"1972 Topps #240 Larry Little HOF Miami Dolphins Perfect Season Guard All-Pro"

"Description

You're viewing an increasingly scarce 1972 Topps card featuring Miami Dolphins legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Little! This vintage treasure captures a pivotal moment in NFL history.

The distinctive orange/red borders that frame the Dolphins 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 Larry Little just months before he would become a cornerstone of the Dolphins' historic 1972 Perfect Season - the only undefeated campaign in NFL history. This timing makes the card extraordinarily significant to football historians and serious collectors.

What makes this card particularly special is that it documents Little immediately after being named the ""outstanding offensive lineman in the AFC by the NFL Players Association"" and earning All-Pro honors in 1971. These accolades foreshadowed his eventual Hall of Fame enshrinement in 1993.

Little wasn't just any offensive lineman - he was the pulling guard who created the holes for Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris, and Jim Kiick during the Dolphins' dynasty years. His contributions were crucial to Miami's back-to-back Super Bowl victories (VII and VIII).

The card specifically notes his recent trade from San Diego to Miami - the transaction that would ultimately transform him from a solid player into a football legend. This historical transition makes the card especially valuable to serious collectors.

Cards of offensive linemen from this era have shown remarkable price appreciation in recent years as sophisticated collectors increasingly recognize their historical importance rather than just focusing on skill position players.

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 orange/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 Little clearly visible in his distinctive Dolphins white uniform, crouched in his familiar lineman's stance. 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: #240 in the 1972 Topps Football set

• Player: Larry Little - Pro Football Hall of Famer (inducted 1993) and 5-time First-team All-Pro

• Team: Miami Dolphins - Featured during the season immediately preceding their historic 17-0 Perfect Season

• Position: Guard - One of the most dominant offensive linemen of his era

• Accolades: Card specifically notes his selection as the ""outstanding offensive lineman in the AFC"" and his All-Pro status

• Historical Context: Documents Little shortly after his trade from the Chargers to the Dolphins - the move that launched his legendary career

• College: Bethune-Cookman - One of the first major NFL stars from this Historically Black College

• Design Elements: Distinctive orange/red borders that frame this key member of Miami's dynasty

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

• Special Note: Features Little in his unique crouched line stance that would become familiar to football fans throughout the 1970s

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.

Orange/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 of Hall of Fame players continue to diminish in available supply as vintage football cards gain more mainstream collecting attention. The competition for remaining examples grows more intense annually.

Miami Dolphins collectors have shown particularly strong demand for cards from their Perfect Season era, driving prices upward for key team members like Little who were essential to their championship success. This sustained interest has created genuine scarcity in the marketplace.

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 Dolphins team set.

Collector's Note

The market for vintage cards of Hall of Fame offensive linemen has seen explosive growth in recent years as collectors have begun to fully appreciate both their historical significance and surprising scarcity in presentable condition.

Perfect Season Dolphins cards represent the most celebrated team achievement in professional football history, making cards that preceded this historic campaign increasingly valuable to serious collectors seeking to document the foundation of Miami's dynasty.

This is potentially your ONLY CHANCE to acquire this increasingly elusive vintage Hall of Famer card before prices for authentic 1972 Topps football cards continue their upward trajectory! The vintage football market is experiencing unprecedented growth.

The distinctive orange borders of the Dolphins 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.

Offensive line collectors have become increasingly sophisticated in seeking out cards of the game's greatest trench warriors, driving prices upward for elite blockers like Little who defined their position. This card represents a must-have centerpiece for any serious collection of football's greatest linemen!

This card represents a perfect addition for any vintage football collection, Dolphins team compilation, Hall of Fame player showcase, Perfect Season documentation, or offensive line stars collection. Its connection to football's only perfect season 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 Hall of Fame offensive linemen 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 Miami Dolphins and Perfect Season history featuring one of the greatest offensive linemen ever to play the game! 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

Item specifics

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