy on eBay:
1 Nat Clifton, Detroit Pistons RC *
2 George Yardley, Detroit Pistons RC *
3 Neil Johnston, Philadelphia Warriors RC *
4 Carl Braun, New York Knicks *
5 Bill Sharman, Boston Celtics RC *
6 George King, Cincinnati Royals RC *
7 Kenny Sears, New York Knicks RC *
8 Dick Ricketts, Cincinnati Royals RC *
9 Jack Nichols, Boston Celtics *
10 Paul Arizin, Philadelphia Warriors RC *
11 Chuck Noble, Detroit Pistons *
12 Slater Martin, St. Louis Hawks RC *
13 Dolph Schayes, Syracuse Nationals RC *
14 Dick Atha, Detroit Pistons *
15 Frank Ramsey, Boston Celtics RC *
16 Dick McGuire, Detroit Pistons RC *
17 Bob Cousy, Boston Celtics RC *
18 Larry Foust, Minneapolis Lakers RC *
19 Tom Heinsohn, Boston Celtics RC
20 Bill Thieben, Detroit Pistons
21 Don Meineke, Cincinnati Royals RC *
22 Tom Marshall, Cincinnati Royals
23 Dick Garmaker, Minneapolis Lakers
24 Bob Pettit, St. Louis Hawks RC
25 Jim Krebs, Minneapolis Lakers RC *
26 Gene Shue, Detroit Pistons RC *
27 Ed Macauley, St. Louis Hawks RC *
28 Vern Mikkelsen, Minneapolis Lakers RC
29 Willie Naulls, New York Knicks RC
30 Walter Dukes, Detroit Pistons RC *
31 Dave Piontek, Cincinnati Royals *
32 John Kerr, Syracuse Nationals RC
33 Larry Costello, Syracuse Nationals RC *
34 Woody Sauldsberry, Philadelphia Warriors RC *
35 Ray Felix, New York Knicks RC
36 Ernie Beck, Philadelphia Warriors
37 Cliff Hagan, St. Louis Hawks RC
38 Guy Sparrow, New York Knicks *
39 Jim Loscutoff, Boston Celtics RC
40 Arnie Risen, Boston Celtics *
41 Joe Graboski, Philadelphia Warriors
42 Maurice Stokes, Cincinnati Royals RC *
43 Rod Hundley, Minneapolis Lakers RC *
44 Tom Gola, Philadelphia Warriors RC *
45 Med Park, St. Louis Hawks RC
46 Mel Hutchins, New York Knicks *
47 Larry Friend, New York Knicks *
48 Lennie Rosenbluth, Philadelphia Warriors RC *
49 Walt Davis, Philadelphia Warriors
50 Richie Regan, Cincinnati Royals RC
51 Frank Selvy, St. Louis Hawks RC *
52 Art Spoelstra, Minneapolis Lakers *
53 Bob Hopkins, Syracuse Nationals RC
54 Earl Lloyd, Syracuse Nationals RC
55 Phil Jordon, New York Knicks *
56 Bob Houbregs, Detroit Pistons RC *
57 Lou Tsioropoulos, Boston Celtics *
58 Ed Conlin, Syracuse Nationals RC
59 Al Bianchi, Syracuse Nationals RC
60 George Dempsey, Philadelphia Warriors RC
61 Chuck Share, St. Louis Hawks
62 Harry Gallatin, Detroit Pistons RC *
63 Bob Harrison, Syracuse Nationals
64 Bob Burrow, Minneapolis Lakers *
65 Win Wilfong, St. Louis Hawks *
66 Jack McMahon, St. Louis Hawks RC *
67 Jack George, Philadelphia Warriors
68 Charlie Tyra, New York Knicks *
69 Ron Sobie, New York Knicks
70 Jack Coleman, St. Louis Hawks
71 Jack Twyman, Cincinnati Royals RC *
72 Paul Seymour, Syracuse Nationals RC
73 Jim Paxson, Cincinnati Royals RC
74 Bob Leonard, Minneapolis Lakers RC
75 Andy Phillip, Boston Celtics
76 Joe Holup, Syracuse Nationals
77 Bill Russell, Boston Celtics RC
78 Clyde Lovellette, Cincinnati Royals RC *
79 Ed Fleming, Minneapolis Lakers *
80 Dick Schnittker, Minneapolis Lakers RC
1957-58 Topps Basketball Team Set Lists
Boston Celtics
5 Bill Sharman RC
9 Jack Nichols
15 Frank Ramsey RC
17 Bob Cousy RC
19 Tom Heinsohn RC
39 Jim Loscutoff RC
40 Arnie Risen
57 Lou Tsioropoulos
75 Andy Phillip
77 Bill Russell RC
Cincinnati Royals
6 George King RC
8 Dick Ricketts RC
21 Don Meineke RC
22 Tom Marshall
31 Dave Piontek
42 Maurice Stokes RC
50 Richie Regan RC
71 Jack Twyman RC
73 Jim Paxson RC
78 Clyde Lovellette RC
Detroit Pistons
1 Nat Clifton RC
2 George Yardley RC
11 Chuck Noble
14 Dick Atha
16 Dick McGuire RC
20 Bill Thieben
26 Gene Shue RC
30 Walter Dukes RC
56 Bob Houbregs RC
62 Harry Gallatin RC
Minneapolis Lakers
18 Larry Foust RC
23 Dick Garmaker
25 Jim Krebs RC
28 Vern Mikkelsen RC
43 Rod Hundley RC
52 Art Spoelstra
64 Bob Burrow
74 Bob Leonard RC
79 Ed Fleming
80 Dick Schnittker RC
New York Knicks
4 Carl Braun
7 Kenny Sears RC
29 Willie Naulls RC
35 Ray Felix RC
38 Guy Sparrow
46 Mel Hutchins
47 Larry Friend
55 Phil Jordon
68 Charlie Tyra
69 Ron Sobie
Philadelphia Warriors
3 Neil Johnston RC
10 Paul Arizin RC
34 Woody Sauldsberry RC
36 Ernie Beck
41 Joe Graboski
44 Tom Gola RC
48 Lennie Rosenbluth RC
49 Walt Davis
60 George Dempsey RC
67 Jack George
St. Louis Hawks
12 Slater Martin RC
24 Bob Pettit RC
27 Ed Macauley RC
37 Cliff Hagan RC
45 Med Park RC
51 Frank Selvy RC
61 Chuck Share
65 Win Wilfong
66 Jack McMahon RC
70 Jack Coleman
Syracuse Nationals
13 Dolph Schayes RC
32 John Kerr RC
33 Larry Costello RC
53 Bob Hopkins RC
54 Earl Lloyd RC
58 Ed Conlin RC
59 Al Bianchi RC
63 Bob Harrison
72 Paul Seymour RC
76 Joe Holup
Most Valuable 1957-58 Topps Basketball Cards
1. 1957-58 Topps Bill Russell RC #77
2. 1957-58 Topps Bob Cousy RC #17
3. 1957-58 Topps Bob Heinsohn RC #19
4. 1957-58 Topps Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton RC #1
5. 1957-58 Topps Bob Pettit RC #24
