The four most valuable rookie cards in the 1957-58 Topps hockey card set feature players entering their third year in the National Hockey League. Because it was Topps’ first set since 1954-55 and Parkhurst was also lacking a set in 1956-57, several players were represented on cardboard for the first time.
The 1957-58 Topps game consists of 66 hockey cards featuring players from the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, and New York Rangers. Gordie Howe and Glenn Hall are at the forefront of the most valuable cards in the set. As with most sports cards, the 1957-58 Topps series celebrates the achievements of the previous year.
Glenn Hall-Chicago Blackhawks
Card number 20 belongs to Glenn Hall, goalie for the Chicago Blackhawks. The card is not only the highest value rookie card at $400, but it is one of the most valuable in the set. In fact, Hall played two games for the Detroit Red Wings in 1954-55 before playing all 70 for the Red Wings in 1955-56 and 1956-57. In 1956-57, he posted an average of 2.23 goals while recording four shutouts.
1957-58 was Glenn’s first year with Chicago and he is shown on the billboard as a member of the Blackhawks. Hall went on to play in the NHL until the end of the 1970-71 season. Along with the Red Wings and Blackhawks, Glenn also played for the St. Louis Blues. Glenn Hall was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975.
Johnny Bucyk – Boston Bruins
Card number 10 is Johnny Bucyk’s rookie card and has a book value of $250. Like Glenn Hall, Bucyk played for the Detroit Red Wings in 1955-56 and 1956-57, with 1957-58 being his first year with the Boston Bruins. In 1956-57, Johnny scored ten goals and assisted eleven for 21 points in 66 games.
In that first year with Boston, the Bruins went straight to the Stanley Cup Finals before falling to the dynastic Montreal Canadiens. Bucyk played in the National Hockey League through the 1977-78 season, all with Boston. John Bucyk was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981.
Norma Ullman – Detroit Red Wings
Card number 46 in the 1957-58 Topps set belongs to Norm Ullman and has a book value of $250. Like the two previous players, Ullman played for the Detroit Red Wings in 1955-56 and 1956-57. Unlike the other two, Norm remained with the Red Wings until a trade sent him to the Toronto Maple Leafs midway through the 1967-68 season.
In 1956-57, Ullman scored 16 and assisted on 36 for 52 points in 64 games. He was third in team scoring behind Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay. His 36 assists tied Norm for eighth in the NHL with Henri Richard of the Montreal Canadiens. His 52 points put him 10th in the race for the Art Ross Trophy.
Norm played in the National Hockey League until the end of the 1974-75 season, appearing only with Toronto and Detroit. He spent another two years in the WHA with the Edmonton Oilers in 1975-76 and 1976-77. Norm Ullman was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1982.
Pierre Pilote – Chicago Blackhawks
Pilot’s 22nd rookie card has a book value of $100. Pierre played in 20 games for the Blackhawks in 1955-56 and played the full 70-game schedule in 1956-57. In that 1956-57 season, the defenseman scored three and assisted on 14 for 17 points over the last-place Blackhawks. His 117 penalty minutes placed him fourth in the NHL.
Pierre played with Chicago from 1955-56 to 1967-68 before playing one final season in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1968-69. Driver won three consecutive Norris Trophies from 1962-63 to 1964-65 as the best defenseman in the NHL. Pierre Pilote was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975.