Sale of 1962 Topps Johnny Unitas rookie card sparks memories of one of NFL’s greatest QBs
Young football fans should know the impact made by Johnny Unitas. He may have played generations ago (1956-73), but when he retired, there was little argument that he was the NFL’s greatest quarterback ever.
Changes in NFL rules and the explosion of the passing game have pushed his numbers uncomfortably low in the game’s record books. But keep in mind that Johnny U., in his era, set new marks for touchdown passes, completions, yards and every other passing statistic of note. When he retired at age 40, he had piled up 40,239 passing yards and 290 touchdown passes to go with three championships and three MVP awards.
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As time went on, quarterbacks like Dan Marino, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady took passing stats to new heights. But Unitas was the original game-changer, and all QBs who followed owe him a debt of gratitude for his pass-first approach.
Collectors consistently appreciate the ice-cold work of Johnny U., always a clutch-time performer. We keep him in high regard all these years later, as evidenced by the recent auction of a 1962 Topps card of the Colts QB.
This one is a beauty: a black-bordered (and thus condition-sensitive) issue that remains in impeccable condition. It graded out at PSA 8.5 and sold for $21,433 on 38 bids.
The card’s design features a large color posed shot of Unitas with a football cocked above his shoulder. It’s complemented by a smaller black-and-white action photo capturing Johnny U.’s follow-through. The reverse notes that he set a record in 1961 for most pass attempts in a season (421), throwing a now-modest 16 TD passes along the way.
Another classic card of a Pro Football Hall of Famer and sports icon made an appearance in our latest chart of the Top 10 sports cards sold on eBay with a 1933 Sport Kings card of Jim Thorpe selling for $47,890.
Our latest Top 10 is football heavy with legendary quarterbacks Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes leading the way.
TOP 10 CHART
1. $123,556 on 51 bids: 2021 Panini Absolute Kaboom! Tom Brady, #3/10 (PSA 10)
2. $90,200 on 70 bids: 2019 Panini Prizm Patrick Mahomes II Color Blast (PSA 10)
3. $67,966 on 116 bids: 2002-03 Upper Deck Glass Michael Jordan/Kobe Bryant One-Two Combo, #14/25, autos, game jersey patches (BGS 8, autos 10)
4. $62,502 on 87 bids: 2002-03 Panini Fútbol Portugal Soccer Cristiano Ronaldo (BGS 9.5)
5. $49,600 on 58 bids: 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle (PSA 1.5)
6. $47,890 on 55 bids: 1933 Sport Kings Jim Thorpe (PSA 8)
7. $45,655 on 95 bids: 2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady Rookie Ticket, auto (BGS 9, auto 10)
8. $41,600 on 69 bids: 2000 Bowman Tom Brady Rookie of the Year Promotion, one of 250 unnumbered (PSA 10)
9. $40,099 on 84 bids: 2014-15 Panini Flawless Kobe Bryant Gold Momentous Memorabilia, #4/10, auto patch (BGS 9.5, auto 10)
10. $38,100 on 65 bids: 2004-05 Panini Sports Lionel Messi Mega Cracks Barca Campeon (PSA 10)