Roger Staubach (born 1942) had a successful eleven year career as a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969-1979. He is generally considered to be one of the best quarterbacks ever.
Staubach had 153 touchdowns, 109 interceptions, 22,700 passing yards, and a passer rating of 83.4. He was a major part of the VI and XII
Super Bowl championships, winning the Super Bowl MVP, and he was also a six time Pro Bowler. However, he did not enter the NFL until he was 27, and he did not start until he was 29.
Additionally, Staubach had an exceptional college career. In 1963 he was awarded the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, the Chic Harley Award, the UPI Player of the Year, and unanimous All American. The Navy retired his number 12.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Staubach was the only child of Elizabeth and Robert Staubach. He was brought up in Catholic schools and the Boy Scouts.
Staubach entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1961, and he had his first shot at quarterback in 1962. Though he did terribly in his first game, Staubach led the Navy offense to six touchdowns in his next game. After he led Navy to beat Army, which is one of the greatest rivalries in American sports, his starting position was secure.
As evidenced by the accolades given above, Staubach’s 1963 season was outstanding. Navy finished second in the nation with a 9-1 record, and he was featured on the cover of Time magazine. Though Navy lost to the University of Texas in the Cotton Bowl, Staubach led the Navy to their last victory against perennial rival Notre Dame until 2007.
Unfortunately, Staubach was injured in the first game of the season as a senior, and the Navy Midshipmen never recovered, finishing 3-6-1. Yet, due to his astounding 1963 season, he is considered one of the finest college players ever.
As is required for military academy graduates, Staubach served in the US Navy from 1965-1969. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant with the Supply Corps with which he spent time in Vietnam during the war.
Nobody knew Staubach’s future, but the Cowboys drafted him as a future choice with the 10th round pick in 1964. Staubach decided to join the Cowboys in 1969 as a 27 year old rookie.
Staubach was the backup quarterback until 1971, and starting for his first season in the NFL at the age of 29, Staubach led the Cowboys to a Super Bowl win, where he was named MVP.
After another Super Bowl win in 1977, Staubach decided to retire in 1979. With today’s health and safety protocols, he could have played for several more years because he was a great quarterback. In his last season he had career highs in completions, yards, touchdowns, and a low in interceptions.
However, those days were different, and Staubach reported 20 concussions, including six “knock outs”, and he often played through them.
Staubach is best remembered as “Captain Comeback” because of his heroics in the fourth quarters of many games.
He coined the phrase “Hail Mary” (when it means a desperate longshot pass) after throwing a last second 50-yard pass in 1975 that won the game. After the game, he told reporters that he threw the ball up and prayed a Hail Mary. Since then, the phrase has been ingrained in the American vocabulary.
With his retirement, Staubach was inducted into the Pro Football and College Football Halls of Fame, and he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018.
1972 Topps Roger Staubach Rookie Card
By the time Staubach had a rookie card produced, he was already 30 years old, a Super Bowl champion, and a Super Bowl MVP winner.
Roger Staubach’s base card is featured at card #200. Staubach is a key rookie to the set, along with Ted Hendricks, Archie Manning Jim Plunkett, John Riggins, and Gene Upshaw.
There are 3,000 copies of his rookie card registered by PSA. Gem Mint cards are infrequently sold, and the last sale was for $22,161.37 in 2013. Since Mint condition cards are regularly sold for over $10,000, Gem Mints are likely much higher. If you were hunting on a budget of $1,000, you may need to drop as low as a PSA 7 to find a card at that price.
Staubach was also on card #4 for NFC Passing Leaders with Landry and Kilmer. There are about 400 cards registered by PSA, so it is far less popular. In line with that, a Gem Mint copy will sell for $500 or less.
Lastly, there is a Roger Staubach In Action card at #122 which is also less popular than the base. There are about 800 cards registered, and they can sell for almost $2,000 in Gem Mint condition.
1973 Topps Roger Staubach
Since there are fewer years and cards of Staubach available, his sophomore card has been decently sought after.
There are 528 cards of standard size in this set. Key rookie cards include Ken Anderson, Art Shell, Dan Dierdorf, and Ken Stabler.
Staubach’s card sits at #475, and there are 900 copies registered with PSA. Gem Mint copies are rare, and PSA only has one registered. Mint copies have sold for a couple hundred or more for the last few years, but prices seemed to be rising in 2020.
1974 Topps Roger Staubach
There are 528 cards of standard size in this set. Staubach remains a key, and he sits at card #500.
PSA has nearly 600 cards registered, and only a few of them are in Gem Mint condition. PSA Mint 9 condition cards often sell for about $300.
Staubach shares a card with Stabler regarding Passing Leaders. There are a couple hundred graded copies on PSA’s registry, and the card will cost around $100 in PSA Mint 9 condition.
1976 Topps Roger Staubach
There are 528 cards in this set of standard size. Major rookie cards include Walter Payton, Randy White, and Jack Lambert.
Staubach’s card is at #395, and there are nearly 1000 cards registered by PSA. Gem Mint cards will sell for well over $1,000, and Mint copies will go for about 100.
Conclusion
Staubach may seem like a “What if” kind of player. What if he had never served in the military? What if he had been given the starting role at 22? What if he had played until he was 40? How many Super Bowls, MVP, and Pro Bowls could he have notched?
At the same time, Staubach, who started his first game at 29, rises above those questions. In a career shortened for worthwhile reasons, he won two Super Bowls, an MVP, and 6 Pro Bowls. Even on a shortened timeline, Staubach proved himself to be one of the greatest quarterbacks ever.
That’s one heck of a career, not a “What if” career, and his cards help to commemorate his passion, success, and of course, the “Hail Mary” charisma.