Kenn Tomasch posted this 1973 Johnny Unitas APBA card on Facebook. Note, I’m not an APBA Football expert but even I could tell this card was not up to Unitas’ usual stuff.
Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas played for the Baltimore Colts for 16 years (1956-1972). In that time, he led the league in passing yards four times, completions three times, and passing TDs four times. At the age of 40, he found himself in San Diego as a backup to a 22-year old Dan Fouts for a young but inept Charger team that went 2-11. He didn’t play much and when he did, well, age has a way of creeping up on you.
Unitas managed to complete 34 of 76 for a 44.7% completion rate. He threw for 471 yards and three touchdowns but was picked seven times.
Again, not an expert on APBA Football but I know that low 20s indicate interceptions and Unitas’ card has a few of those. I’m looking at the double numbers now. Even those who have played just played APBA Football casually can probably tell that the numbers in the P column are not as high as they had been.
Most telling, of course, is Unitas’ Quarterback-2 rating.
By the end of 1973, Johnny Unitas was done with football at the age of 40. After all of these years, he still ranks tenth all-time in career TDs with 290 and 19th with a 14.2 Yards/Pass Completed rate and 27th in passes completed with 2830.
thanks, Kenn!
Tough to see some of the greats end up with the old “square cards,” the XFs (which were introduced in the 1969 season as sets of four and bumped up to sets of five with the ’76 season; ’76 season also saw regular team sets bumped up to 32 players from 30). There is great video comparing the throwing form of Unitas and Kurt Warner; Jason Graham mentioned a book that indicates Unitas would still be among the greats if he were playing today. — Geoff