Topps football card sets of the 1970s were not noted for innovative design or risk-taking. After all, Topps had a monopoly on the football card market, and its airbrushed sets were doing just fine. So why mess with a good thing? Besides, there were some great rookie cards, and whether Topps realized it at the time or not, these first-year cards would be the keys to those … [Read more...] about 1975 Topps Football Rookies a Bumper Crop
1970s football cards
1970 Topps Football Debuted An Airbrushed Era
The 1970 season was a significant one for pro football, as the long-awaited merger between the established National Football League and the upstart American Football League was put into place. It was a big year in the trading card world, too, as the 1970 Topps Football set revealed. Gone were team logos on the cards, and photographs did not show team names or logos … [Read more...] about 1970 Topps Football Debuted An Airbrushed Era
1975 Topps Football Set Offered Great Stars, But Still No Logos
The mid-1970s saw the NFL’s popularity begin to skyrocket. Heading into the 1975 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers were basking in the glow of their first Super Bowl title and would win three more by the end of the decade. The Miami Dolphins were still smarting after being thwarted in their quest for a fourth straight Super Bowl appearance by the Oakland Raiders and … [Read more...] about 1975 Topps Football Set Offered Great Stars, But Still No Logos
Cards of Players Who Became Bigger Stars as Coaches, Managers
The sudden retirement of Steve Spurrier as South Carolina’s coach ends a truly innovative era in football — pro and college. He introduced the Fun ’n’ Gun offense, and Tuesday said that while he was “resigning” and not retiring, he believed it was time for him “to get out of the way.” The Head Ball Coach will be remembered mostly for work on the sideline, although he had a … [Read more...] about Cards of Players Who Became Bigger Stars as Coaches, Managers
It’s A Wrap: Collecting Football Wrappers Can Be A Challenge
Be honest. If you were a kid growing up in the 1960s or ’70s, saving those wax wrappers for football cards were an afterthought. Packs of cards were usually stacked on shelves at small candy stores and five-and-dime counters. The wrappers were colorful, but unappreciated. Occasionally, an astute youth would notice an advertisement for a sports product on the side panel and … [Read more...] about It’s A Wrap: Collecting Football Wrappers Can Be A Challenge
Toughest PSA 9 Football Rookie Cards of the 1970s
Topps owned a virtual monopoly on football cards during the league's explosive growth period following the AFL-NFL merger. Although it is easy to come by an ungraded version of most any 1970s Topps football rookie card, locating high-grade examples of some of them can be a challenge. The list below doesn’t include every 1970s rookie card, just a large sampling of the most … [Read more...] about Toughest PSA 9 Football Rookie Cards of the 1970s
Third Series of WFL Football Cards Produced
The group of fans and collectors that has been chronicling the World Football League’s brief, but eventful existence through new sets of trading cards, has just released WFL Football Cards Series III. The cards capture some of the players who were part of the league during its two-year run from 1974 through 1975. The 70-card set includes Leroy Kelly, John Matuszak, Don … [Read more...] about Third Series of WFL Football Cards Produced
Best 1970s Football Cards
If you grew up in the decade or have developed a fondness for the NFL’s modern history, coming up with a list of the best 1970s football cards is like a parent trying to pick a favorite child. We’ve listed some of the obvious choices in past articles about the best of all-time (like this one) but narrowing it down to a particular decade is harder than you think and besides, … [Read more...] about Best 1970s Football Cards
20 Kick Butt Old Football Cards You Should Own
Unlike baseball, with its solid roots back to the 19th century, football card sets are primarily a 1950s-present game. You've got your 1935 National Chicle and a couple of late-1940s sets courtesy of Bowman and Leaf, but other than that, it's a modern era hobby. There are plenty of pricey rookie cards sprinkled throughout the past six decades, but the good thing about old … [Read more...] about 20 Kick Butt Old Football Cards You Should Own