(LOT 253)
1965 Topps #122 Joe Namath Rookie PSA 8 NM-MT
BROADWAY JOE PSA 8 ROOKIE!!! One of the most renowned gridiron rookie cards belongs to Joe Namath, with his iconic 1965 Topps inaugural subject presented here in a breathtaking PSA 8 NM-MT holder! Bested by only a mere eight PSA-encapsulated examples, locating high-grade 1965 Topps Namath subjects is truly a painstaking chore. This extraordinary Broadway Joe offering represents the pinnacle of football card collecting, for every esteemed rookie card enthusiast highly covets Namath's initial Topps keepsake. While not achieving the finest lifetime statistics, Joe Namath's impact on the NFL game itself secures his eternal place in football history. 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, Joe Namath has 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 long touchdown passes. He earned a place in immortality when his upstart Jets pulled off the impossible, upsetting the 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 being part of a solitary National Football League. True, other quarterbacks have thrown more touchdowns, completed more passes and compiled a higher number of passing yards, but Namath deserves the majority of the credit for two separate football leagues being united as one. Most of the technical attributes of this rookie card gem are consistent with its appropriate hallowed assessment, starting with the popular image that exhibits immaculate clarity and contrast.

Namath's quintessential pose is set against a flawless, radiant yellow background as he prepares to launch another one of his perfect spiral passes. Like most Namath rookie cards, the image is somewhat skewed, in this case revealing a modest partiality towards the upper right edges as well as exhibiting an ever-so-slight tilt towards the right corner. Additional pack-fresh attributes include four sharp corners, four dazzling white borders, brilliant surfaces, and vivid print registration. Regarding 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. A pro football immortal, Namath's legacy will echo for eternity with his flamboyant on and off the field exploits!

MIN BID $12,500
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