A 1972 Roger Staubach rookie card and a rare 1963 Life magazine cover featuring the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback have recently drawn strong interest and high prices from collectors.
Roger Staubach, who led the Dallas Cowboys through much of the 1970s and won two Super Bowls, continues to be recognized by football enthusiasts and collectors. On eBay, a Mint-condition 1972 Topps rookie card of Staubach, graded PSA 9, received 57 bids and sold for $18,920. Lesser-condition versions also attracted attention, with an ungraded example selling for $2,151 after 39 bids and another graded SGC 8 going for $1,255 on 37 bids. Second-year cards offered lower entry points, with several grade-7 examples selling between $50 and $65.
The article notes Staubach’s place in football history remains significant, even as modern statistics surpass those from his playing era. “No matter: Roger the Dodger’s impact on the game is safe for the ages, from his standout college career (he won the Heisman Trophy as a junior in 1963, leading Navy to a No. 2 national ranking) to his stellar work as the Dallas Cowboys’ leader in the 1970s. During that illustrious decade, he led Dallas to six NFC championship games and four Super Bowl appearances, winning two. Staubach retired in 1980 with 22,700 passing yards, 153 touchdowns, and a .746 winning percentage (85–29) as a starter.”
In addition to trading cards, memorabilia linked to Staubach is also popular among collectors. A two-issue lot of Life magazines from Nov. 29, 1963—one featuring Staubach as “The Greatest College Quarterback” on the original cover—sold on eBay for $3,453. The other magazine in the lot replaced Staubach with a tribute to President John F. Kennedy following his assassination.
Describing this magazine rarity, the article explains that “the bulk of the value behind that two-magazine lot’s four-figure price isn’t the JFK issue. It’s the Staubach variation.” Only a few hundred thousand copies of the Staubach cover were reportedly printed before most were recalled after Kennedy’s death; surviving issues are now considered collectible rarities. Another copy recently brought nearly $4,000 at Goldin’s Auctions.
The continued interest in memorabilia highlights Staubach’s lasting influence among fans and collectors.
As demand remains high for items connected to Hall of Famers like Staubach, similar football collectibles may see increased attention from buyers looking for both historical significance and rarity.
