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Why were NFL logos missing from cards?

I know they were restored in 1982 but it seems some of the earlier cards had logos also. When did they remove them and why? Thanks.

Comments

  • qualitycardsqualitycards Posts: 2,811 ✭✭✭
    Pete Rozelle the comish
    had all the logo's copyrighted
    and would charge for their usage.
    Topps got around that and had photo's
    w/o helmets and action shots airbrushed.

    Soon after all major sports had their logo's
    copyrighted and anyone using their image
    would have to pay...jay
  • I may be wrong but NFL Properties wasn't founded until 1963. Prior to that, I don't think the NFL did much in the way of protecting the team logo's, names, etc. Topps didn't get a license from NFL Properties until 1982. This allowed Topps to use logos in the photo's so there was no longer a need to airbrush the helmets. It appears that Topps used logo's on the card fronts sparingly from 1960 to 1981 (two sets that come to mind that have them are 1968 and 1969). Other than that, they are virtually non-existent. My guess is the logo's on the card fronts were somehow grandfathered.

    Scott
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  • Alfonz24Alfonz24 Posts: 3,105 ✭✭✭✭✭
    For the love of money.

    #LetsGoSwitzerlandThe Man Who Does Not Read Has No Advantage Over the Man Who Cannot Read. The biggest obstacle to progress is a habit of “buying what we want and begging for what we need.”You get the Freedom you fight for and get the Oppression you deserve.
  • StingrayStingray Posts: 8,843 ✭✭✭
    That is one reason I really do not like a lot of 70s football cards, they look so stupid without the team logo. The Rams or Vikings helmets with outh their logos and others just look goofy, IMO.


  • << <i>That is one reason I really do not like a lot of 70s football cards, they look so stupid without the team logo. The Rams or Vikings helmets with outh their logos and others just look goofy, IMO. >>



    I agree. I started collecting cards in the late 70's, and the Rams were my favorite team. I remember opening packs and seeing my favorite Rams players and thinking what a ripoff. They even did a goofy stripe horn on some of the Rams helmets.
  • IronmanfanIronmanfan Posts: 5,488 ✭✭✭✭
    If you were a Cleveland Browns fan, it didn't matter....lol
    Successful dealings with Wcsportscards94558, EagleEyeKid, SamsGirl214, Volver, DwayneDrain, Oaksey25, Griffins, Cardfan07, Etc.


  • << <i>If you were a Cleveland Browns fan, it didn't matter....lol >>



    Exactly!

    And I never understood why the Steelers logo was only on one side of their helmet.
  • ldfergldferg Posts: 6,745 ✭✭✭
    why is the browns helmet orange? what is the story behind that? and what is a brown?


    Thanks,

    David (LD_Ferg)



    1985 Topps Football (starting in psa 8) - #9 - started 05/21/06


  • << <i>why is the browns helmet orange? what is the story behind that? and what is a brown? >>



    Here ya go, from Wikipedia:
    A fan contest was conducted to determine the name of the team, with the most popular choice being "Browns" after its first head coach, Paul Brown. Brown was uncomfortable with the idea of having the team named after him, and "Panthers" was then selected. However, a semi-pro team was using that name and threatened to sue if the AAFC club used it as well. Thus, Paul Brown reluctantly agreed to use the "Browns" name, but stated publicly that the new team was named after boxing champion Joe Louis, who was known as the "Brown Bomber."


  • << <i>...I never understood why the Steelers logo was only on one side of their helmet. >>

    Again from Wikipedia:

    << <i>The Steelers are the only NFL team that puts their logo on only one side of the helmet (the right side). Long time field and equipment manager Jack Hart was instructed to do this by Art Rooney. At first, it was a test to see how the logo appeared on their gold helmets, but its popularity led the team to leave it that way permanently. A year after introducing the logo, they switched to black helmets to make it stand out more. >>

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