Hey there fellow card collectors! Today, I want to talk about one of the greatest basketball players of all time and his rookie cards – Bob Cousy. As a collector with over 20 years of experience in this hobby, I can tell you that Bob Cousy’s rookie cards are definitely gems worth adding to your collection. Plus, I have some exciting news and updates about these cards that you wouldn’t want to miss. So, let’s dive right in and explore the world of Bob Cousy rookie cards!
Bob Cousy, also known as “The Houdini of the Hardwood,” was a legendary point guard who played for the Boston Celtics during the 1950s and 1960s. He was known for his incredible ball-handling skills, playmaking ability, and leadership on the court. Naturally, his rookie cards have become highly sought after by collectors.
Bob Cousy 2024
In recent news, there have been some exciting developments in the world of Bob Cousy rookie cards. First, it was announced that a rare gem mint condition 1957 Topps #17 Bob Cousy rookie card sold for a record-breaking price of $384,000 at an auction. This demonstrates the continued demand and value of Cousy’s rookie cards among collectors.
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Best Bob Cousy Rookie Cards
Despite Bob Cousy being drafted in 1950, his official rookie card wasn’t released until 1957 when Topps came through with the set. There were no major basketball releases during that time, so multiple players had to wait for years for their first official RC. Some of them had become stars already, and that is true for Bob Cousy too. We’ll get to his official RC in a minute, but first let’s check out this interesting card.
1951 Berk Ross Hit Parade of Champions Bob Cousy #1-11
The 1951 Berk Ross Hit Parade of Champions #1-11 is Bob Cousy’s earliest card. It cannot be considered his official rookie, as it belongs to an unofficial, multi-sport Berk Ross set.
Released as part of the Hit Parade of Champions that mostly included baseball, cards, this Bob Cousy card is still considered a rookie among hobby people.
The set also included star athletes of such sports as football, hockey and boxing.
The design of this Hit Parade of Champions card is very basic: it’s just a square photo of Bob Cousy in his Holy Cross college jersey dribbling the basketball with his right hand. No logos, no names on the card, it is not branded at all.
What else is interesting is that the athletes were paired with each other and printed on a single cardboard with a perforation line in between. Bob Cousy is paired with Richie Ashburn in this set, a Hall of Fame baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies.
In pair with Ashburn, or teared away as a single, the 1951 Berk Ross Hit Parade of Champions Bob Cousy #1-11 is a tough card to track down and it is a fairly expensive card for its type. It is an important Bob Cousy collectible, being his first ever sports card released.
1957 Topps Bob Cousy RC #17
Now this one is Bob Cousy’s first official rookie card, and it’s his best rookie card, hands down. It is certainly a very valuable piece of a very popular and classic 1957-58 Topps basketball set.
The set was the first basketball release in over a decade, so it was a highly demanded one right away, and it remains a popular one to this day. Many players on the set are considered rookies despite being drafted in previous years.
The 1957-58 Topps basketball set includes Bill Russell RC, Bob Heinsohn, Bob Pettit, Dolph Scahyes and Bill Sharman, all prominent players of those days, to name a few.
As to the design, the 1957 Topps Bob Cousy RC #17 is fairly basic, but very visually appealing. The colorful action shot of Bob Cousy dribbling the ball in his Celtics jersey, and the nameplate underneath with his name on the yellow background and team name on the red background.
The 1957 Topps Bob Cousy RC #17 is a relatively inexpensive card, which is surprising given its popularity. Nevertheless, it is the best rookie card of this legendary point guard.
Other Notable Bob Cousy Cards
Most other Bob Cousy cards were released after he retired: there are some cards dropped in the nineties, some autographed Bob Cousy cards, but stick to the end — there are a couple of vintage options too, that dropped during his playing days. We’ll review them as well!
1998 Upper Deck Century Legends Epic Signatures Bob Cousy #BC
This autographed Upper Deck Bob Cousy card was released as part of the 1998-99 Upper Deck Century Legends set called Epic Signatures.
The Epic Signatures subset contained autographed cards of the greatest basketball players of the 20th century. In the set, you can find cards of Jerry West, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson and other legends of the game.
The Epic Signatures Bob Cousy features the black and white photo of him in a gray and brown box. The autograph on the card is in blue ink and placed above the Upper Deck Century Legends logo.
The 1998 Upper Deck Century Legends Epic Signatures Bob Cousy #BC is one of the notable Bob Cousy cards and a nice collectible for those who are interested in vintage autographs.
2009 Timeless Treasures Silver Signatures Bob Cousy #76 /25
Another signed Bob Cousy card, this one is from the 2000’s. This Silver Signatures Bob Cousy belongs to the 2009-10 Timeless Treasures set that featured veterans and legends of the game.
The set includes autographed cards of Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, Bill Walton, Dolph Schayes and George Gervin.
The design of the card is pretty minimalistic, but spacious and elegant. The action image of Bob Cousy dribbling the ball is right in the middle, on a bright background. The autograph is placed on top of the image, in blue ink.
It is worth noting that the 2009 Timeless Treasures Silver Signatures Bob Cousy #76 is limited to only 25 copies made. It makes it a truly valuable card.
1961 Fleer Bob Cousy #10
Back to a couple of vintage cards for Bob Cousy. Check out this vintage beauty — the 1961 Fleer Bob Cousy #10.
Part of the 1961-62 Fleer basketball set that is deemed to be the most attractive set of all time, this bold and colorful card stands out for sure!
Bob Cousy is pictured in a posed shot against a yellow background, with the Boston Celtics logo on a lime green background and player’s name and position placed in the middle.
This Fleer set is also notable as it includes Wilt Chamberlain RC, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Len Wilkens.
Incredibly popular and very visually attractive, it is a must-have for any vintage basketball set collector. And the Bob Cousy #10? Very affordable and achievable card for many.
1961 Fleer Bob Cousy #49
This is the action card from the same set as the previously mentioned. It features Bob Cousy’s action shot with him going for a layup in a black and white square image. Another difference is that the Boston Celtics team name and logo on top are on a yellow background.
Part of the same popular set, the 1961-62 Fleer basketball set, this card is notable and even more interesting to the collectors because of the action shot.
As we mentioned, the 1961 Fleer set is important, and another reason for that is that it’s truly unique. It was Fleer’s attempt at basketball cards. A nice one, but just like Topps and Bowman, they discontinued production after only one season — only to come back strong, with the legendary 1986-87 Fleer Basketball nearly a quarter-century later.
Both the 1961 Fleer Bob Cousy #10 and the 1961 Fleer Bob Cousy #49 are relatively cheap cards, compared to other cards from this era. Nevertheless, they are beautiful and notable cards from the beginning of the Fleer history, and definitely worth collecting.
Final Thoughts
Bob Cousy is truly one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He was one of the early legends of the game and helped shape the rules and how the game was played.
Bob Cousy’s cards reflect his legacy — his most valuable cards are almost exclusively from the beginning of the era of basketball cards when the game started to be popularized around the country with the help of big names like Bob Cousy himself, Bill Russell and Oscar Robertson.
From his vintage card options, the official RC to his Fleer cards and modern autos, Bob Cousy’s cards are all in demand. So whether you are interested in his modern basketball cards, signed versions or his vintage cards, or you’re just a fan of Bob Cousy, there is definitely a card for you.
See you around, and happy collecting!
