My Unitas run so far

[Kurri17]

Like the title says, this is my progress so far with my Johnny U. collection. Started with a mix of PSA and SGC, but decided I like the SGC so am trying to get the whole run in SGC, and as you can see I still need, in SGC, a '61, '63, '70, and '73. In addition to what is shown I also have '64 PSA 5.5, '67 PSA 7 '68 PSA 7, and '72 PSA 7. I'll never grade the RC as it was a present, so I may still pick up a graded one at some point. Thanks for the look. Continued in first reply post.

[Kurri17]

The rest:

[familytoad]

I am a big Johnny Unitas fan too.
Not a Colts fan necessarily,but Johnny was the legend when I was growing up.
He was near the tail end of his career when I started collecting FB cards in 1970, but like you...I have gone back to do a run of his cards. I still need quite a few, but I secured the 57 earlier this year.

Much like our dearly departed Yogi, our favorite QB was not particularly handsome and Topps didn't do him many favors on the choice of photos they used for his card

It's hard to believe that it's been 13 years since he passed. Or that he set a record with 32 TD passes way back in 1959.

What is your favorite card? I assume not counting the rookie card?
His poses were not too creative either, but I kinda like the look on the 58 Topps.

[Kurri17]

Brian,
Thanks for the response. We must be about the same age, I was six in 1970 and started collecting football 1971 and pulled my first Johnny that year. That's great you are doing your own run.
I really hadn't counted the years, it sure is hard to believe its been that long since he passed. They loved him in Baltimore and I do love seeing the "19" on the sidelines at the Ravens stadium.
You are right, it certainly would have been nice to have a few more attractive cards. That '60 shown above just came today, and I waited a long time to find one that was at a price I was willing to pay for that particular card.
As far as favorites go, I do like that '58, but really like the '64 and '66 Philly issues as well. Of course, the RC is probably my favorite card in all of my collections, both because of the card it is and how I acquired it. Short version is that I showed up at my local shop one day and someone had just brought in an almost complete set of '57s along with a bunch of extras including three Unitas RCs. The set and all the extras were just like mine in really nice shape. I oohed and awed over them for awhile, and just in conversation told the owner who I've known for quite some time now which one of the RCs I liked the best. I came home and raved to my wife about what he had at the shop and never thought another word about it. Fast forward to Christmas day and there it was, from my wife.
Thanks again for the post and good luck with picking up the ones you need.

Rob

[mojorob]

X

[LuckyLarry]

beauties!

[sockwell123]

awesome cards! Thanks for sharing.

[Laxcat]

Agreed. Great cards of the real Johnny Football! The '63 Unitas has always been my favorite card of his.

[TanksAndSpartans]

Beautiful cards - the 57 really jumped out at me - very nice.

Are you going to go for any cards from non-major issues? Like Bazooka for example.

[Kurri17]

Thanks everyone.

Originally Posted by DezHood

Beautiful cards - the 57 really jumped out at me - very nice.

Are you going to go for any cards from non-major issues? Like Bazooka for example.

Yes, over time I will try to pick up all of the Unitas issues I can, and can afford. That Bazooka might be out of range for me. Post, Kellogg's, etc are wants for sure, as well as just the old inserts such as Supers, game cards, glossies, etc.

Great Unitas run!

I never noticed this before and forgive my ignorance if this has been discussed previously but are the 1973 & 1974 Unitas cards from the same photos, or not identical photos but those in the same few negatives as the camera was moved? I have not had a drink today , but it seems the cloud in the background is the same, though he's in a Colts uni in one and Chargers uni in the other, I'm pretty sure that's not Unitas' waist in 1974. He also seems to be wearing the same threadbare undershirt at the sleeves.

[Kurri17]

Wow, that's interesting. That strikes deep into my memory as I have a fuzzy recollection of having a conversation with my friends about that as a kid but have never thought about it since. You are right, that is definitely the same cloud. Looks like the same undershirt and even scrape on the elbow. Can't say on the waist comment, but he does look pretty trim there. Would love to know the story on that myself.

[Kurri17]

Just found this on Vintage Football Card Gallery:

"Unitas's 1974 Topps card pictures him in his Colts jersey, but Topps colored the numbers yellow to make it look like a Chargers jersey. Compare this image to the one on his 1973 Topps card."

That has definitely got to be the best airbrush job in the history of Topps. The numbers, the coloring in of the break in shoulder stripes to make it one stripe, certainly an upgrade from their usual efforts

Thanks for tracking that down. I was going to call a doctor Agreed, one of the better 1970's airbrushes by Topps. Great run and good luck!

[brafcauknid]

I've always loved the 1960 topps just for his crazy stare...I'm slowly putting together a run of Unitas cards as well, My wife surprised me last Christmas with a newspaper page featuring the 1974 HOF induction class signed by all 4 inductees(unitas,butkus, Lary, Mix)which is still the best present Ive ever received and the centerpiece of my mancave.

[jb67]

Great post. I am also working on a Unitas run. Thanks for posting your picts. Your wife is keeper for sure for surprising you with the Unitas rookie. A great story.

[Kurri17]

Picked this one up to replace my PSA version, still need '63, '71, and '73 in SGC.

[rjackson44]

Very cool