Topps just recently released a list of the top 25 Rookie cards of all time in celebration of their 50 years producing NFL trading card. The list is a who's who among Pro Football Hall of Famers including 3 Dallas Cowboys.

The list is NOT in order of value (Joe Nameth's 1965 Rookie is the most valuable booking at $1,600 on the high end) but rather a list of the most popular or sought after or maybe just the order of favorites as voted on by Topps. Its hard to argue with any of these cards although my order would be just a little different and I might have to throw in the 1989 Topps Traded Aikman, but that's just me.

Here is the list;

1. 1957 Topps Johnny Unitas #138

2. 1981 Topps Joe Montana #216

3. 1965 Topps Joe Nameth #122

4. 1958 Topps Jim Brown #62

5. 1976 Topps Walter Payton #148

6. 1957 Topps Bart Starr #119

7. 1984 Topps Dan Marino #123

8. 1986 Topps Jerry Rice #161

9. 1971 Topps Terry Bradshaw #156

10. 1984 Topps John Elway #63

11. 1957 Topps Paul Hornung #151

12. 1972 Topps Roger Staubach #200

13. 1970 Topps O.J. Simpson #90

14. 1962 Topps Fran Tarkenton #90

15. 1962 Topps Mike Ditka #17

16. 1965 Topps Fred Biletnikoff #133

17. 1973 Topps Franco Harris #89

18. 1977 Topps Steve Largent #177

19. 1969 Topps Brian Piccolo #26

20. 1988 Topps Bo Jackson #327

21. 1989 Topps Traded Barry Sanders #83T

22. 1990 Topps Traded Emmitt Smith #27T

23. 1963 Topps Bob Lilly #83

24. 1962 Topps Ernie Davis #36

25. 1963 Topps Ray Nitschke #9

A few notes about the list; Even though the Roger Staubach and Emmitt Smith rankings matched their Jersey numbers, there were no others who did so that may just be coincidence, I don't however think that Topps placing O.J. Simpson at #13 was a coincidence. I'm sure there was a method to their madness.

Bob Lilly is the ONLY lineman on the list. There are a total of 9 Quarterbacks on the list including Roger Staubach but none in the Last 10. There are 10 Runningbacks on the list but only 2 in the top 10 and 6 in the Last 10. There are 4 receivers on the list, 3 Wide outs and 1 tight end. Last but not least, there is 1 Linebacker on the list. Ray Nitschke comes in at #25.