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"Description
You're viewing an increasingly scarce 1972 Topps card featuring San Francisco 49ers legend and 1970 NFL MVP John Brodie! This vintage treasure captures one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history.
The distinctive yellow borders that frame the 1972 Topps football cards are notoriously condition-sensitive, making well-preserved examples increasingly difficult to locate in today's market. The majority have succumbed to significant edge wear or complete destruction over the past 50+ years!
This card showcases Brodie immediately following his brilliant MVP season when he cemented his legacy as one of the elite quarterbacks of his generation. The card specifically acknowledges his status as the ""third ranking quarterback behind Unitas and Jurgensen.""
What makes this card particularly significant is that it documents Brodie's remarkable career total of 31,698 passing yards and 214 touchdowns through 14 seasons with the 49ers. These staggering numbers showcase his incredible consistency and longevity at the highest level.
Brodie wasn't just any quarterback - he was a Stanford graduate who played his entire 17-year career with the San Francisco 49ers, an increasingly rare example of a player remaining with a single franchise. This loyalty makes him particularly beloved among 49ers collectors.
The classic Topps design perfectly frames this 49ers icon in his team's signature red jersey, creating a visual masterpiece that has stood the test of time as one of the most attractive vintage quarterback cards of the era.
San Francisco 49ers cards continue to command premium collector interest regardless of era due to the team's storied history and five Super Bowl championships. The competition for vintage 49ers cards grows more intense with each passing season.
Condition
This card presents in honest Good to Very Good condition - a genuine survivor from an era when cards were actively collected and traded by young football fans. Many examples have been lost to time entirely!
The corners show wear and slight rounding consistent with its age, giving it the authentic character that only comes from a genuine vintage card. No modern reprint could replicate this authentic patina of history!
Some edge wear is present on the yellow border - an extremely common condition issue with the notoriously fragile colored borders of the 1972 Topps cards. Finding examples without this characteristic wear has become increasingly difficult with each passing year.
The centering appears slightly off-center, which is typical for cards from this production era when centering standards were far less stringent than modern cards. This authentic production variation confirms its genuine vintage status.
The front surface retains good color saturation with Brodie's portrait clearly visible. The card displays beautifully despite its honest wear, a testament to the quality of Topps' production during this era.
The card back shows normal age-appropriate toning but remains completely legible with all text, statistics and the cartoon illustration easily visible - an important consideration for vintage cards where back damage often renders text unreadable.
Card Details
• Card Number: #220 in the 1972 Topps Football set
• Player: John Brodie - 1970 NFL MVP and two-time Pro Bowl quarterback (1965, 1970)
• Team: San Francisco 49ers - One of the NFL's most storied franchises
• Career Achievement: The card documents Brodie's impressive 31,698 passing yards and 214 touchdowns through 14 seasons
• Elite Status: Card specifically notes he was the ""third ranking quarterback behind Unitas and Sonny Jurgensen""
• Accuracy: Highlights his remarkable 55% completion mark - an impressive figure for that era
• College: Stanford University - Adding to his Bay Area legacy
• Design Elements: Classic yellow-bordered 1972 Topps design with team name at top and vertical player position indicator
• Manufacturer: Topps - The premier trading card company of the era
• Historical Context: Released after Brodie's MVP 1970 season, documenting him at the peak of his powers
Rarity
While Topps produced significant quantities of their 1972 football cards, the relentless march of time has rendered well-preserved examples increasingly scarce. The vast majority have been lost to time, damage, or poor storage conditions.
Yellow-bordered cards from this era are notoriously condition-sensitive, with the colored edges quickly showing wear, chipping, and fading. Finding specimens without significant border damage becomes more difficult with each passing season.
Cards of elite MVP-caliber quarterbacks continue to diminish in available supply as vintage football cards gain more mainstream collecting attention. The competition for remaining examples grows more intense annually.
San Francisco 49ers collectors have shown particularly strong demand for franchise legends like Brodie who defined eras for the team. This sustained interest has driven increased prices for key players from throughout the team's history.
Most surviving examples display significant condition issues, making even Good to Very Good condition specimens a much better-than-average survivor that would make an excellent addition to any vintage football collection or 49ers team set.
Collector's Note
The market for vintage NFL MVP quarterback cards has seen remarkable growth in recent years as collectors have begun to fully appreciate both their historical significance and surprising scarcity in presentable condition.
Elite franchise quarterbacks like John Brodie represent significant moments in team history that can never be replicated. These historical connections make such cards increasingly desirable to team collectors seeking to document every chapter of their franchise's story.
This is potentially your ONLY CHANCE to acquire this increasingly elusive vintage 49ers card before prices for authentic 1972 Topps football cards continue their upward trajectory! The vintage football market is experiencing unprecedented growth.
The distinctive yellow borders of the 1972 Topps set make these among the most condition-sensitive issues of the decade. Finding examples without significant border wear becomes more challenging with each passing year.
49ers collectors have become increasingly aggressive in acquiring vintage cards from the team's rich history, driving prices upward for key players like Brodie who defined eras for the franchise. This card represents a must-have centerpiece for any serious 49ers collection!
This card represents a perfect addition for any vintage football collection, quarterback compilation, MVP player set, or 1972 Topps build. Its connection to one of the most accomplished and statistically impressive quarterbacks of his era makes it a guaranteed conversation piece among fellow collectors!
Buy multiple cards and pay only ONE low shipping cost!
Don't Wait - Act Now!
The window of opportunity to acquire authentic vintage MVP quarterback cards at reasonable prices continues to narrow as more collectors recognize both their condition sensitivity and historical importance to the hobby.
Don't miss this rare opportunity to own a genuine piece of San Francisco 49ers history featuring one of the most accomplished quarterbacks of his generation! When it's gone, finding another example of this vintage Topps card in comparable condition could take months or years of searching!"
_gsrx_vers_1715 (GS 9.9.2 (1715))
Condition: Ungraded
| Country of Origin | Unknown |
|---|---|
| Franchise | 24 |
| Manufacturer | Unbranded |
| Set | (Official) Marvel Universe Stickers |
| Year Manufactured | 1920 |
| Character | Aayla Secura |
| Autograph Authentication | Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) |
| TV Show | 101 Dalmatians |
| Grade | 10 |
| Features | 1st Edition |
| Parallel/Variety | ArtiFex Metal |
| Featured Person/Artist | Aaron Jeffery |
| Autographed | Yes |
| Type | Non-Sport Trading Card |
| Movie | 101 Dalmatians |
| Age Level | 4+ |
| Signed By | Aaron Jeffery |
| Genre | Action |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Graded | No |
| Autograph Format | Cut |
| Card Size | Booklet |
| Illustrator | 5ban Graphics |
| Professional Grader | AiGrading |
| Language | Arabic |
| Vintage | Yes |
| Convention/Event | AlienCon |
| Original/Licensed Reprint | Licensed Reprint |
| Card Condition | Near Mint or Better |
| Card Thickness | 20 Pt. |
Offered by Gosla Antiques & Collectibles, purveyors of antiquities, curiosities and collectible wares. Dispatched from Pennsylvania, United States, with tracking.