Cards From the Best RBs of the Decade
Loading ...Rushers in the 1970s picked up right where the ’60s left off – with runningbacks dominating the offensive workload for teams around the league. There was no Jim Brown, but this decade was a particularly prolific one. The ground game was established early and often, and we’d see the first two runningback duos to rush for 1,000 yards – the Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris backfield for the undefeated ’72 Miami team being the first and Pittsburgh’s Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier in 1976 being the second.
We went to the archives to look back at the vintage Topps Football sets that featured these GOAT runners and did our best to make this challenging list. Why don’t you help us out and vote on the top RB of the decade – did we get it right?
The Top RBs of the 1970s
1974 Topps Football #131 All-Pro Larry Csonka
Player info
• 1973 league championship mvp
• two-time league championship winner
Set info
• 463 card set
• all-pro cards feature a unique design
Player quote
• “Any time you try to win everything, you must be willing to lose everything.” – Larry Csonka
1975 Topps Football #456 Highlights Lydell Mitchell
Player info
• led the league in receptions in 1974 and 1977
• rushed for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons (1975-1977)
set info
• 528 card set
• subsets, in addition to “highlights,” include league leaders, record breakers, and playoff highlights
card back
• a faux newspaper with a story based on Mitchell’s 13-catch game on December 15, 1972, against New York.
1973 Topps Football #89 Franco Harris
Player info
• six consecutive seasons of 1,000+ rushing yards (1974-1979)
• led the league in rushing tds in 1976: 14
Set info
• 528 card set featuring a “boyhood photo” subset featuring famous players
What they said
•“It was the perfect play call for the perfect back against the perfect defense against a team a team we loved to beat.” – Terry Bradshaw on the “immaculate reception”
1978 Topps Football #200 Walter Payton
Player info
• 1977 league MVP and offensive player of the year
• four-time league champion
set info
• 528 card set with subsets featuring conference statistical leaders, conference winners, and league championship winners
What they said
• “He was such a great football player; I think the greatest football player who ever lived, and I mean that. But he was even a better person.” – hall of fame o-lineman jimbo covert
