This was new territory, albeit sampled already on the biggest stage of the Super Bowl, which began following the 1966 season. Thats likely to raise a ruckus, as will the High Series run, which Fritsch notes that they still sell from time to time. Experimentation was the order of the day: with the Playoff and Super Bowl recap cards, Topps took actual game photos and applied a manner of sepia-tone to each of them, either in a laughable attempt to be artsy or once again to steer clear of using identifiable team logos and insignia. 133-263) is tougher, but the third series (Nos. You can reach him at [emailprotected]. 93), L.C. The Twins finished a mediocre 71-71, but Carew was anything but. Two-time Super Bowl Champion was a first ballot Hall of Famer. Both of his rookies are in the high numbers, and the base version is $100+, with the cheaper All-Pro version being around $40. The scarcity of the set and the simple, block-like design make the 1972 Topps set a favorite among vintage football card collectors. However, the 1970 Topps O.J. That inventory made Fritsch the primary source for higher quality 1972 football high numbers and wax boxes for the next 25 years. One of the first multiple use linebackers, Hendricks excelled in run defense, pass coverage, and pass rushing situations. Ungraded & graded values for all '72 Topps Football Cards. Free shipping. Of all the "In Action" cards, Schaal's is the toughest to locate in high grade, with just fourteen PSA 9 examples on record. Along with fellow Hall of Famers Howie Long, Mike Haynes, and just below Canton threshold guys Lester Hayes and Lyle Alzado, the 1983 Raiders were truly feared. The third series was only released in pack form in a few cities. A deeper statistical look into Aaron's work at the plate showed a marginal decline, with his 44 extra-base hits qualifying as the fewest of his two-decade career to that point. Due to that, its entirely likely for an EX card that is centered well to outsell a NM card off centered. Most, but not all. Our articles may contain affiliate links. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Eight of which make their appearance on Rookie Cards. To make matters even more interesting, Rose's RBI single off ace Oakland closer Rollie Fingers proved the difference in a 5-4 Cincinnati win. The packs sound pretty swift as well. With the A's leading three games to one, the Cincinnati Reds legend riled up the press by insisting that Hunter wasn't as great as others made him out to be. 1972 Topps #195 Julius Erving Rookie Basketball Card PSA 4 VG-EX. The Topps Chewing Gum Co. may have sensed this looming date with history: the Brooklyn-based company made its most ambitious move in the football card arena, opting to produce the largest set ever, complete with a final high-number series that pushed the total to an unheard-of 351 cards. Hendricks may be one the most underrated players in league history. He is most remembered, though, for spending the majority of his career (twelve seasons) with the New York Mets, where he made two All-Star appearances and helped lead them to the 1969 World Series title. Its that nuance that probably prompted Topps to try the All-Star subset in its 1960s baseball issues, which is akin to the 24-card All Pro subset that is featured in that irascible high-number series in 1972. 157) and Larry Little (No. The Expos suffered ten-straight losing seasons until finishing second in the NL East on the 1979 season with an impressive 95-65 record, missing the pennant by two games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates. During his final three years in MLB with the Cincinnati Reds, Bonham faired better and had a winning season each year. The second series (Nos. As for the regular season, Rose led the Majors in plate appearances (731), at-bats (645), and hits (198). Two lockdown corners and two pass rushers who couldnt both get double teamed, most plays were over before they snapped the ball. There's no shortage of stars and Hall of Famers in this set, and many of them appear multiple times on both base cards and subset cards. However, the Giants were struggling financially and Mays had to settle for a two-year, $330,000 deal. True technician of the game became an assistant coach in the league from 1987 to 2012 with his knowledge. He was selected to his 12th All-Star Game, finished 13th in the National Leagues MVP balloting, and captured his 12th-straight Gold Glove to end his career. Bringing you global, high-end memorabilia auction and consulting services, while telling your stories. Aaron belted a career-high 47 home runs during the 1971 season, so it's nice to think that this photo captured him rounding the bases after one of them. 6. Contact him at [emailprotected]. As the story goes, Topps explained that the cost of shipping them back to the plant in Duryea, Pa., would have been considerable, so maybe the legendary collector and even by then big-time dealer might be interested in taking them off Topps hands for the cost of the shipping. Upshaw was a no-brainer Hall of Famer and one of the best guards of all time. Topps tried a couple of other firsts with its 1972 set, along with a pretty important last. This was the final year that it would issue football cards in series, moving in 1973 to produce the entire set all at once. Hendricks base rookie is in the low numbers, and can be had for a couple dollars raw but his All-Pro version is a high number, and generally requires at least $20 for even low grade. 25-year-old right-hander Nolan Ryan felt betrayed by the New York Mets after being traded to the California Angels before the 1972 season. Third Series Saga Design of the card was mixed, with both vertical and horizontal versions. Rod Carew hit .305 or better for fifteen straight seasons from 1969-1983, and in 1972, he slashed .318/.369/.379 with no home runs and 51 RBI. Wright fell to the seventh round because no one knew what would be his best pro position between tight end, defensive line, and offensive line. Grote played in just 64 games during the 1972 season because of injuries and eventually required surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow. 1971 AFC Receiving Leaders (Fred Biletnikoff / Otis Taylor / Randy Vataha) LL. His relationship with the team was in bad shape, as well. Buffalo Bills: No. Never one to shy away from controversy, all-time hit king Pete Rose took aim at Oakland Athletics ace Catfish Hunter before Game 5 of the 1972 World Series. Prices for 1972 Topps Basketball Cards 1972 Topps card list & price guide. