Emmitt Smith retired 20 years ago as one of the top backs in the history of the NFL. Smith and fellow rusher Barry Sanders dominated the league in the 1990s. Sanders is sometimes regarded as the superior running back. However, Smith got the last laugh thanks to three Super Bowl championships with the Dallas Cowboys. Smith became an instant star in the league. He first won … [Read more...] about 5 Fast Facts About Emmitt Smith’s Rookie Cards
1990s football cards
The Improbable 1999 Pacific Kurt Warner Rookie Card Turns 25
It's been 25 years but Mike Cramer remembers the time when he put a backup quarterback on a football card and then watched a stunning turn of events make it one of the hottest cards at hobby shops and shows across the country. “We wanted to get as many players into the set as we possibly could,” he said. “We had photos of some guys who had never had cards before. Kurt Warner … [Read more...] about The Improbable 1999 Pacific Kurt Warner Rookie Card Turns 25
The 25th Anniversary of an Injury That Would Upend the Hobby
One of the most significant injuries to ever impact the sports card injury took place 25 years ago this week. In a pre-season game on August 28, 1999 against the San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams quarterback Trent Green was hit low and awkwardly by Rodney Harrison. The result was a season-ending torn ACL. Suddenly, the Rams’ season seemed to go down with the free agent … [Read more...] about The 25th Anniversary of an Injury That Would Upend the Hobby
The 1999 NFL Draft Had Hobby Buzzing With Football Card Potential
The 1999 NFL Draft was, at the time, the most intriguing draft the sports card hobby had ever seen. It was going to be the Year of the Quarterback. The only question circulating at the time was how much better was this draft going to be than the 1983 NFL Draft that brought Dan Marino and John Elway into the league and Jim Kelly to the USFL? I was working for Denver-based … [Read more...] about The 1999 NFL Draft Had Hobby Buzzing With Football Card Potential
1992 Topps Football Brought Quantity Over Quality with One of Deepest Sets to Date
Collectors yearning for a comprehensive football set certainly got their wish in the midst of the junk wax era. The 1992 Topps Football set is a monstrosity, totaling 759 cards over three separate series. Cards numbered 1 through 330 constitute Series 1. Series 2 features a second round of 330 cards numbered 331 through 660. The high number series (Series 3) rounds … [Read more...] about 1992 Topps Football Brought Quantity Over Quality with One of Deepest Sets to Date
How Leaf vs Manning Draft Debate Fueled Sports Card Hobby in 1998
Manning or Leaf? Leaf or Manning? It was the biggest question debated between football fans and collectors leading up to, and even months after, the 1998 NFL Draft. Sure, we know how the story ends. Peyton Manning ended up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and won two Super Bowls. Ryan Leaf did not come anywhere near living up to the expectations the football world … [Read more...] about How Leaf vs Manning Draft Debate Fueled Sports Card Hobby in 1998
1990 Action Packed Football Brought New Look to Football Cards
The images on 1990 Action Packed Football literally jumped off the card at collectors. With a fully embossed, 3D base set coupled with some pretty spectacular photography, the cards were unlike anything else that had been produced in the past. The cards were dubbed as 'high profile sculptured cards' by the company. That is quite a mouthful when describing a football card but … [Read more...] about 1990 Action Packed Football Brought New Look to Football Cards
1990 Score Football Supplemental Set Has Emmitt’s Top Rookie Card
The 1990 Score Supplemental set (also known as the Score Rookie & Traded set) was a 110-card release issued in the same design style as the regular and very colorful 1990 Score Football set from earlier in the football season. The set was released through Score's dealer outlets and was only available in complete factory set form. Packed in a red cardboard box, the … [Read more...] about 1990 Score Football Supplemental Set Has Emmitt’s Top Rookie Card
1998 SP Authentic Football Offers Iconic Rookie, High Quality Autographs and Serial Numbered Cards
With its second offering in the SP Authentic Football line, Upper Deck increased the quality of the hits, offered serial numbered base rookie cards and even better autographs and inserts, making this a landmark release of the latter part of the 1990's. The premium offering was found in Hobby boxes, featuring five cards per pack and a 24 pack box. The packaging for SP … [Read more...] about 1998 SP Authentic Football Offers Iconic Rookie, High Quality Autographs and Serial Numbered Cards
In 1997 Upper Deck Ushered in Iconic SP Authentic Football with Solid RCs, Stunning Autos
The arrival of 1997 SP Authentic Football is significant in its release as it was the debut of the wildly popular brand for Upper Deck in the football card market.The premium 198-card, all foil base set is generally considered to be a very attractive product, even by modern day collecting standards. As we know with foil, condition sensitivity issues arise and that is … [Read more...] about In 1997 Upper Deck Ushered in Iconic SP Authentic Football with Solid RCs, Stunning Autos