1961-62 Fleer Basketball #62 Bill Russell In Action
1961-62 Fleer Basketball #62 Bill Russell In Action
About this card
The 1961-62 Fleer Basketball Bill Russell In Action is card #62 of 66, in the set's In Action subset (#45-66, the game-action photos). As an In Action card it is a second card of the player, never a rookie card. It is one of the set's major In Action keys. 1961-62 Fleer was Fleer's only major NBA issue between the 1957-58 Topps set and the 1969-70 Topps era - 66 cards split into 44 Portrait cards (#1-44) and 22 In Action cards (#45-66), every one single-printed with no short prints.
About Bill Russell
Bill Russell, the 6-foot-10 defensive revolutionary, won two NCAA titles at the University of San Francisco and Olympic gold in 1956 before the St. Louis Hawks drafted him second overall and traded his rights to the Boston Celtics. Anchoring the Celtics from 1956 to 1969, Russell won an unmatched 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons — including eight in a row from 1959 to 1966. A five-time MVP and 12-time All-Star, he built his game on rebounding, shot-blocking, and defense rather than scoring (15.1 points and 22.5 rebounds per game). As player-coach from 1966 to 1969, he became the first Black head coach to win an NBA championship. Russell entered the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1975 and again as a coach in 2021. Notably, this is not a rookie card — Russell's rookie is the 1957-58 Topps — which makes his 1961-62 Fleer the set's premier veteran key.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1,288 | 0 | 47 | 252 | 214 | 205 | 176 | 376 | 18 |
| SGC | 521 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 27 | 67 | 109 | 284 | 28 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-07-09. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8).
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 1961-62 Fleer Bill Russell In Action a rookie card?
No. In Action cards (#45-66) are second cards of players who also have a numbered Portrait card, so they are never rookie cards. Bill Russell's rookie-eligible card in this set is his Portrait issue.
How rare is the 1961-62 Fleer Bill Russell In Action in high grade?
Condition-scarce. PSA has graded about 1,288 copies and SGC about 521, yet only 0 have reached PSA 10 and 47 are PSA 9. Every card in the set was single-printed - there are no short prints - so all of its scarcity is condition scarcity, and clean, well-centered copies sit far above the raw totals. Population snapshot 2026-07-09.
What makes the 1961-62 Fleer Bill Russell In Action a key card?
It is one of the set's major In Action keys, from the only major NBA card set issued between 1957-58 Topps and 1969-70 Topps - the defining basketball issue of the 1960s. Value depends heavily on grade and centering; use the links above to check current T206 Cards inventory and live eBay listings.
Sources: Basketball-Reference · hoophall.com · Wikipedia. Bio and card data compiled & maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-07-09.
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