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. Subsets were prevalent in the 72 product, with conference leaders taking up the first eight cards. In the face of that daunting challenge, Hanley says many collectors opt to limit their efforts to the first two series. To my knowledge, 1972 Topps cards were the only vintage football cards to be released in three series. The low-number sets are very popular with collectors on a budget because its possible to obtain the majority of the set for a fraction of the price and still get almost all of the popular players.. However, Clemente found his rhythm late in the season and entered a September 30 home game against the New York Mets just one hit short. For half of that drought (1971-1978), they had one of the most strikingly consistent hitters in baseball history around to make things feel a little better. Less than a week later, the Giants traded Mays to the New York Mets for pitcher Charlie Williams and a rumored cash amount of $100,000. The New York Mets' organization was shaken in 1972 when manager Gil Hodges died of a sudden heart attack on April 2, 1972, following a round of golf with members of the Mets' coaching staff. Yary was the first overall pick in 1968, and became the first offensive lineman ever selected first. Became the NFL Players Association Executive Director after his career and was a major part of the negotiations to get NFL a true free agency. The PSA Set Registry lists 21 complete, graded sets, with Elitecards 1972 listed at No. Greenwood has 44 cards that has been graded PSA 10; among the third series cards, the Paul Warfield All-Pro card (No. And while he logged his lowest total of plate appearances since his rookie season (545), Hammerin' Hank backed up his MVP-caliber 1971 performance with another solid showcase. Completing that third series is tough, but worth chasing. Its very likely the last set was released in a hurry, and quality control was lacking in order to just get the set out. They weren't All-Star numbers but not bad, nonetheless. The first two were available in wax and rack packs as well as cellos and vending boxes. 1. One of Aaron's most memorable moments, though, occurred on a single day in the dog days of summer. Captain America served in the Navy and won a Heisman Trophy in college. So by dumping the logos entirely in 1972, Topps created a clean, colorful issue that, like the classy 1970 issue, often boasts some of the best, clearest photography that had appeared in its football offerings up to that point. and 89 cards out of 351 total that feature a Hall of Famer. The 35-card set includes notables ,Most Valuable Football Cards 1970s (Top 3, Pricing, Review),1970 Topps Football Base Card #35 Matt SNELL ,,Vintage Pack Facts: 1970 Topps Football,1968 Topps Football Card # 35 Bobby Mitchell (HOF) ,,1972 Topps Football Checklist, Set Info, Key Cards, Analysis,Former Topps Director of Photos Dishes Out Details . Jackson continued to produce at the plate all season long, earning his third trip to the All-Star Game, helping to lead Oakland to another AL West Division title and a World Series showdown against Cincinnati after defeating the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS. The 1972 Topps Gale Sayers represents the end of a great careerjust like the 1971 Topps Bart Starr and the 1974 Topps Johnny Unitas. Serious collector since 2014. It would make the same momentous change with its baseball issues a couple of years later. Things got so dicey on that front that the Topps designers had offered collectors a kind of generic, cartoonish assortment of logos in 1971, silly-looking monstrosities seemingly inspired by the popular Kail statues of the day. Seaver finished first in the National League in strikeouts per 9 innings (8.6), second in strikeouts (249), third in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.234), and seventh in pitching WAR (5.2), among other top-ten finishes. Rather than handing the duties to backup Bob Montgomery, Boston manager Eddie Kasko turned to Fisk. Eight-time All-Pro, All-Decade Team in 1970s, and two-time Super Bowl Champion as a clear starter on both teams. Fritsch bought 50 wax cases (there were 15 boxes to a case) for roughly $5 per case.. All well and good, but the real deal that separates the colorful issue from all of its contemporaries is that late-season final series, those pesky high numbers that have intrigued, mystified and generally eluded serious collectors for decades. The All-Pro version commands $20 or so, but his base rookie is in the value bin. Who knows? The Mets missed the playoffs at 83-73 yet, Seaver's individual performance earned him an All-Star, a fifth-place finish in NL Cy Young voting, and a 25th-place finish in NL MVP balloting. Copyright Breakout Cards LLC. He ended his last regular season batting .312 with ten home runs and 60 RBI in 413 plate appearances (378 at-bats). Baltimore Colts: No. Bill Bonham made his major league debut for the Chicago Cubs in 1971, and the 22-year-old finished the season with a 2-1 record in 60 innings pitched. Since 2005, they've been known as the Washington Nationals, but in 1969, the team initially debuted as the Montreal Expos. Having grumbled appropriately, theres much to like about the set, not the least of which are the colorful backgrounds often with hues not found in nature up to that point or since and the great portraiture mentioned previously. 240). Between San Francisco and New York, Mays played in 88 games in 1972, slashing .250/.400/.402 with eight home runs and 22 RBI in 244 at-bats. Scan through the extensive 787-card checklist and you'll find plenty of stars, Hall of Famers, and several subsets to keep things interesting. 1965 Topps #122 Joe Namath SP RC. $250.00. Mays set a career-high for on-base percentage with a .425 OBP during the 1971 season, his twentieth in MLB. He would spend the first seven years of his ten-year career with the Cubs but only managed a winning record twice. Lawrence Taylor perfected linebacker where you didnt know what he was going to do, but Hendricks was the blueprint. Three other Cubs players had both the green and yellow letter variations, cards #18 (Juan Pizarro), #45 (Glenn Beckert), and #117 (Cleo James), with Pizarro's being the next-toughest to find in mint condition with just thirteen examples in PSA 9 holders. Topps 1972 football set would be the last time the company would issue the set in series form, and also the only time a set would contain three series. Tune in as Mrs. Wax Pack Gods reads about 1972 Topps Football Cards.If you like surprises, then you would have delighted in collecting 1972 Topps football cards first run.After establishing a pattern of issuing sets that fit neatly onto 132-card sheets, and generally in two series (264 cards total), Topps tried to sneak one