Will the joe namath rookie card Topps 1965 become the next Mantle 52?

[LuckyLarry]

Originally Posted by BASEBALLCARDGURU

My conclusion is the Joe Namath rookie card is extremly undervalued and will jump in price over this next decade.
Any thoughts on this?

Welcome Guru

Boy I don't know if the Namath is "extremely undervalued" it's already an expensive card. Of course vintage football cards in general are undervalued compared to baseball cards.

I wonder how many of the '52 Topps (DP) Mantle cards are out there compared to the '65 Topps (SP) Namath?

At major card shows, I bet I see more '52 Topps Mantles than I see the '65 Topps Namath card. But I don't see the Namath RC approaching the levels that Mantle brings.

Larry

[PowderedH2O]

If you look at how iconic the 1952 baseball set is, that plays a part. The tall boys are popular, but not nearly to the same extent. Plus, Namath's career was nowhere near Mantle's. I see the Namath card being popular, but never bringing anything near the Mantle levels.

[Peter_Spaeth]

I think not. Namath is according to most experts not even among the top 100 players of all time.

Welcome to the board. This was recently discussed here, when the topic switched to Mt. Rushmore of football cards, posts 60-65: http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=210598

Some collectors are obviously in your corner on this subject for many of the same reasons you mention; "I equate it to the 1952 Topps Mantle version of football cards. Short print from a popular set, charismatic NY star and unrealized potential due to injury (what-if-mystique)" Scott G.

I do not see it, but I'm too young and on the opposite coast. I probably do not understand the spell Namath may still have over the city of New York.

[jefferyepayne]

So the question remains: if not Namath, who?

What card is going to rise up and become the Topps 52 Mantle of football over time?

Thoughts?

jeff

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by jefferyepayne

So the question remains: if not Namath, who?

What card is going to rise up and become the Topps 52 Mantle of football over time?

Thoughts?

jeff

Not sure that any card will. Unlike baseball, the relatively early stars (Graham, Baugh, Motley, Hutson, etc.) just do not seem to be revered. Not sure why that is. Football is as or more popular than baseball as a sport but the history seems much less important to fans and collectors. By the time you get to Unitas and Brown the cards are so plentiful even in high grade that I just don't see it. Nagurski is a logical candidate on some criteria I guess, but does anyone really care?

Originally Posted by jefferyepayne

So the question remains: if not Namath, who?

What card is going to rise up and become the Topps 52 Mantle of football over time?

Thoughts?

jeff

No card. I'm not even sure the Namath will maintain it's current price range. Even Chicle prices seem to be returning to earth, and with it the price of Nags. I'd rather have a '59 Bazooka Jim Brown than a '58 keyhole RC. In fact, I'd probably rather have a '59 Bazooka Johnny Unitas than a '57 RC. As previously mentioned the '76 Payton or '81 Montana are too numerous. For this collector, the '77 Largent distributed in Mexico is the prize of my collection, but not a famous enough card. Had Largent parlayed his gig in Congress to a term in the White House it may be a different story NO card, final answer.

[jefferyepayne]

Originally Posted by pariah1107

No card. I'm not even sure the Namath will maintain it's current price range. Even Chicle prices seem to be returning to earth, and with it the price of Nags. I'd rather have a '59 Bazooka Jim Brown than a '58 keyhole RC. In fact, I'd probably rather have a '59 Bazooka Johnny Unitas than a '57 RC. As previously mentioned the '76 Payton or '81 Montana are too numerous. For this collector, the '77 Largent distributed in Mexico is the prize of my collection, but not a famous enough card. Had Largent parlayed his gig in Congress to a term in the White House it may be a different story NO card, final answer.

Could be the case that no card is ever the Mantle of football but I don't believe for a second that vintage football cards are at a peak in value. There's always ups and downs tied to the economy but overall card values continue upwards.

And where are you seeing Chicles "returning to earth"? Nags? I don't see that anywhere. It's seldom that I see a Chicle auction for a 7 or 8 go for less than the highest recorded VCP price. Or maybe its in the lower grades?

I also haven't seen a bargain Nags in forever either but can't say I've been tracking every single one that comes up for auction. The ones I have tracked have all gone for more than the prices I had recorded for sales over the past 4-5 years.

jeff

Originally Posted by jefferyepayne

Could be the case that no card is ever the Mantle of football but I don't believe for a second that vintage football cards are at a peak in value. There's always ups and downs tied to the economy but overall card values continue upwards.

And where are you seeing Chicles "returning to earth"? Nags? I don't see that anywhere. It's seldom that I see a Chicle auction for a 7 or 8 go for less than the highest recorded VCP price. Or maybe its in the lower grades?

I also haven't seen a bargain Nags in forever either but can't say I've been tracking every single one that comes up for auction. The ones I have tracked have all gone for more than the prices I had recorded for sales over the past 4-5 years.

jeff

I don't know about 7 or 8 Chicles as they are out my budget, and I take your word for it Jeff as you have more experience in them. I am admittedly a lower grade collector and can only say, I would not even consider chasing the Chicle set 3-5 years ago, but have seen recent auctions of well centered 3 or 4's go at very reasonable prices. As for the Nags, and if memory serves I believe there was a SGC 20 for little plus $1000 on the BST just recently here.

[RedlegsFan]

Originally Posted by jefferyepayne

So the question remains: if not Namath, who?



What card is going to rise up and become the Topps 52 Mantle of football over time?



Thoughts?



jeff

There will never be another.




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[HRBAKER]

Is Joe Namath overrated - sure.
Is he a HOFer - yes.
Is his significance as much a cause as his play and statistics - absolutely.
He changed football as we know it FOREVER when he won SBIII.

As for the card - never approach the Mantle level simply because the demand will never be there.

[S_GERACE]

Great upgrade Larry! Your new one has a much better image (brighter/clearer) and reverse. Great price too! Congratulations!