After including players from the NFL and AFL in 1961 with a 220-card set, Fleer cut back in 1962. Only players from the upstart American Football League were included in the third of Fleer football sets issued during the early 1960, and the set was cut back to a mere 88 cards. The set might have been slim, but it sure was trim. The photography is surprisingly clear for an … [Read more...]
SCP Auctions Winter Catalog Opens with Ruth, Lombardi, Blanda Collections
The first major catalog auction of 2017 opened Wednesday morning as SCP Auctions opened the curtain on its Winter Premier event. Over 1,000 lots are on the block including never-before-offered items from Babe Ruth, Vince Lombardi, George Blanda and other well-known names. The auction is set to run through January 21. Other top lots include 1992 “Dream Team” … [Read more...]
George Blanda’s Family Consigns Awards, More to SCP Auctions
Three AFL Championship rings, dozens of awards and several milestone game balls going back to his college football days at the University of Kentucky will be on the block early next year when SCP Auctions offers items from the career of football legend George Blanda. All items offered come directly from his family and include his 1967 AFL championship ring, his 1974 NFL Man … [Read more...]
1975 Topps Football Rookies a Bumper Crop
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...]
1954 Bowman Football Set Offered Unique Design
While the 1954 Bowman football set may not have had the eye appeal of the ’53 set, the design was still catchy enough to entice collectors. Bowman had trimmed its football set from 144 cards in 1952 to 96 in ’53. For 1954, Bowman introduced a 128-card set. The Design The ’54 set displayed more action shots, albeit posed ones, and there were a few posed head shots. In … [Read more...]
1960 Fleer Football Cards Helped Launch AFL
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, a … [Read more...]