Cowboys
Roger Staubach - 1973
(Game Worn)
What makes a football helmet a classic treasure?
If it instantly inspires an image of the specific player who wore it.
The first featured helmet for this new year surely meets that requirement.
For the true helmet aficionado these stunning pictures instantly invoke the
image of a young dashing Roger Staubach leading America's team to its
first Super Bowl victory.
Looking at this well preserved and virtually unblemished beauty its hard to
believe that it has been more than 30 years since it was last worn
by Roger "the Dodger." This may have been the very last Riddell helmet that he
wore. He subsequently switched to the more protective leather padded "Max Pro"
helmet for the remainder of his legendary career. This helmet was acquired
directly from the team at the start of their 1973 training camp per the
request of a high ranking NFL team employee who had roots in Texas. It has
never been previously displayed in public or offered at auction and its
"unveiling" is exclusive to the loyal readers of Helmet Hut.
This glorious Riddell "TK" suspension helmet has all the unique markings of
other early 1970 era Cowboy helmets including factory applied striping and single layer / two color "star" decals.
The helmet's manufacturing date code "clock" is stamped inside the shell over
the ear hole and correctly reflects the early "Staubach" era. The special
padded nose snubber, a very rare and genuine Riddell accessory that was
preferred by Roger, strikingly personalizes the front view of the helmet. The
famous Cowboy dymo tape "Staubach" nameplate proudly adorns the rear of the
helmet The Riddell "BD-9" plastic facemask, with correct slanted style
trademark, has been factory installed. Additional facemask mounting holes have
been factory drilled in the shell above the nose snubber to accommodate the
possibility of a cage style facemask. The original distinctive Cowboy "silver
blue" paint hue is still brilliantly evident (in subsequent years the team
has virtually eliminated the blue tint from their official helmet color).
The Cowboy's future new stadium will include a colossal Cowboy Hall of
Fame. Upon its completion Helmet Hut will most likely place this great helmet
there for permanent display. In the meantime it is reserved strictly for the
pleasure of Helmet Hut readers. After all, they are the ones who truly
understand why this helmet is a classic treasure!
