A 1957 Topps Bill Russell rookie card was sold for a staggering $660,000 at an auction conducted by PWCC Marketplace recently. The sale sets a new record for the card of the Boston Celtics legend, who passed away in July of 2022. According to Card Ladder, the Russell card now holds the title of the third-most-expensive vintage basketball card (pre-1980) of all time.
The only two basketball cards from before 1980 that fetched higher prices were a 1948 Bowman George Mikan rookie card, which sold for $800,000 in March 2022, and a 1961 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain rookie card, which was sold for $670,000 in June. The Russell rookie card, which received a grading of 8.5 from PSA, previously held the record for the most expensive Russell card when it sold for $630,000 in March 2021. Only three copies of the card have been graded higher.
“It’s worth looking beyond the sales price and taking a moment to appreciate the quality of this card from a historical perspective,” PWCC Marketplace VP of sales Jesse Craig said in a statement.
“There are no PSA 10 copies of this card and just three PSA 9 copies in existence. None of those 9s have ever surfaced at public auction. There are two copies of the card graded to a PSA 8.5 and this copy holds above average eye appeal according to our experts. When you take all of that into consideration it is possible that this is the best looking copy of the card to exist in the world. What isn’t debatable is that we’re in the museum-quality range with this card. We’re looking at a true artifact celebrating one of the all-time greats.”
In June of 2021, the 11x NBA champion facilitated the auction of over 700 items from his illustrious Hall of Fame career. The collection generated nearly $9 million in total sales. Notably, one item that garnered significant attention was the jersey worn by Russell during his final game, the clinching victory of the 1969 NBA Finals, which fetched over $1 million.
In typical Russell fashion, he ensured that the proceeds from the auction benefited charitable causes.
The record-breaking sale of Bill Russell’s rookie card is a testament to his enduring legacy and the tremendous value placed on his contributions to the sport of basketball. Russell’s impact as a civil rights trailblazer and his remarkable basketball career continue to inspire and captivate fans around the world.
Photo: Fred Keenan.