(LOT 325)
1971 Topps #245 Joe Greene Rookie PSA 9 MINT - Highest Graded PSA Example!
The legendary "Steel Curtain" Defense of the 1970s was the ultimate driving force behind the Pittsburgh Steelers winning four Super Bowl titles, with the most formidable defensive player being "Mean" Joe Greene. Truly the main cog on a defensive line that included L.C. Greenwood, Dwight White and Ernie Holmes, defensive tackle Joe Greene was twice named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year (1972; '74), played on ten Pro-Bowl teams and was a 5x First-Team All-Pro. He retired after the 1982 season, having played 13 NFL seasons and is an elite member of the NFL Hall of Fame. Like virtually all legendary players, his most prized cardboard issue is his 1971 Topps #245 true rookie card, now presented in an outstanding PSA 9 MINT holder.

Joining 13 others as the highest graded example, of the 2,000+ PSA encapsulated copies, not a single "10 GEM MINT" specimen has been recorded! The ultra-popular and colorful 1971 Topps set only issued two Canton, Ohio inductee rookie cards, with both of them being immortal Steelers players (Bradshaw & Greene) from the somewhat scarcer second series (#s 133-263). Of course, it is Joe Greene's #245 subject that stands as one of the most coveted of all the gridiron's inaugural issues. One of the greatest tackles in NFL history, Greene's stoic portrait pose catches the Steelers star lineman literally glancing into an unknown future that would eventually lead to four Super Bowl rings. The blue and red borders show no signs of any wear/flaking that typically plague this issue, with the image only slightly favoring the right edge. No noteworthy surface flaws are evident, with this pack-fresh "Mean" Joe Greene gem meriting serious accolades via its highest graded stature!


MIN BID $7,500
_