"1978 Topps #316 Greg Landry Lions QB Pro Bowl UMass Dual-Threat Action Shot"

"Description

You're viewing an increasingly scarce 1978 Topps card featuring Detroit Lions Pro Bowl quarterback Greg Landry in a dynamic action shot! This vintage treasure captures one of the NFL's pioneering dual-threat quarterbacks who could beat defenses with both his arm and his legs.

The distinctive pink/magenta borders that frame the Lions cards in the 1978 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 45+ years!

This card showcases Greg Landry after an entire decade with the Lions, documenting his career through the 1977 season. The timing makes this card especially significant as it captures his full legacy with Detroit before his later career with Baltimore and Chicago.

What makes this card particularly fascinating is the action shot of Landry on the field rather than a typical posed portrait, showcasing his athletic running ability. These dynamic in-game photos provide a rare glimpse into the actual playing style that made Landry so effective as a mobile quarterback.

The card highlights Landry's impressive 302-yard passing performance against the Packers and his remarkable 87-yard rushing game against the Bears. These statistical achievements document his rare dual-threat capability long before this playing style became common in the modern NFL.

University of Massachusetts collectors will appreciate this UMass Minutemen standout who was selected in the first round of the 1968 draft. This prestigious collegiate connection adds another dimension of collector appeal beyond just Lions fans.

Quarterback cards from pioneering dual-threat players have shown remarkable price appreciation in recent years as today's collectors recognize these athletes were decades ahead of their time. This historical perspective has created tremendous investment opportunity.

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 rounding consistent with its age, giving it the authentic character that only comes from a genuine vintage card. This honest wear confirms its status as an original rather than a modern reproduction.

Some edge wear is present on the pink/magenta border - an extremely common condition issue with the notoriously fragile colored borders of the 1978 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 Landry clearly visible in his distinctive Lions white jersey. The dynamic action image remains clear despite its age, allowing collectors to appreciate Landry's athletic running style.

The card back shows normal age-appropriate toning but remains completely legible with all text and statistical information easily visible - an important consideration for vintage cards where back damage often renders text unreadable.

Card Details

• Card Number: #316 in the 1978 Topps Football set

• Player: Greg Landry - Pro Bowl quarterback and one of the NFL's original dual-threat passers

• Team: Detroit Lions - Featured in the classic white Lions uniform of the 1970s

• Position: Quarterback - In a dynamic action pose that highlights his running ability

• Physical Specs: Impressive 6'4"" height - exceptional size for a mobile quarterback of this era

• College: University of Massachusetts - Adding crossover appeal to UMass collectors

• Draft Status: First-round selection by the Lions in 1968 (#11 overall pick)

• Career Highlight: Pro Bowl selection in 1971 after his best statistical season with 2237 yards and 16 TDs

• Unique Detail: Card notes his academic pursuits toward a graduate degree during the off-season

• Design Elements: Distinctive pink/magenta borders with team name on the side that define the classic 1978 Topps football design

• Manufacturer: Topps Chewing Gum Inc. - The premier trading card company of the era

Rarity

While Topps produced significant quantities of their 1978 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.

Pink/magenta-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.

Action shot cards were often more heavily handled by young collectors who preferred these dynamic images, making well-preserved examples increasingly difficult to locate. This preferential handling has created genuine scarcity in today's market.

Detroit Lions cards from their pre-Super Bowl era have shown particularly strong demand as team collectors aim to document their full franchise history. This historical emphasis has driven increased prices for vintage Lions cards across all eras.

The crossover appeal to University of Massachusetts collectors interested in UMass alumni who found NFL success has created additional demand from a collecting segment that typically doesn't pursue vintage NFL cards, further reducing available supply.

Collector's Note

The market for vintage cards featuring dual-threat quarterbacks has seen remarkable growth in recent years as collectors have begun to fully appreciate both their historical significance and how these players pioneered the playing style that dominates today's NFL.

Pro Bowl quarterback cards represent a fundamental cornerstone of any serious vintage football collection. This historical significance makes cards of accomplished signal-callers like Landry increasingly desirable to serious football historians.

This is potentially your ONLY CHANCE to acquire this increasingly elusive vintage Lions card before prices for authentic 1978 Topps football cards continue their upward trajectory! The vintage quarterback market is experiencing unprecedented growth.

The distinctive pink borders of the Lions cards in the 1978 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.

Detroit Lions collectors have become increasingly dedicated to documenting every player from each era of franchise history. This card represents a must-have addition for any serious Lions collection showcasing the team's quarterback lineage!

This card represents a perfect addition for any vintage football collection, Lions team compilation, quarterback position showcase, University of Massachusetts alumni collection, or dual-threat QB themed collection. Its unique connection to both Lions history and the evolution of the quarterback position makes it a guaranteed conversation piece!

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 pioneering dual-threat quarterbacks at reasonable prices continues to narrow as more collectors recognize both their condition sensitivity and historical importance to the game's evolution.

Don't miss this rare opportunity to own a genuine piece of Detroit Lions history featuring a Pro Bowl quarterback who could beat defenses with both his arm and his legs decades before this style became the NFL norm! 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.