by collectors late in the 1972 season.In particular, they pushed out an unprecedented third series, which contained just 88 cards.1972 Topps football cards wax packs box unopenedThat third series didnt get the blanket coverage that the first two pushes of the year did, though, and that created scarcity scarcity that hasnt been lost on collectors over the years.So, while this list of the 12 most valuable 1972 Topps football cards is populated with the sorts of rookie cards and Hall of Famers you would expect, its also colored heavily by that hard-to-come-by third series.Those high numbers and all the rest of this list were culled from PSA 8 values as listed in the PSA Sports Market Report Price Guide.Lets dig in!https://WaxPackGods.com https://waxpackgods.com/1972-topps-football-cards/https://twitter.com/WaxPackGods But, things weren't as positive on the defensive side of the ball as he led the American League in errors committed at third base with 28, and his .940 fielding percentage was well behind Rico Petrocelli's AL-leading .976. Atlanta Falcons: No. The right-hand side showed the players year-by-year stats and included a short biography. Or, feel free to call/text me at 305-684-6680! Die offizielle Site der Landesregierung Baden-Wrttemberg mit allgemeinen Informationen und aktuellen Meldungen ber das Bundesland sowie zu Themen aus Politik und Wirtschaft Upshaw also started on the 1971 Raiders, with the only team to start five future Hall of Famers. 1971 NFC Receiving Leaders (Bob Tucker / Ted Kwalick / Harold Jackson / Roy Jefferson) LL. In 653 plate appearances (538 at-bats), Bench hit .270 with an MLB-best 40 home runs and 125 RBI. And after Hal McRae scored the winning run after a wild pitch later in the inning, it was off to the World Series for Cincinnati and the league MVP. Rookie card can be found in the dollar bin at shows and even a gem mint SGC copy sold for $410 fairly recently. In summary, 1972 Topps football gives a great chase with the high numbers needed to complete the set. The cards have a plain white border on the front, and grey on the back. Just a perfect fit of style along with The Hogs offensive line, of vision, power, and just enough speed to frustrate a defense into submission. The most expensive football card set of the whole decade has high numbers so difficult they make your teeth hurt: Welcome to the classic car set 1972 Topps Football. 1 with a set rating of 10.69. Not only that, but Bo Jackson was a real hit off the field. The greatest football card of all time is more about its undeniable historical impact than being Joe Namath's Rookie Card. And maybe it helped bring more discipline to Jackson's swing. Your email address will not be published. Ungraded & graded values for all '72 Topps Basketball Cards. I think the set is considered complete with all three series, said Fritsch, who should know a thing or two about the rare cards. On July 12th, his slugging percentage sat at an eye-popping .629, and the heads of the baseball world collectively turned to watch him. 343), which is the most valuable card of the set. He'd end up winning seven American League batting crowns to finish his time in the Twin Cities. 133-263) is tougher, but the third series (Nos. In his first year with the Angels, Ryan posted the second-best ERA of his 27-year career (2.28). Fritsch has plans to offer a 1972 Topps Football High Series run from 264-351 in the upcoming Collect.com Auction (www.collect.com/auctions), right alongside a couple of unopened wax packs from the elusive issue. Joiner was drafted as a defensive back, but switched to receiver early in his career. Riggins was a throwback to the 1940s and 1950s style back where he ran you over more than ran around you. 100) and Johnny Unitas (No. This set screams 1970s, plain and simple. }), window.ramp.que.push(function () { 309 Tommy Nobis. For whatever reason, Topps decided to dot a predominately vertical set with literally dozens of regular-issue cards in a horizontal fashion, not even counting the dozens more of the Pro Action or Playoff recap cards that actually made good use of a horizontal setup in presenting the various photos. Estimated Green Letter Variation PSA 9 Mint Value: $1,000, Estimated Yellow Letter VariationPSA 9 Mint Value: $25. The 1972 NFL season showcased perfection in Miami, the beginnings of a dynasty in Pittsburgh (aided by an Immaculate Reception), the Over the Hill Gang in Washington and dominant squads in Minnesota, Dallas and Oakland. By then, they had guys like Andre Dawson, Gary Carter, and Tony Perez to help. As the story goes, a Topps representative in Wisconsin, frustrated by the tepid sales of the high series cards, contacted collector/dealer Larry Fritsch to gauge his interest. Base rookie (#104) can be had for a dollar or two, and All Pro version (#265) is around $20. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The pride of Charlestown, New Hampshire finished the season with a .293/.370/.538 slash line, 22 home runs, and 61 RBI. Was traded to the Packers during a time when it was unclear if he would come back. According to an article in Sports Collectors Digest from December 2013, the third series was a test issue that was only released in selected areas nationwide. On August 6th, in front of 29,149 fans in Cincinnati, Aaron homered off Reds pitcher Don Gullett in the tenth inning to give Atlanta the lead for good in a 4-3 win. Paul. Four-time Super Bowl Champion learned strategy and technique under Don Shula, won a ring, let his contract expire, then signed in the World Football League. Bench's production at the plate was otherworldly. Future Hall-of-Fame pitcher Tom Seaver was close with Hodges, and the skipper's passing hit him hard. Tensions boiled over, culminating in Mays leaving the stadium before a scheduled April 30th doubleheader after an argument with manager Charlie Fox. Out of reverence for his impact on the game, Mays was selected for his 19th-straight All-Star Game. With the total in the set expanded to 351 for the first time, the hefty subsets came in handy in portraying many more cards of some of the bigger names in the game. While his base card is much more expensive, his "In Action" card can also be quite pricey in mint condition. He is celebrating his 50th year of card collecting, and still counts his 1965 Topps Mickey Mantle as his favorite. He led baseball with a whopping 18 wild pitches and 157 walks. Steelers fans will argue 1971 Topps is better with Bradshaw and Joe Greene rookies, along with 1972 having two Cowboys Hall of Fame rookies, but 1972 Topps is the best football set of the 1970s. Greenwood (No. If so, then please fill out the form below and I'll be in