The 1935 National Chicle Football set is one of the most important and visually appealing issues in the hobby. As the first major gum set focused on professional football, its 36 cards preserve the look and personalities of the NFL's formative years, with every reverse offering a playing tip from Boston Redskins coach Eddie Casey.

Card #21 features Cliff Montgomery of the Brooklyn Dodgers football club. Montgomery was an All-American quarterback at Columbia University, where he led the Lions to a stunning 7-0 upset of heavily favored Stanford in the Rose Bowl on January 1, 1934, one of the most celebrated victories in Ivy League history. The reverse notes this achievement as "California-Columbia Rose Bowl Champions 1933." 

The front shows Montgomery in full stride, ball tucked under one arm and the other extended in a stiff-arm, wearing a green and white jersey and gold helmet against a blazing red-orange background. The action is dynamic, and the color is bold and saturated. On the reverse, Casey praises Montgomery as "one of the shrewdest field generals in the game," advising quarterbacks to face the opposing line in the huddle to "study defense formations for flaws." He also offers the period advice to "punt on third down" rather than wait until fourth.

This example presents with bright color, a crisp image and clean borders, with light corner wear consistent with the grade. The reverse is clean with strong blue ink. An attractive card of a Rose Bowl hero from the first great football set. Graded EX 5 by PSA.