1957 Topps Football: Ahead of Its Time
1957 Topps Football follows closely with the time credited for making the NFL popular.
The 1958 NFL Championship Game between the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants was broadcast into homes across America and was the first NFL playoff game decided in overtime. Dubbed “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” it’s credited with vaulting the NFL into the mainstream national sports market during a time when professional baseball reigned.
Colts legends Johnny Unitas, Lenny Moore and Raymond Berry were all 25 years old. All three are now members of the NFL’s All-Time Team. The Giants boasted seasoned stars Charlie Conerly, Frank Gifford, Andy Robustelli, Sam Huff and others. It was a 17-17 struggle played in Yankee Stadium, with the Colts driving 80 yards to win the title in sudden death. Looking back nearly 70 years later, it undoubtably was a launch pad for pro football. The year prior, the 1957 Topps set delivered key cards of the stars of The Greatest Game Ever Played, including those mentioned above. It became arguably the greatest football set ever of the vintage era and was perfectly timed to deliver cards of the current and future stars of the time.
It was the second Topps NFL product and the first with the now-traditional size of 2.5-by-3.5 inches, following the lead of the 1957 baseball release. Its horizontal orientation featured a design ahead of its time, with a portrait shot on the left and the player in an action pose on the right. The two-tone colorful backgrounds also make the cards some of the most recognizable of any vintage design.
The set was printed in two series, the first with 88 cards and the second with 66. Around 20 cards in the second series are double-printed, making a lot of the lower-numbered cards more desirable.
Cards were distributed in three pack versions: single-card one-cent packs, six-card nickel packs, and 12-card cello packs.
4 Key 1957 Topps Football Rookie Cards
The 1956 season was the first for Starr and Unitas, and their first cards in the ’57 set are the two of the most valuable vintage RCs in football. The Unitas #138 is one of the double-prints, so it’s a little easier to find than the Starr #119. In roughly Near Mint condition, Unitas can bring up to $1,500 while Starr can top out at $1,800. Both are Hall of Famers and multiple NFL champions, and were in their early 20s when their RCs released.
Paul Hornung won the Heisman Trophy in 1956 and was the first overall NFL draft pick in 1957. It was incredibly rare for a rookie to have his first card in his first season, but Hornung was so popular that he was included in the set on card #151. Near Mint examples command
up to $800-$1,000. Colts receiver Raymond Berry rounds out the top four RCs with card #94. He was with Baltimore from 1955- 1967 and led the NFL in receiving yards three times. You can find this card for about $150.
Other Top 1957 Topps Football Cards and Errors
Dick “Night Train” Lane began his NFL career in 1952 with 14 interceptions in 12 games—a record that still stands more than 70 years later. His 69 career INTs rank fourth all-time. His first card didn’t appear until this 1957 set. Card #85 is roughly $60, which is a bargain for such a legend.
Earl Morrall was the second pick in the 1956 NFL Draft and had a 21-year-career, including an NFL title in 1968 with the Colts after Unitas was sidelined with an injury that season. He’s also a two-time All-Pro. His Rookie Card is #104 and reaches about $60.
Tommy McDonald is another key Hall of Famer in the set. He was a receiver mostly for the Eagles and led the NFL in yards in 1961 and in TDs twice. His RC is one of the double-prints, and can be found for $20-$40. Lenny Moore’s second-year card is #128 and is one of the most valuable non-Rookie Cards at $50.
Other key veterans that fill out the set are #88 Frank Gifford, #1 Eddie LaBaron, #30 Y.A. Tittle, #31 George Blanda, #32 Bobby Layne, #22 Norm Van Brocklin, #46 Elroy Hirsch, #95 Hugh McElhenny, #109 Charley Conerly that range from about $25 to $50.
There are two versions of the checklist card that bring a premium if unmarked. There is a Bazooka gum logo on the back of one and a Twin Blony logo on the other. In great condition, they can sell for more than $500. The key error card is #58 Bill Sherman, which has two versions. One is missing the Rams team name on the front and the other is missing the team name and position. Both versions can reach $200-$300.
There are three rare advertising panel sheets featuring a preview of three cards each. One shows Al Dorow/Harlon Hill/Bert Rechichar and another has Bobby Watkins/Gino Marchetti/Clarence Peaks, but both have Ollie Matson on the back. The first sheet has Mike McCormack/Leo Elter/J.C. Caroline with Elroy Hirsch on the back. If found, these can go for $500-$700.