touch right away. In the fourth inning, he ended the suspense, doubling off of Jon Matlack to notch his 3000th and final regular-season hit. If you click one and make a purchase, we may receive a commission. Both got a PSA 10 benediction, including one that has Joe Namath as the top card. Speaking of subsets, this set had several, including: While the hobby may have mixed opinions on the aesthetic appeal of this set, there's no doubting that it contains a lot of star power and great value overall. It was #649 for Aaron, pushing him ahead of Willie Mays for second on baseball's all-time home run list. Today, Simpson is vilified in the public mind. $800.00. "Gil is here inside each man, and he will be here all season," Seaver said. Other subsets were playoffs (cards 133-139), All-Pro (264-287) and Pro Action (119-132, 250-263, 338-351). Follow Ryan as he travels across the United States hitting up a card show almost every weekend! The first series of the 1972 Topps set (cards 1-132) is the most common and easiest to obtain. The checklist for the third series (No. Ron Mix, Art Shell, Jim Otto, Bob Brown, and Upshaw formed arguably the most intimidating offensive line of all time. New York Giants / San Francisco 49ers / Philadelphia Eagles / Washington Redskins. American football is hands-down the most watched sport in America, and for good measure, the NFL is the highest valued professional sports league in the US. Due to military commitments, joined the NFL at age 27 and was a six-time Pro Bowler. Less than two months away from his 41st birthday, Willie Mays struggled mightily to start the 1972 season in San Francisco, hitting just .184 in the first 19 games. The 1972 Red Sox Rookie Stars card featuring Carlton Fisk, Cecil Cooper, and Mike Garman is the clear front-runner in terms of rookie cards, but the Ron Cey rookie is also a good one to grab. However, a slightly down year for Aaron would be a dream season for many others. If you compare this card to Jackson's 1971 Topps issue, you'll notice that he showed up to Spring Training in 1972 with a mustache. 104), Emmitt Thomas (No. Thats probably a good choice of adjective: for many young collectors, the high series from Topps that year ended up being unheard of, or more precisely, unseen. The Red Sox lost starter Duane Josephson to injury in the third game of the season. Get current market values for 400,000+ baseball cards issued between '81 & '09, Interact with other sports collectors in Tuff Stuff's online forum, Sign up for your FREE email newsletter from Tuff Stuff. Fisk is rapidly gaining the reputation of being the Johnny Bench of the American League, sportswriter Larry Claflin wrote. PC Pro Football Hall of Famers regardless of team. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Jackson was a phenomenon, a true one-of-a-kind. Was significant piece of the 70s Dolphins who had a dominant run game, and frankly destroyed most teams of the era. In the fifth-and-deciding game of the National League Championship Series against the Pirates, Bench led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a game-tying home run off of Dave Guisti. Namath certainly was a key pro . The revenue is what helps keep SC Daily afloat! Wright challenges your love for the Hall of Fame checklist as well. After establishing a pattern of issuing sets that fit neatly onto 132-card sheets,. Gets the yardage, runs over a defender, and scores. There are three subsets, League Leaders (1-8), 1971 Playoff Highlights (133-139) and All-Pros (264-287), which allows the 1972 Topps Football Set to feature 84 cards that contain Hall-of-Fame players. It matters not at all that a number of the most important cards in the set are horizontal think Johnny Unitas, Joe Namath, or the John Riggins rookie card, to name a few whats noteworthy is that virtually none of the photographs needed to be presented in that fashion. 1972 Topps Pete Rose (#559) Love him or hate him, Pete Rose was pretty much the most exciting player in the game during the 1970s, and much of the 1960s and 1980s, too. The cards were of the standard Topps had used for several years in both baseball and football, measuring 2 by 3 inches. 150), Joe Namath (No. Sports Trading Cards Toys & Collectibles. His performance in 1971 also led to a bitter contract standoff between his representation and Oakland Athletics owner Charlie Finley. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? On the card back, the left side is devoted to a players vital statistics and a cartoon. However, that's not the case with the Expos team card, as this card gets its value for being rare in high grade, with only seventeen examples appearing in PSA 9 holders as of this writing. Sometimes a team card will make a list like this because of a significant milestone or performance in a particular year. Under new manager Yogi Berra, Seaver continued his career arc of nearly unparalleled mound dominance. The Topps designers upped the ante a bit in the subset department, offering the first league leader cards and the aforementioned Pro Action ditties. The third series, however, was released in smaller quantities and was not widely available, but regionally, could be found in both wax and rack packs. You get height, weight, college, birthdate, hometown, career stats, and a paragraph biography on the back. $2.66. 294). Due to licensing issues, any team logos on helmets and uniforms were airbrushed from the photographs Topps used. Was a key piece of the Chiefs team that beat the Vikings in Super Bowl IV, when some felt the AFL was still inferior despite the Jets-Colts Super Bowl the year before. 101), Ron Yary (No. And in this guide, I'll run through the seventeen most valuable. 