1976 Topps FB Harvey Martin – #44 PSA 10! Cowboys!

Description: This lot features the 1976 Topps FB Harvey Martin – #44 PSA 10! Cowboys! -- Martin was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 1973 NFL Draft. During his first years with the team, the coaching staff looked to instill in Martin a sense of aggressiveness, confidence and mental toughness, that didn't come naturally to him. He eventually improved his physical strength and his technique by practicing against future hall of famer Rayfield Wright. He also developed into an emotional player and fierce competitor, so much so, that he was nicknamed "Too Mean". By his third year in 1975, he was a full-time starter. The NFL didn't start recognizing quarterback sacks as an official stat until 1982; however, the Cowboys have their own records, dating back before the 1982 season. According to the Cowboys' stats, Martin is unofficially credited with a total of 114 sacks, leading the Cowboys in sacks seven times during a nine-year period, with a high total of 23 sacks in 1977. Martin played only on passing downs as a rookie, but still led the team in quarterback sacks with 9, tying Willie Townes rookie team record. Martin took down the QB 7.5 times in 1974 and 9.5 times in 1975. Martin broke out with 15 1/2 sacks in 1976 and made the Pro Bowl for the first time. He still holds the team record for most sacks for a rookie (9 - 1973) and in a season (23 - 1977). His unofficial career franchise sack record lasted 30 years, before being broken by DeMarcus Ware in 2013. His 1977 season was one of the greatest ever by an NFL player. In a 14-game season he totaled 85 tackles and a league-leading 23 sacks (more than Michael Strahan's 22.5 record in 16 games), he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a consensus All-Pro selection, was a key player in the Cowboys winning Super Bowl XII, and a co-MVP of the game with Randy White. Martin remained the team sack leader or co-leader every year, but his totals started to dwindle as his personal problems (financial problems and addictions) grew bigger. He followed up his 23-sack 1977 season with a 16-sack performance in 1978, 10 in 1979, 12 in 1980, 10 in 1981, 8 in 1982 and 2 in 1983. As part of the famed Doomsday Defense, "The Beautiful" aka "Too Mean" went to the Pro Bowl four times. Former Cowboys GM Tex Schramm stated: "He'll be remembered as one of the great Cowboys of the golden years ... He was a great player, one of the first great pass rushers". Martin, along with Don Meredith, is among the few players to play his high school (Dallas South Oak Cliff High School), college (East Texas State University, now Texas A&M University–Commerce), and pro career (Dallas Cowboys) in and around the Dallas, Texas, area. He never played a home game, on any level, outside of North Texas. Here’s a great looking example of his 1976 card here. This beauty has 4 great looking corners, 4 super nice borders and a blazing surface with full gloss, color and clarity. The reverse is crisp and clean with pack fresh background color, near perfect centering and no marks or blemishes of any kind. Buyer adds 2.50 for ship insured, US customers only. Please message with questions. Always combined shipping on multiple purchases. Thanks, and good luck.

Price: 999.99 USD

Location: Springvale, Maine

End Time: 2024-12-04T02:29:50.000Z

Shipping Cost: 2.5 USD