Condition and Grade
With its border around the entire card, centering seems to be the main condition issue with 1957 Topps Football. Many cards also show small print scuffs on the surface that are more noticeable on darker color backgrounds. The PSA pop report shows over 60,000 total entries for the set, with the most common grade being Near Mint 7 followed by Near Mint-Mint 8. There have been few Mint 9s.
Like most sets, the first card (#1 Eddie LeBaron) and the last card (#154 Fred Morrison) on the print sheets can be hard to find in
higher grade.
1957 Topps Football Checklist
Base Set
154 cards.
Buy on:
Check 1957 Topps Football values in the Beckett price guide.
1 Eddie LeBaron, Washington Redskins
2 Pete Retzlaff, Philadelphia Eagles RC
3 Mike McCormack, Cleveland Browns
4 Lou Baldacci, Pittsburgh Steelers RC
5 Gino Marchetti, Baltimore Colts
6 Leo Nomellini, San Francisco 49ers
7 Bobby Watkins, Chicago Bears
8 Dave Middleton, Detroit Lions
9 Bobby Dillon, Green Bay Packers
10 Les Richter, Los Angeles Rams
11 Roosevelt Brown, New York Giants
12 Lavern Torgeson, Washington Redskins RC
13 Dick Bielski, Philadelphia Eagles
14 Pat Summerall, Chicago Cardinals
15 Jack Butler, Pittsburgh Steelers RC
16 John Henry Johnson, Cleveland Browns
17 Art Spinney, Baltimore Colts
18 Bob St. Clair, San Francisco 49ers
19 Perry Jeter, Chicago Bears RC
20 Lou Creekmur, Detroit Lions
21 Dave Hanner, Green Bay Packers
22 Norm Van Brocklin, Los Angeles Rams
23 Don Chandler, New York Giants RC
24 Al Dorow, Washington Redskins
25 Tom Scott, Philadelphia Eagles
26 Ollie Matson, Chicago Cardinals
27 Fran Rogel, Pittsburgh Steelers
28 Lou Groza, Cleveland Browns
29 Billy Vessels, Baltimore Colts
30 Y.A.Tittle, San Francisco 49ers
31 George Blanda, Chicago Bears
32 Bobby Layne, Detroit Lions
33 Billy Howton, Green Bay Packers
34 Bill Wade, Los Angeles Rams
35 Emlen Tunnell, New York Giants
36 Leo Elter, Washington Redskins RC
37 Clarence Peaks, Philadelphia Eagles RC
38 Don Stonesifer, Chicago Cardinals
39 George Tarasovic, Pittsburgh Steelers
40 Darrel Brewster, Cleveland Browns
41 Bert Rechichar, Baltimore Colts
42 Billy Wilson, San Francisco 49ers
43 Ed Brown, Chicago Bears
44 Gene Gedman, Detroit Lions RC
45 Gary Knafelc, Green Bay Packers
46 Elroy Hirsch, Los Angeles Rams
47 Don Heinrich, New York Giants
48 Gene Brito, Washington Redskins
49 Chuck Bednarik, Philadelphia Eagles
50 Dave Mann, Chicago Cardinals
51 Bill McPeak, Pittsburgh Steelers
52 Kenny Konz, Cleveland Browns
53 Alan Ameche, Baltimore Colts
54 Gordy Soltau, San Francisco 49ers
55 Rick Casares, Chicago Bears
56 Charlie Ane, Detroit Lions
57 Al Carmichael, Green Bay Packers
58A Willard Sherman, Los Angeles Rams ERR- no position on front
58B Willard Sherman, Los Angeles Rams COR
58C Willard Sherman, Los Angeles Rams ERR – no team on front
59 Kyle Rote, New York Giants
60 Chuck Drazenovich, Washington Redskins
61 Bobby Walston, Philadelphia Eagles
62 John Olszewski, Chicago Cardinals
63 Ray Mathews, Pittsburgh Steelers
64 Maurice Bassett, Cleveland Browns
65 Art Donovan, Baltimore Colts
66 Joe Arenas, San Francisco 49ers
67 Harlon Hill, Chicago Bears
68 Yale Lary, Detroit Lions
69 Bill Forester, Green Bay Packers
70 Bob Boyd, Los Angeles Rams
71 Andy Robustelli, New York Giants
72 Sam Baker, Washington Redskins RC
73 Bob Pellegrini, Philadelphia Eagles