291), Lyle Alzado (No. Thomas was a four-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler. Fisk stormed out of the gates, living up to his billing as the 4th overall pick in the 1967 MLB January Draft. He finished the year with a .307/.382/.417 line, six home runs, and 57 RBI. "The man made a terrific impact on this ballclub.". Out of playing shape, Blue didn't make his first appearance until May 24th. But, it was yet another Gold Glove season behind the dish that served as the real key for the Reds' run to a 95-59 record and an NL West title. Originally drafted by the Jets, but more known for his time in Washington. He was taken out for pinch hitter Bill Mazeroski the next inning. Go Packers, Seminoles, New Jersey Devils, Milwaukee Bucks, and whoever I have money on in auto-racing. Yet, his table-setting in 1972 was more than enough to earn him his sixth-straight All-Star selection to start his career and a 14th-place finish in the American League's MVP balloting. With its huge 787-card checklist, the 1972 Topps set was the largest baseball card set Topps had produced to that point. What has always stood out to me about 1972 Topps baseball cards is how effectively their design speaks to the time period. The third series was only released in pack form in a few cities. Maybe the mustaches brought them extra luck that season and ultimately helped them beat the Reds in the World Series. Mays had requested a ten-year contract before the season, hoping to retire a Giant and serve the organization in an off-field capacity. facebook; twitter; linkedin; pinterest [44] 1972 Topps Football Cards 1972 TOPPS FOOTBALL COMPLETE SET 351 CARDS HIGH GRADE SET WITH 10 ,1972 Topps Football Cards - 12 Most Valuable - Wax Pack Gods,1972 Topps Football Cards Set checklist, prices, values & information,1972 Topps Football Leroy Kelly Browns Card #70 ,1972 Topps Footb [44] 1972 Topps . Given how often he appeared on the base paths that year, the imagery used on his "In Action" card is one of the more relevant action sequences captured on any of the cards in the subset. His 1972 Topps card appears in two variations: one with the underside of the 'C' and 'S' in the Cubs team name shaded correctly in yellow and the other where they're colored in green. Finley responded by placing him on the team's restricted list, taking him out of action for at least 30 days to start the season. Probably not. It was obviously pure Topps designer whimsy, which was nearly as prevalent and wrenching in their football offerings as it was in the more widespread baseball issues. Only a three-time Pro Bowler, Joiner was the 1970s version of Isaac Bruce where he was good for a long stretch instead of elite for a short period. Yikes! The uncompromising rarity of third series cards from 1972 is generally trotted out as evidence that this was an extraordinary experiment from the Topps HQ. The proud Green Bay Packers had asserted the street cred of the older league in unambiguous fashion, winning the first two Super Bowls, but by the time the 1972 season kicked off, the fledgling AFL had made its bones, splitting the next four. Rather than letting it zap his confidence, he used the slight as motivation. Simpson rookie remains one of the decade's most iconic football cards. Sadly, during the offseason on December 31, 1972, Clemente was killed in a plane crash after he and several others were attempting to fly to Nicaragua to deliver aid to earthquake victims. Fifteen years had passed since the Giants had left the Big Apple for the West Coast, but Mays was still beloved in New York. The 1972 Topps set is loaded with great subsets, including: League Leaders (85-96), Playoff Highlights (221-222), World Series Highlights (223-230), Boyhood Photos, Traded cards (751-757) and "In Action" shots. One of the key cards from that high series is Joe Namaths Pro Action card (No. After back-to-back division titles in 1969 and 1970, the Minnesota Twins began a frustrating sixteen-season playoff drought. 5. The following are the 1972 Topps Football high numbers by team (the 3rd Series checklist is No. If you like surprises, then you would have delighted in collecting 1972 Topps football cards first run. Apparently, A's owner Charlie Finley loved Jackson's new look so much that he offered a few hundred bucks to each player on the team who grew one as well. Clemente hit .235 with a home run and two RBI in the Pirates five-game NLCS loss to the Cincinnati Reds, his final five games in an MLB uniform. His attorney, Bob Gerst, opened talks with Finley, but neither side budged, and the holdout lasted into spring training. He started 35 games in 1972, finishing 21-12 with a 2.92 ERA. Just a fantastic attention to quality that is immediately given back on centering. 1972 Topps #595 Nolan Ryan Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $1,800 25-year-old right-hander Nolan Ryan felt betrayed by the New York Mets after being traded to the California Angels before the 1972 season. Sign up Now for our Upcoming Auction: 10/24/2022 11/06/2022. Vida Blue's AL Cy Young-winning season in 1971 was brilliant, so it would've been nice to see a better action picture of him on this "In Action" card. Whatever the evaluation was, Topps switched to issuing cards all at one time the next year, and as was customary of the company in those days, never looked back. The 1972 issue was the last time a football card set by Topps was released in multiple series. Also has a Sunoco gas station sticker rookie that is around $10, and NFLPA Vinyl and Fabric version rookies for around $20 each. A player good enough to make the passing leaders card on stats, and a short checklist NFLPA set is a very popular player even today. However, Topps reduced the number of series from seven to six for this set, with the last series (#657 - 787) being the priciest to collect in high grade. 264-351) is a big challenge. 1972 Topps Football All Auction Buy It Now Best Match 681,144 Results Autographed Manufacturer Buying Format All Filters 2022 Panini Prestige Football Base - You Pick - Complete Your Set $0.99 $0.57 shipping Wholesale NFL Sports Card HOT PACK Football Relic Patch Auto Rookie Autograph $19.95 $2.94 shipping 276 sold His 112 walks were also the most in his career and a big reason his OBP was so impressive. Jerry Grote spent sixteen seasons in the Majors behind home plate for four different ball clubs. Only twelve examples of his 1972 Topps card have earned PSA 9 status, making this one of the toughest base cards of any player in the set to find in top shape. Are you selling sports cards that were produced from 1868 - 1975? But, it was Hunter and the Athletics who had the last laugh. Ryan embraced a vigorous weight-training regimen to increase the zip on his fastballs. Our articles may contain affiliate links. He finished the 1972 season with a disappointing 6-10 record but did post an impressive 2.80 ERA and 1.093 WHIP in 25 appearances (23 starts). He led the Majors in shutouts (9), strikeouts (329), hits per 9 innings (5.3), and strikeouts per 9 innings (10.4). 13). Eight-time All-Pro simply was among the best at his position for a decade. Read our methodology . And the rookie card lineup is nothing to sneeze at, either: Roger Staubach, Riggins, Ted Hendricks, Archie Manning, Jim Plunkett and Charlie Joiner. After establishing a pattern of issuing sets that fit neatly onto 132-card sheets, and generally in two series (264 cards total), Topps tried to sneak one by collectors late in the 1972 season. 