1972 Topps #237 Dave Lewis Bengals 2 TIME All-Pro Punter Stanford Vintage NFL

"Description

You're viewing an increasingly scarce 1972 Topps card featuring Cincinnati Bengals two-time All-Pro punter Dave Lewis! This vintage treasure captures the NFL's dominant punter of the early 1970s.

The distinctive red borders that frame the Bengals cards in the 1972 Topps set are notoriously condition-sensitive, making well-preserved examples increasingly difficult to locate in today's market. Most have been damaged or discarded over the past 50+ years!

This card showcases Dave Lewis during his absolute prime when he was officially recognized as ""the top punter in professional football for the 2nd consecutive year"" as noted on the card back. The timing of this card's release makes it particularly significant to special teams collectors.

What makes this card especially valuable is that it documents a two-time All-Pro specialist at the absolute peak of his powers. Cards of elite special teams players from this vintage era have gained tremendous collector appreciation in recent years as the market matures.

Lewis wasn't just any punter - he was the premier specialist of his era, boasting an incredible 45.3-yard average in 1969 and maintaining elite consistency with a 44.9-yard average in 1971. These are remarkable numbers that would impress even by today's standards!

The card specifically notes Lewis was ""also used as a running back"" and employed innovative techniques such as using ""a quarterback's ball for the first time"" in 1971. These fascinating technical details make this card particularly appealing to serious football historians.

Vintage cards of specialist position players have shown remarkable price appreciation in recent years as sophisticated collectors increasingly value these overlooked gems that document the full spectrum of football history.

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 red 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 reasonably well-balanced, which is somewhat uncommon for cards from this production era when centering standards were far less stringent than modern cards. This adds to the card's collector appeal.

The front surface retains good color saturation with Lewis clearly visible in his distinctive Bengals white jersey with the #15. 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 and cartoon illustration easily visible - an important consideration for vintage cards where back damage often renders text unreadable.

Card Details

• Card Number: #237 in the 1972 Topps Football set

• Player: Dave Lewis - Two-time All-Pro punter recognized as the NFL's best at his position in the early 1970s

• Statistical Excellence: Card documents his remarkable 45.3-yard punting average in 1969 and 44.9-yard average in 1971

• Recognition: Specifically notes he was ""the top punter in professional football for the 2nd consecutive year in 1971""

• Versatility: Mentions he was ""also used as a running back"" - a rare dual-role that modern specialists rarely attempt

• Innovation: Notes that ""in 1971, Dave used a quarterback's ball for the first time"" - a fascinating technical detail

• College Pedigree: Stanford University graduate, adding crossover appeal to college football collectors

• Design Elements: Distinctive red borders that frame the Bengals cards in the 1972 Topps set

• Manufacturer: Topps - The premier trading card company of the era

• Historical Context: Features one of the early stars of the Cincinnati Bengals franchise, which had only been in existence since 1968

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.

Red-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 from the pre-modern era of football collecting (pre-1980) continue to diminish in available supply as vintage football cards gain more mainstream collecting attention. The competition for remaining examples grows more intense annually.

Special teams players have traditionally been overlooked by collectors in favor of offensive stars, making well-preserved examples of elite specialist cards increasingly difficult to locate as sophisticated collectors seek to document all aspects of football 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 Bengals team set.

Collector's Note

The market for vintage cards of All-Pro special teams players has seen surprising growth in recent years as collectors have begun to fully appreciate both their historical significance and genuine scarcity in presentable condition.

The specialized punter/kicker niche has become increasingly competitive as advanced collectors seek to document the evolution of special teams play and honor the specialists who often determined the outcomes of close games. These historical connections make such cards increasingly desirable to serious football historians.

This is potentially your ONLY CHANCE to acquire this increasingly elusive vintage Bengals card before prices for authentic 1972 Topps football cards of recognized All-Pro players continue their upward trajectory! The vintage specialist market is experiencing unprecedented growth.

The distinctive red borders of the Bengals cards in the 1972 Topps set make these among the most condition-sensitive issues of the decade. Finding examples without significant border damage becomes more challenging with each passing year.

Stanford University alumni have shown increasing interest in vintage cards featuring their football program's greatest NFL representatives, adding another dimension of collectibility to this card. This card represents a must-have addition for serious collectors of special teams history!

This card represents a perfect addition for any vintage football collection, Bengals team compilation, specialist position showcase, or Stanford alumni collection. Its documentation of an elite punter at his absolute peak 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 cards of All-Pro specialists 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 special teams history featuring one of the most dominant punters of the early 1970s! When it's gone, finding another example of this vintage Topps card in comparable condition could take months or years of searching!"

 _gsrx_vers_1723 (GS 9.9.3 (1723))

Condition: Ungraded

Item specifics

Offered by Gosla Antiques & Collectibles, purveyors of antiquities, curiosities and collectible wares. Dispatched from Pennsylvania, United States, with tracking.