(LOT 314)
"Unique for the Grade" 1976 Topps Football Cello Pack w/a Walter Payton Rookie on the Top – PSA 10 GEM MINT – "POP 1" & the SOLE HIGHEST GRADED EXAMPLE!
This "unique for the grade" PSA 10 GEM MINT 1976 Topps Cello Pack portraying a Walter Payton rookie stands as one of the most miraculous gridiron collectibles. "Fresh to the Hobby", PSA has currently encapsulated only 31 cello packs showcasing Walter Payton's cherished 1976 Topps inaugural subject through the clear plastic, with this museum worthy offering residing as the SOLE PSA 10 specimen! These extraordinary population results clearly indicate that locating a PSA 10 Walter Payton 1976 Topps #148 rookie card on the top of an unopened cello pack is synonymous with finding a "needle in a haystack." Hobbyists surely realize how the price tags of a 1976 Topps #148 Walter PSA 10 have soared to staggering heights, with one particular example fetching a record-breaking $124K back in March 2021. It should be noted there are over 11,000 PSA encapsulated Payton rookies with a total of 53 PSA 10 GEM MINT examples. However, and most significant, regarding a Payton rookie residing on the top of a pristine unopened cello pack, PSA has only awarded this "one of a kind" offering the pinnacle PSA 10 assessment. As an intriguing concept to boost their 1976 sales, the Topps Chewing Gum Company decided to place 18 cards in a sealed cello pack, with zealous collectors paying 25 cents per pack. The added advantage is that gridiron enthusiasts could see both the top and bottom cards without opening the pack, as opposed to standard wax packs that conceal the identity of its contents. Therefore, this grand offering's sheer existence may be attributed to its prior owners being completely content with the appearance of Payton's #148 subject, prompting them to leave the cello pack in its original unopened state. Regarding Walter Payton's iconic legacy, he certainly stands as one of Pro-Football's greatest all-time running backs.

For 13 incredible seasons (1975-1987), Payton was the "apple of the Windy City's eye", captivating Chicago's zealous fans to the tune of 16,726 rushing yards and 110 touchdowns, while leading the Bears to their only Super Bowl victory in January 1986. His list of accolades reads like a St. Nicholas gift list, including nine All-Pro appearances, the 1977 rushing leader, the 1977 Most Valuable Player, a member of the 1970s & 1980s All-Decade teams, a member of the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time team and an eternal fixture in Pro-Football's illustrious Hall of Fame. He was loved by an adoring nation, and his tragic death at the tender age of 45 due to a rare liver disease sent shockwaves throughout the NFL circuit. It is therefore with little surprise that avid football enthusiasts actively seek his most treasured cardboard artifacts with none of them possibly more desirable than a "POP 1" PSA 10 rookie keepsake. Recently encapsulated by PSA, it has rightfully earned its "10" assessment with virtually every factory issued attribute consistent with the "Gem Mint" criteria. Scrutinized by the industry's foremost unopened pack/wax expert Steve Hart, all of the clear plastic folds appear to be razor sharp and completely fastened, with the immaculate surfaces eluding any notable flaws. Both the Walter Payton rookie subject and Washington's tight-end Jerry Smith (at the bottom of the pack), emanate brilliant aesthetics, with the critical Payton rookie revealing atypical near-perfect centering. The final exclamation point is the classic "Topps Logo – FOOTBALL CARDS – 25 Cents – WITH 1 STICK BUBBLE GUM" verbiage affixed within a super clean yellow oval on the obverse side wrapping. It was only a matter of time for this world-class football star's inaugural card to achieve the respect it truly deserved, with this ultra-rare memento rekindling fond memories of the great Walter Payton's earliest playing days. Dubbed by Mike Ditka as the greatest player he ever coached as well as being the consummate team player, this "POP 1" PSA 10 GEM MINT 1976 Topps cello pack showcasing Payton's inaugural Topps subject truly qualifies as the perfect testament for his unparalleled standing!

MIN BID $5,000
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