1972 Topps Football was the best football card set in the 1970s. While the Atlanta Braves floundered to a 70-84 record, Aaron was still a force to be reckoned with, batting .265 with 34 home runs and 77 RBI. A little more than 37 years ago, Jeff Fritschs dad, hobby pioneer Larry Fritsch, got a call from Topps telling him about several dozen cases of Series Three 1972 Topps Football that were languishing to say the least in Milwaukee. To top it off, he led all of baseball in sacrifice flies (12) and intentional walks (23). Mays was a hit in his Mets debut against the Giants on May 14th, homering in the fifth inning to put New York ahead to stay. After a disappointing 1971 season for himself and the entire Cincinnati Reds franchise, future Hall-of-Fame catcher Johnny Bench had a new lease on life in 1972. Thats because, like a number of the high-number Topps series in both baseball and football in the companys first two decades, a lot of the big-name guys already had their cards included in the earlier series. His .318 batting average earned him his second American League batting title (1969). Required fields are marked *. Little also is a nice guy and signs his autograph frequently. Although he hit .313 with two home runs in 14 games after a September call-up in 1971, 24-year-old rookie Carlton Fisk was the Boston Red Soxs third-string catcher heading into 1972. Released in three series, the set features nine Hall of Fame rookie players, and 16 total Hall of Fame rookie cards with the additional versions. Both rookies are very affordable as neither is a high number short print. His 4th and 1 run against Miami in the Super Bowl is classic Riggins. The Dallas Cowboys, valued at $6.5 billion, is the most profitable franchise, with the average NFL team assessed at $3.48 billion. Yet, while Ryans stuff was electric, there were kinks still to work out. Filed Under: Old Football Card Sets, Popular Stories, Vintage Sports Card News Tagged With: 1970s football cards, 1972 Topps football, Roger Staubach, vintage football cards. Prices are updated daily based upon 1972 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. Rather than letting it zap his confidence, he used the slight as motivation. 1972 Topps #316 Rayfield Wright Rookie Card Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $650 In 1972, there's no doubt that the right tackle position was the most critical position for any team's offensive line. Would rather be found forging my own path than following the beaten one. And they typically get about $1,200 when they do. Shortly after, he paid tribute to Hodges with an eloquent address to teammates, coaches, and the media. 1984 Topps #238 Tony Dorsett Estimated PSA 10 Value: $175 Last on our list is none other than Hall of Fame running back, Tony Dorsett. Rose was not selected as an All-Star in 1972, breaking a five-year streak of appearances. he. 264-351) is a big challenge. This Bo Jackson rookie card, in the top conditions, is the most valuable card from the 1986 Topps baseball cards set. It helps keep us afloat! The Best Topps Baseball Rookie Card from Each Year - 1952-2020 The following list includes a year-by-year breakdown of the most valuable card for each flagship Topps baseball set from. But, in 1971, the team didn't have nearly the amount of firepower and finished 71-90 and 25.5 games out of first place. The set also boasts Gale Sayers last card. Undrafted player became a seven-time All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion to go with his All-Decade Team selection. Hes quick to point out that most of that incredible inventory is long since gone. Won Super Bowl 17, was MVP of said game, and was first-team All-Pro in 1983 at age 34. 297 Ray May, No. 1972 Topps Basketball Kareem Abdul Jabbar #100 PSA 6 Freshly Graded. Prices are updated daily based upon 1972 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Was a decent player with Houston and Cincinnati, but truly excelled with San Diego. Unfortunately, Jackson suffered a torn hamstring when he stole home to tie Game 5 of the ALCS and couldn't play in the World Series at all. Won three more rings, and was an integral part of a defense that many consider among the greatest of all time. The National Football League was in a state of flux as the 1972 season rolled around. The two biggest rookie cards are those of Roger Staubach (No. hx. 1972 Topps Steve Spurrier Rookie Card (#291) Steve Spurrier was the third overall pick in the 1967 NFL Draft, and then spent most of the next decade as a backup QB for the San Francisco 49ers. 55), Jim Plunkett (No. Six-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler, Hendricks was more revolutionary than he gets credit for. He backed up his trash talk with a lead-off home run off Hunter to open up the contest. Even more impressively, it marked the first of four straight batting titles for the Panama native. All Rights Reserved. behind on a Cowboys team many hated right during the rise of televised football. Also, his run support was virtually nonexistent. A season removed from his career's most impressive statistical campaign, Hank Aaron entered the 1972 MLB season improbably at the top of his game at 37 years old. 2022 Active Interest Media All rights reserved. Still using portrait style shots for most of the cards, 1972 does not distinguish itself from other Topps football releases of the era. 65), Steve Spurrier (No. 319 Edgar Chandler. His rookie card can be found in the dollar bin more for his playing position of guard than accomplishments. 165). The second series (Nos. $0.37. A Dallas Cowboys legend, Dorsett would rush for 12,739 yards over his 12-year career, which puts him at number ten on the all-time career rushing leaders list. Aaron earned his 18th-straight All-Star selection in 1972 and finished 16th in the National League's MVP balloting. Topps included card number 79, the second series checklist, in both the first and second series, so it is a double print. Add being a guard and having his main rookie in the low numbers leads to one of the least collectible Hall of Famers. Some collectors enjoy the design and some don't, but despite the mixed opinions on the look and feel of the cards, there's no debate that Topps packed a lot into this set. Carew was primarily a singles hitter in 1972, although he hit 21 doubles and six triples during the campaign. You can see 1972 Topps football singles, lots, sets and more on eBay by clicking here. 4. 1989 topps football cards most valuablewhat happened to kenya cricket furnished flats bremen In accommodating the desire to steer clear of logos, you could probably make a valid criticism that the 1972 issue utilizes a few too many portraits, but if you really wanted to gripe a bit about the designers occasionally adventurous nature, theres a much handier decision to second guess. 