The 1935 National Chicle Football set marked the beginning of football card collecting as a mainstream hobby. The first major gum card issue devoted to the NFL, its 36 cards feature striking artwork paired with playing tips from Boston Redskins coach Eddie Casey on every reverse.

Card #18 features Mike Mikulak, fullback for the Chicago Cardinals. Mikulak earned All-American honors as a fullback at the University of Oregon before joining the Cardinals, where he became a fixture in the backfield during the mid-1930s. The front shows Mikulak in a classic running pose, ball tucked securely under his arm, wearing a red jersey with white shoulders and white pants, set against a bright yellow background with a purple field stripe at the base. The design is clean and bold, with the vibrant red and yellow tones creating a striking visual contrast.

The reverse discusses deception in the backfield, advising that "a backfield man must not sway or in any way indicate the direction in which the play is going." Casey notes that "even a quick, nervous glance of the eyes often spoils the deception," and that "a smart back, like Mikulak of Chicago Cardinals, will watch the ball at all times." He ends with the timeless advice, "Don't loaf." Biographical details list Mikulak at 6' 1/2" and 210 pounds.

This example offers strong color and a clean image. Corner and edge wear is consistent with the assigned grade, and the reverse is clean and legible. A nice example from the landmark 1935 football issue. Graded VG 3 by PSA.