When American youngsters were spotting Topps NFL football bubble gum cards for the first time, kids in Canada were seeing them in their cereal boxes...assuming of course, they didn't mind eating a non-sugary cereal for breakfast. The 1956 Shredded Wheat set offered a single card of a Canadian Football League player per box. Today, the cards are among the rarest … [Read more...]
1978 Holsum-Gardner Football Set a Regional Rarity
If you lived in Minnesota or Wisconsin in the late 1970s and early 1980s and collected sports cards, you probably ingested a lot of carbohydrates. It's where Holsum and Gardner's brand breads kept collectors full by offering a few different sets as promotions aimed at youngsters. They cranked out three different football issues during the time period including … [Read more...]
1987 Topps Football: Return to “Normalcy”
There were once again 396 cards to collect, but the 1987 Topps football set was hard-pressed to match the 1986 version in terms of key rookie cards. The 1986 set had a bumper crop of future Hall of Famers as rookies, including Jerry Rice, Reggie White, Steve Young, Bruce Smith and Andre Reed. However, the 1987 set was sort of a return to tradition in that it was much less … [Read more...]
Pre-War Football Card Sets Includes Those Issued with Candy, Gum, Matchbooks
While football cards are included in the pre-war era, they aren't nearly as abundant as baseball issues. That's mostly because the professional version of the sport was really just beginning while baseball had been well established by that point. But by the 1920s and 1930s, card companies began catching on and football cards became more popular in those decades. Several of … [Read more...]
Underrated Rookies Highlight 1983 Topps Football Set
The 1983 Topps football set doesn't include the big name rookies found in other 1980s sets. But it is an affordable set that's nearly 35 years old and includes some key players. Here's a closer look at the issue. 1983 Topps Football Basics Topps' focus appears to have shifted slightly in 1983. That year, they produced their smallest set in more than a decade. You have to go … [Read more...]
1926 Shotwell Candy Cards Honored Red Grange
Red Grange was one of American football's first collegiate and professional stars. Grange rose to stardom first at the University of Illinois and later with the Chicago Bears. In 1926, Grange was out of college and starring in a motion picture, called "One Minute to Play." That year, the Shotwell Manufacturing Company sought to capitalize on his fame and created two card sets … [Read more...]
60th Anniversary: Hall of Fame Rookies Lead Legendary 1957 Topps Football Set
The 1957 Topps football set is one of the most prized vintage football issues of all time. While there are some big name stars and a key error card, there's no question that the numerous Hall of Fame rookie cards have made this issue so popular -- and valuable. Here's a closer look at this landmark set. 1957 Topps Football Basics The 1957 Topps football set is known for its … [Read more...]
1965 Philadelphia Football Set Still Looking For Respect
More than 50 years after it was produced, the 1965 Philadelphia football set still has problems getting respect. It had six rookies in its 198-card set who would become Hall of Famers, and for the first time, the NFL’s logo was placed on the front of the card. That was a pointed reminder that Philadelphia had the rights to produce NFL cards, and not Topps, who lost the … [Read more...]
1974 Topps Football Featured Powerhouse Teams And Players
The 1974 football season featured powerhouse teams, exciting games and a strike that kept players idle in July and part of August. The Pittsburgh Steelers were on the rise as champions, while the Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams all fielded strong teams. Strike or not, it was business as usual for the NFL's trading card partner. The … [Read more...]
1980 Topps Football Kicked Off Exciting Decade Of Cards
Let's face it. While the 1980s produced some significant football releases, the one to start that decade isn't heralded as a great one by most fans. The 1980 Topps football set is lacking quite a bit, particularly when it comes to key rookie cards. But other than being the first set of an important decade for football releases, there are some reasons to pursue this set. 1980 … [Read more...]