1971 NFC Receiving Leaders (Bob Tucker / Ted Kwalick / Harold Jackson / Roy Jefferson) LL. Another major hobby figure, Jeff Fritsch of Larry Fritsch Cards in Stevens Point, Wis., concurs with much of what Hanley offered about the difficulty of finding the high-number cards, but veers off in a slightly different direction on the underlying premise. window.ramp.addTag("pwDeskMedRectAtf"); When you click one and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Blue and Gerst even held a televised press conference on March 15th to announce Blue's intention to leave baseball to work at the Dura Steel Products Company. 200) and John Riggins (No. Prices for 1972 Topps Football Cards 1972 Topps card list & price guide. Your email address will not be published. Commons are around $10 in the high numbers, and you run into a Steve Spurrier rookie in the high numbers that costs around $100 with the Florida fans, Heisman winner checklist collectors, and general football fans. A large majority of these cards are missing the mark on centering, especially on the high numbers. Both got a PSA 10 benediction, including one that has Joe Namath as the top card. The best card of the 1970s is the 1976 Walter Payton Topps. Shop Complete Set (264) Sponsored. Six-time All-Pro was an All-Decade Team member as well. It served as an Electorate beginning in 1803, and in 1806, with the the break-up of the empire, it became the Kingdom of Wrttemberg. Few football insiders could have forseen that a 1972 campaign of historic proportions was on the horizon. window.ramp.que.push(function () { After leading the AL in strikeouts the previous four years in a row, Reggie Jackson let someone else have a turn in 1972 as Bobby Darwin's 145 whiffs were well above Jackson's 125. Could a whole regular-issue series be a test? The packs sound pretty swift as well. Has the unfortunate designation of being an obvious Hall of Famer, but being outplayed by Art Shell selected later in 1968. $199.99 1972 Topps Football Duane Thomas #180 PSA 8 $45.00 1972 Topps Football #110 Gale Sayers Chicago Bears HOF PSA 9 MINT $349.95 Jim Plunkett signed 1972 Topps Football Rookie Card #65 PSA auth #84454183 $149.99 Free shipping Notes about 1972 Topps The official price guide for PSA-certified collectibles Sponsored Ads Joiner also still signs through the mail to this day, coupled with a rookie in the lower series leads to one of the least collectible Hall of Famers. I feel like I have to pitch a shutout every night or lose, Ryan said. However, he did finish 12th in the National League's MVP balloting. Most records sets end in the late 19th century, but some extend up to the beginning of World War II and sometimes up to the 1980s. The first series contained cards 1-132, the second contained cards 79 and 133-263, and the third contained cards 264-351. 326 Mike Curtis. In 1495 Wrttemberg became a duchy of the Holy Roman Empire. Imagine today if Panini decided that Prizm had a 100-card additional checklist and you could only get packs in Denver and San Francisco. Larry, who had worked on the railroad and had already amassed a considerable chunk of his unmatched card collection by quickly taking advantage of such opportunities, didnt hesitate. window.ramp.addTag("pwMobiMedRectAtf"); Passing leaders rookie can be found in the dollar bin, In Action version is a few dollars, and base #200 is about $150-200 in PSA 5 condition. There are just eight examples of the green letter variation that have earned PSA 9 status, making it one of the rarest cards in the set in that grade. Roberto Clemente entered the 1972 season 118 hits short of the 3,000-hit plateau, but intestinal problems and tendon strains in both heels made crossing the mark questionable. The appeal of the 1972 Steve Spurrier rookie card stems more from his successes from the sideline rather than on the field. 1971 NFC Passing Leaders (Roger Staubach / Greg Landry / Bill Kilmer) LL. Staubach was simply the face you could get. Due to the scarcity of the third series, the complete set is considered almost uncollectible, said Dean Hanley of Deans Cards (www.deanscards.com) of Cincinnati, Ohio. vd On the heels of sorting out the arrangement between the two once-separate leagues, the NFL and the AFL, the older league had sent three of its teams to the AFL to create a 13-team behemoth that would now challenge the NFL in interconference play. Other big rookie names are Archie Manning (No. Hes also not remembered more simply because he played on those Vikings teams that lost four Super Bowls. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. 278 Bubba Smith All-Pro (AP), No. Sports collecting news - Sports cards and sports memorabilia industry news. And yes, they are wax packs Fritsch thinks thats the only way they were issued but the presence of Broadway Joe is still detectable. 294) also can command three figures among collectors. The back of the cards is also a great information source. Like Jason Peters drafted in this era, who was also drafted as a tackle, Wright simply developed into a quick footed, heavy handed, yearly Pro Bowler. I guess we got lucky with that one, said Jeff Fritsch only somewhat sheepishly, adding that, We were buying a lot of stuff in those days, by way of explaining why Topps would turn to them with what seems like largess now but was something much different than that nearly four decades ago. 1972 Topps Football Cards - 12 Most Valuable If you like surprises, then you would have delighted in collecting 1972 Topps football cards first run. The 1972 Topps Football Card Set includes 351 standard size cards. Paul Schaal had a career year on offense in 1971 as the Royals' everyday third basemen, just in time to be included in the 1972 Topps "In Action" subset. Became an assistant coach after his career and won two more rings with Washington. He responded with his second National League MVP season in three years. 