The 1972 Topps set was the largest football set yet made, 351 cards, and it was issued in three series. The last of them, the 88 high numbers from #264 to #351, came very late in the season and only to a few places, Milwaukee among them, as something close to a trial. Many collectors did not know the series existed until long afterward, and much of what survives is said to trace back to a single dealer, Larry Fritsch, who bought cases of it.
Sold late, and only in a few places. Many collectors did not know it existed.
Number 343 is one of the Pro Action cards, and it says so: PRO ACTION runs across the top in outlined letters on a yellow ground.
The photograph is taken at the line of scrimmage. Namath, in white, number 12, stands over the center, number 66, waiting for the snap, with the defense crouched across from him in red. His name is printed right across the picture. The helmet logos are gone; Topps did not have the rights to show them.
It was also the last Topps football set issued in series.
Print dots, smudges, rough-cut edges and poor centering are common throughout the high numbers.
