As the first full week of September 1960 wound to a close, much of America’s attention was focused on the upcoming presidential election where the young Massachusetts senator, John Kennedy was battling vice-president Richard Nixon. In Rome, the Summer Olympic Games were winding down and Florida residents were bracing for Hurricane Donna. On the evening of September 9, … [Read more...] about 1960 Fleer Football Cards Helped Launch AFL
American Football League
Of Football Coaches, Bubble Gum Cards and Reunions
We're turning the Editor's Blog over to Sam Denny, a Louisville resident and card collector who has a great story to tell about one of his former teachers. During my years at Seneca High School in Louisville, KY, the football coach was Ron Cain, who led Seneca to the state football championship in 1965 and a runner-up finish in 1968. During the championship season Coach … [Read more...] about Of Football Coaches, Bubble Gum Cards and Reunions
AFL Programs Offer Rich History
There are few collectibles that have a more direct connection to sports than a game program. Full of photos, stories, information and those great old advertisements, game programs have been a staple of the sporting experience for more than 100 years. Programs are ubiquitous in sports today, and can be found at contests ranging in importance from the annual Super Bowl to … [Read more...] about AFL Programs Offer Rich History
1964 Topps Football Set Marked Big Change
More than a few historians believe the 1960s to be the greatest decade in professional football history. Those 10 years saw the rise and success of the AFL, a merger with the NFL and the first Super Bowl, known then as the AFL vs. NFL World Championship Game. It was a busy time in the football card world as well. The game was getting more popular and football cards … [Read more...] about 1964 Topps Football Set Marked Big Change
Rarest Autographs on AFL Trading Cards
Every vintage football card collector knows which cards are the most rare and expensive. A raw Joe Namath rookie card in excellent condition may run you upwards of $600 or $700. Which are the rarest autographed American Football League cards? That's a more interesting question and one that requires a little research. While supply and demand certainly factor into the … [Read more...] about Rarest Autographs on AFL Trading Cards
1966 Topps Football Set Pulls Autograph Collectors Too
The 1966 Topps football set seems to have a somewhat polarizing effect on collectors. Similar in design to the 1955 Bowman baseball issue, ’66 Topps football cards have a horizontal format, and feature a wood-grained border styled to look like a television, which I have found most collectors either love or hate. Unlike its baseball counterpart, which pictures many … [Read more...] about 1966 Topps Football Set Pulls Autograph Collectors Too
Chargers’ Last AFL Game Meant Record Setting Moment, Memorabilia for Alworth
On December 14, 1969, the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers met beneath a 66-degree Southern California sky to play their final game as members of the old American Football League. A merger between the AFL & NFL, which had been agreed to four years prior, would take full effect the next season, and the new American and National Football Conferences would take the field … [Read more...] about Chargers’ Last AFL Game Meant Record Setting Moment, Memorabilia for Alworth
Who’s That Guy? 1960’s AFL Error Cards
Error cards have been a part of our hobby going back for decades. Wrong teams, missing ink, swapped photos, reverse negatives, incorrect statistics, and crude messages on baseball bats… There are any number of ways for a card to be considered an error, and it seems that few issues over the years have been truly error-free. The American Football League sets of the 1960's also … [Read more...] about Who’s That Guy? 1960’s AFL Error Cards
Top 10 Most Important AFL Cards
Even though the American Football League lasted a mere 10 seasons, it was a decade rich with important players, game-changing coaches and innovative team personnel. And while Fleer and Topps sets were relatively small during the 1960s, there are still plenty of fantastic cards with which we can celebrate “The Other League.” To my way of thinking, the first step in making a … [Read more...] about Top 10 Most Important AFL Cards
Collecting Autographed 1960 Fleer AFL Set Includes Unique Challenges
As the Summer of 1960 drew to a close, and the crisp Autumn winds began to blow across football fields all over the country, the professional football world would soon be turned on end. For the first time in nearly a decade, a new league was preparing to challenge the NFL for players, fans and pro football legitimacy. The new American Football League made its formal debut … [Read more...] about Collecting Autographed 1960 Fleer AFL Set Includes Unique Challenges