4. The 1972 Topps Baseball Card set features 787 standard size cards with bright, colorful borders. The important changes in the relationship between the two now fully-merged leagues apparently contributed to a reluctance on Topps part to incorporate the various team logos in the card sets, a bit of caution that probably seems more jarring 40 years later than it did at the time. 6. Believe it or not, the 1972 Topps Rayfield Wright high number is very, very tough in high grade and is among the most valuable cards because of that, but is it one of the best cards in the decade? Thats not just the vintage collectors preferring centering for eye appeal, theyre simply harder to find in 1972. And he helped Oakland end the year with a World Series ring, so all's well that ends well. At 351 cards, it also was the largest football card released to that point; for the following 10 years, Topps would issue 528-card sets in one series. }), Copyright 2022 SportsCollectorsDaily.com | Web Design by Wickam Groupopens in a new window, Most Watched 2022 Baseball Rookie Cards on eBay, Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards, David Cyclebacks Identification and Authentication Advice, An American Idol Looking Back on Roger Staubachs Life and 4 Classic Cards, 1974 Topps Football Featured Powerhouse Teams And Players, 10 Vintage Football Cards to Keep an Eye On, 1964 Draft Produced the Biggest Crop of Football Hall of Fame Rookie Cards, 1975 Topps Football Rookies a Bumper Crop, 1970 Topps Football Debuted An Airbrushed Era, Toughest PSA 9 Football Rookie Cards of the 1970s, Better Late Than Never: Staubach Rookie Showcases Late Blooming HOF Career, Pre-1980 Graded Baseball Cards $10 and Less, Pre-1980 Graded Football Cards $10 and Less, Vintage Graded Basketball Cards $25 and less, Rockhurst Auctions December 15, 2022 Sports, Rock & Roll, Entertainment Auction, 1903 World Series Program, Ruth Items, Thousands of Vintage Cards to Highlight Memory Lane Auction, Robert Edward Auctions Fall Auction Brings in $13 Million in Sales, David Cycleback's Identification and Authentication Advice, Baseball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon, Basketball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon, Football Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon, Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay Ending Soon, Top 100 Most Watched Baseball Rookie Cards on eBay, Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay, Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Card Auctions, Top Authenticated Vintage Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay, 100 Most Watched Graded Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay, 100 Most Watched Tom Brady Card Auctions on eBay, 50 Hottest Hobby Boxes at Auction on eBay, 50 Most Watched Golf Trading Cards on eBay, 50 Most Watched Wrestling Trading Cards on eBay, Most Watched Complete Baseball Card Sets at Auction on eBay, Most Watched Football Rookie Card Auctions, Most Watched Goudey Baseball Cards on eBay, Most Watched Soccer Cards for Sale on eBay, Most Watched Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay, Most Watched Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay, Hottest Panini National Treasures Cards on eBay, Sports Memorabilia Auctions Ending Soon on eBay. Lets take a look at the Hall of Fame rookies. $0.40. More on that later. Big-name veterans with valuable cards in the set include Terry Bradshaw (No. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Schaal set career marks on offense in nearly every statistical category, including his 150 hits, 31 doubles, 6 triples, 80 runs scored, 11 home runs, 63 RBI, 7 stolen bases, and .412 slugging percentage. Right tackles had to balance effective run blocking while functioning as the team's go-to guy against the opposing team's top pass rusher. Thats a lot for an offensive tackle. 1972 Topps Steve Spurrier RC #291. Milwaukee must have been a test city, said Jeff, adding that the Topps guys may have been trying to assess how well kids would support such a late-season issue. Released in three series, the set features nine Hall of Fame rookie players, and 16 total Hall of Fame rookie cards with the additional versions. Bob has been a sportswriter and copy editor for more than 35 years and a blogger for a decade. Of course, a move to the sideline changed everything for Spurrier, and it's his role as The Old Ball Coach that lands him on this list. Read our methodology . 281 Ted Hendricks (AP), No. Fritsch has plans to offer a 1972 Topps Football High Series run from 264-351 in the upcoming Collect.com Auction ( www.collect.com/auctions ), right alongside a couple of unopened wax packs from the elusive issue. Was subsequently traded to Oakland when the league went under, and went from a top player, to clear Hall of Famer. It helped that the Reds acquired fellow Hall-of-Famer Joe Morgan and other key pieces before the season, bolstering the lineup and giving Bench some needed protection. So, this card featuring Schaal ready at the hot corner is just another example of the many "In Action" cards not necessarily lining up with what a particular player was known for the previous season. Like most cards of the 1970s, the 1972 set was plagued with miscut cards, printing dots, ink smears and off-centered cards. The saga ended in late April when Commissioner Bowie Kuhn set up a meeting between Blue, Gerst, and Finley, with both sides agreeing to a $62,000 contract. There are top tier collectible players (Staubach), underrated Hall of Famers (Hendricks). Card collector since 1993. The 1972 set contained some great rookie cards, even if some of the players had been around for a few years. Little is everything that makes a good story about the game. On the year, Fisk earned his first Gold Glove and All-Star selection, won the AL Rookie of the Year award unanimously and finished fourth in the leagues MVP voting. The high numbers also have two of the most popular players of the era, Joe Namath and Dick Butkus, in action shots that are uncommon. The Angels finished dead last in the Majors in runs scored (454), and Ryan lost six times when giving up two runs or fewer. 343), which is the most valuable card of the set. He's the only player ever to be named as an All-Star both in professional baseball and football. The first series of the 1972 Topps set (cards 1-132) is the most common and easiest to obtain. 271) has 24 registered gem-mint cards. After all, Topps had a kind of on-again, off-again system if you want to call it that in using team logos with its sets, having last done so three years earlier in 1969. 106), Ted Hendricks (No. One of t he key cards from that high series is Joe Namath's Pro Action card (No. And, there was a time when Rose's cards were just about the most valuable cardboard in every set they graced. Better quality complete sets, including all three series, are currently selling for around $2,000, with the bulk of the value coming from the second (Staubach rookie) and third series. 1972 Topps Football was the best football card set in the 1970s. Then make Prizm the only set released that year, and put five Hall of Fame rookies in said set. Was a key piece of the Air Coryell offense where they would run three receivers frequently at a time when it was uncommon. Individually, collectors have submitted 77,741 cards for grading at PSA, and 1,733 of them were gem-mint. 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