74 Leo Sanford, Chicago Cardinals
75 Sid Watson, Pittsburgh Steelers RC
76 Ray Renfro, Cleveland Browns
77 Carl Taseff, Baltimore Colts UER – misspelled Tasseff
78 Clyde Conner, San Francisco 49ers RC
79 J.C. Caroline, Chicago Bears RC
80 Howard Cassady, Detroit Lions RC
81 Tobin Rote, Green Bay Packers
82 Ron Waller, Los Angeles Rams
83 Jim Patton, New York Giants RC
84 Volney Peters, Washington Redskins
85 Dick Lane, Chicago Cardinals RC
86 Royce Womble, Baltimore Colts
87 Duane Putnam, Los Angeles Rams RC
88 Frank Gifford, New York Giants
89 Steve Meilinger, Washington Redskins
90 Buck Lansford, Philadelphia Eagles
91 Lindon Crow, Chicago Cardinals DP
92 Ernie Stautner, Pittsburgh Steelers DP
93 Preston Carpenter, Cleveland Browns DP RC
94 Raymond Berry, Baltimore Colts RC
95 Hugh McElhenny, San Francisco 49ers
96 Stan Jones, Chicago Bears
97 Dorne Dibble, Detroit Lions
98 Joe Scudero, Washington Redskins DP
99 Eddie Bell, Philadelphia Eagles
100 Joe Childress, Chicago Cardinals DP RC
101 Elbert Nickel, Pittsburgh Steelers
102 Walt Michaels, Cleveland Browns
103 Jim Mutscheller, Baltimore Colts DP
104 Earl Morrall, San Francisco 49ers RC
105 Larry Strickland, Chicago Bears RC
106 Jack Christiansen, Detroit Lions
107 Fred Cone, Green Bay Packers DP
108 Bud McFadin, Los Angeles Rams RC
109 Charley Conerly, New York Giants
110 Tom Runnels, Washington Redskins DP RC
111 Ken Keller, Philadelphia Eagles DP RC
112 James Root, Chicago Cardinals RC
113 Ted Marchibroda, Pittsburgh Steelers DP
114 Don Paul DB, Cleveland Browns
115 George Shaw, Baltimore Colts
116 Dick Moegle, San Francisco 49ers
117 Don Bingham, Chicago Bears
118 Leon Hart, Detroit Lions
119 Bart Starr, Green Bay Packers RC
120 Paul Miller, Los Angeles Rams DP RC
121 Alex Webster, New York Giants
122 Ray Wietecha, New York Giants DP
123 Johnny Carson, Washington Redskins
124 Tommy McDonald, Philadelphia Eagles DP RC
125 Jerry Tubbs, Chicago Cardinals RC
126 Jack Scarbath, Pittsburgh Steelers
127 Ed Modzelewski, Cleveland Browns DP
128 Lenny Moore, Baltimore Colts
129 Joe Perry, San Francisco 49ers DP
130 Bill Wightkin, Chicago Bears
131 Jim Doran, Detroit Lions
132 Howard Ferguson, Green Bay Packers UER – Name misspelled Furgeson on front
133 Tom Wilson, Los Angeles Rams RC
134 Dick James, Washington Redskins RC
135 Jimmy Harris, Philadelphia Eagles RC
136 Chuck Ulrich, Chicago Cardinals
137 Lynn Chandnois, Pittsburgh Steelers
138 Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts DP RC
139 Jim Ridlon, San Francisco 49ers DP RC
140 Zeke Bratkowski, Chicago Bears
141 Ray Krouse, Detroit Lions
142 John Martinkovic, Green Bay Packers
143 Jim Cason, Los Angeles Rams DP RC
144 Ken MacAfee E, New York Giants
145 Sid Youngelman, Philadelphia Eagles RC
146 Paul Larson, Chicago Cardinals RC
147 Len Ford, Cleveland Browns
148 Bob Toneff, San Francisco 49ers DP
149 Ronnie Knox, Chicago Bears DP RC
150 Jim David, Detroit Lions RC
151 Paul Hornung, Green Bay Packers RC
152 Tank Younger, Los Angeles Rams
153 Bill Svoboda, New York Giants DP RC
154 Fred Morrison, Cleveland Browns
Checklists
2 cards.
Checklist – Bazooka Back
Checklist – Twin Blony Back
Advertising Panels
Al Dorow, Harlon Hill, Bert Rechichar, Ollie Matson Back
Bobby Watkins, Gino Marchetti, Clarence Peaks, Ollie Matson Back
Mike McCormack, Leo Elter, J.C. Caroline, Elroy Hirsch Back
