"1978 Topps #349 Barty Smith Packers 1st Round Pick RB Team Rush Leader NFL"

"Description

You're viewing an increasingly scarce 1978 Topps card featuring Green Bay Packers running back and former first-round draft pick Barty Smith! This vintage treasure captures a key piece of Packers history.

The distinctive yellow/gold borders that frame the 1978 Topps football cards are notoriously condition-sensitive, making well-preserved examples from this set increasingly difficult to locate in today's market. Most have been damaged or discarded over the past 45+ years!

This card captures Barty Smith - the Packers' prized 12th overall selection in the 1974 NFL Draft - wearing his iconic #33 jersey and classic gold Packers helmet. The perfect snapshot of Green Bay's storied football legacy.

What makes this card particularly significant is that it was released immediately following Smith's best season as the Packers' leading rusher in 1977. This historical timing documents Smith at the absolute peak of his NFL career!

The 1978 Topps Football set has gained significant collector appreciation in recent years as the hobby rediscovers vintage sets with classic designs and photography. Cards from this era represent the golden age of football card collecting!

Packers cards continue to command premium collector interest regardless of era or player due to Green Bay's unmatched legacy and passionate international fanbase. The competition for vintage Packers cards grows more intense with each passing season.

As demand for vintage football cards continues its upward trajectory, well-preserved examples from the 1970s are becoming increasingly difficult to locate. Many cards from this era were played with, pinned to walls, or simply discarded by their original owners.

Condition

This card presents in honest 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. No modern reprint could replicate this authentic patina of history!

Some edge wear is present on the yellow/gold border - an extremely common condition issue with the notoriously fragile colored borders of 1970s Topps cards. Finding examples without this characteristic wear has become increasingly difficult with each passing year.

The centering appears slightly off-center left to right, 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 Smith's portrait clearly visible. The distinctive green Packers name lettering and team color coordination represented on the card remains vibrant despite four decades of age.

The card back shows normal age-appropriate toning but remains completely legible with all text, statistics and the cartoon illustration visible - an important consideration for vintage cards where back damage often renders text unreadable.

Card Details

• Card Number: #349 in the 1978 Topps Football set

• Player: Barty Smith - Green Bay Packers running back and former first-round draft pick (12th overall in 1974)

• Position: Running Back (RB) - As indicated by the pink football position marker on the card front

• Team: Green Bay Packers - One of the NFL's most historic and collected franchises

• Draft Status: First-round selection (12th overall) by the Packers in the 1974 NFL Draft

• Career Highlight: Card notes Smith was the ""Packers' leading rusher in 1977"" - documenting him at his statistical peak

• Physical Stats: Lists Smith as 6'3"" and 230 pounds - a powerful running back by 1970s standards

• Design Elements: Classic 1978 Topps layout with team name on the side, player name at top, and position icon

• Manufacturer: Topps - 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.

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 from the vintage 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.

Green Bay Packers cards have shown particularly strong collector demand regardless of player, as the team's storied history and massive collector base ensures steady interest in all Packers memorabilia. This sustained demand has driven increased interest in even non-star Packers players.

Most surviving examples from this era display significant condition issues, making even Good condition specimens a much better-than-average survivor that would make an excellent addition to any vintage football collection or Packers team set.

Collector's Note

The market for vintage 1970s football 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.

First-round draft picks like Barty Smith represent significant moments in team history, regardless of their ultimate career outcome. 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 Packers card before prices for authentic 1970s Topps football cards continue their upward trajectory! The vintage football market is experiencing unprecedented growth.

The distinctive yellow borders of 1978 Topps cards make them among the most condition-sensitive issues of the decade. Finding examples without significant border wear becomes more challenging with each passing year.

Packers collectors have become increasingly aggressive in acquiring vintage cards from every era of the storied franchise, driving prices upward for even role players and non-stars. This card represents an affordable entry point for collectors seeking authentic vintage Packers memorabilia.

This card represents a perfect addition for any vintage football collection, Packers team compilation, 1978 Topps set build, or first-round draft pick collection. It's a must-have piece for budget-conscious Packers fans looking to own a genuine piece of team history!

Buy multiple cards and pay only ONE low shipping cost!

Don't Wait - Act Now!

The window of opportunity to acquire authentic vintage NFL 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 Green Bay Packers history featuring a former first-round draft pick and team rushing leader! 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.