(LOT 87)
1965 Topps #122 Joe Namath Rookie PSA 8 NM-MT
BROADWAY JOE ROOKIE!!! Iconic to say the least, one of the most prominent gridiron rookie cards belongs to Joe "Willie" Namath, with his iconic 1965 Topps inaugural subject presented here in a breathtaking PSA 8 NM-MT holder! Bested by a mere eight or 0.4% PSA encapsulated examples, locating high-grade 1965 Topps Namath subjects revealing excellent centering is truly a painstaking chore. This extraordinary Broadway Joe offering represents the pinnacle of football card collecting, as every esteemed rookie card enthusiast highly covets Namath's inaugural Topps heirloom.

While not achieving the finest lifetime statistics, Joe Namath's momentous impact on the NFL game is historic, securing his eternal place as a bona fide football immortal. The legendary New York Jets Hall of Fame quarterback guaranteed a Super Bowl III victory over the mighty Baltimore Colts, backing up his bold claim and forever changing professional football. Since his first appearance on an AFL football field, Broadway Joe gained the attention of the sports world via his flamboyant off-the-field lifestyle, dazzling white shoes and powerful right arm that produced a significant number of majestic touchdown passes. He earned a solidified place in Pro-Football immortality when his upstart Jest pulled off the impossible, upsetting the virtually unbeatable Baltimore Colts 16-7 in Super Bowl III and ending the NFL's dominance over the then perceived inferior AFL. It was this sole victory that led to the eventual AFC and NFC conferences both being part of a solitary National Football League.

True, other quarterbacks have thrown more touchdowns, completed more passes and compiled a significantly higher number of passing yards, but Namath deserves the majority of the credit for two separate football leagues being united as one. Synonymous with Mickey Mantle's incomparable mystique, while other players produced far better statistics, Namath's and The Mick's unparalleled impact on their respective sports card markets is driven by their inaugural Topps cardboard subjects. Most of the technical attributes of this rookie card gem are consistent with its appropriate hallowed assessment, starting with the ultra-popular image that exhibits immaculate clarity and contrast. Namath's quintessential pose is set against a nearly flawless radiant yellow-hued background as he prepares to launch another one of his perfect spiral passes.

Most significantly, and atypical of a majority of Namath rookie cards, the classic image exhibits excellent positioning and no obvious tilt between four dazzling white borders, with only a hint of partiality towards the lower edge. Additional museum-worthy qualities include four pinpoint corners, immaculate surfaces, and crystal-clear clarity. With regard to value and prestige, the 1965 Topps #122 Joe Namath subject unquestionably stands right alongside other iconic NFL rookie cards such as the 1935 National Chicle Bronko Nagurski, 1957 Topps Johnny Unitas, 1958 Topps Jim Brown, 1976 Topps Walter Payton, 1981 Topps Joe Montana, and multiple Tom Brady cards issued in 2000, just to mention a few. Namath's legacy will echo for eternity, and his flamboyant on and off-the-field exploits are strikingly similar to the incomparable Mickey Mantle, with both of these sport heroes forever embellished in the hearts and minds of their captivated fan base!

MIN BID $10,000

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