This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/22/2018
One of the more joyous events in life occurs when fantasy and reality come together in a dovetail, to create a scenario where events play out exactly as one imagines they should. That is certainly the case when it comes to the rookie card of Joe Willie Namath, introduced to the world in the revered 1965 Topps release. It's only appropriate that Namath's rookie card, one of the most beloved gridiron keepsakes in our hobby, should be produced in the legendary "tall boy" format, for what other canvas could possibly house the larger-than-life persona of "Broadway Joe," the game's first media megastar? Offered here is a stunning high-grade example of this card, that has escaped the condition pitfalls so common to the oversized issue to achieve a grade of 86 NM+ 7.5 as determined by SGC. This blazer offers a plethora of above-grade qualities, not the least of which is a razor-sharp image of the Hall of Famer and a noticeable absence of errant print dots in the susceptible yellow backdrop. A light factory rough cut adorns the left edge, and corners easily meet or exceed the parameters for the assigned grade. The reverse offers a deeply saturated salmon pigment that shows no signs of fading over time, and if the obverse centering were just slightly more accurate, this one would surely reside in a higher-grade holder. Even if you're not in the market to add this collection-defining piece to your portfolio, we invite you to take a few minutes to closely admire the profound color quality and image clarity of this gridiron classic and bask in the undeniable glow of this truly splendid specimen.