1997 Legends auto

Pinkcatfish

I am crazy to think about starting this set but in particular I am looking for a Matt Millen auto card. Also if anyone has a lot of any size they might sell to let me know.

Thanks
J

Pinkcatfish

Of course I mean the NFL set.

brianwintersfan

<< <i>I am crazy to think about starting this set but in particular I am looking for a Matt Millen auto card. Also if anyone has a lot of any size they might sell to let me know.

Thanks
J >>



You are crazy!
But it is an awesome set. Good luck!

Goot

what do the cards look like in this set, and why is it so crazy? Huge set? High dollar?

gumbyfan

Bart Starr SP $500 / $800
Jim Brown SP $600 / $1000
Joe Namath SP $600 / $800
Walter Payton SP $1500 / $2000
Terry Bradshaw SP $500 / $800
Franco Harris SP $450 / $700
Johnny Unitas SP $1000 / $1500
Tony Dorsett SP $250 / $350
Dick Butkus SP $600 / $1000
Lance Alworth SP $125 / $200
Larry Csonka SP $175 / $300
Joe Greene SP $150 / $250
Art Shell SP $100 / $175
Billy Cannon SP $90 / $150
Matt Millen SP $50 / $120
Bubba Smith SP $175 / $300
Otis Taylor SP $75 / $135
Mike Webster SP $100 / $175

...and those are just the SP's!

It's a 178 card set...

There's a $325 Joe Montana, too.

Of course, those are just Beckett prices...

Reese3333

Great set if you decide to start it! It will definitely be expensive and a challenge, but the player selection is incredible. The bad part about having them graded is that PSA charges $20 for each card because of the 1998 deadline they have.

Goot,

Here is what they look like.

Goot

Oh crap, high dollar and huge!! Best of luck to you man!

gumbyfan

$3500+ in grading fees alone for someone going that route!

Pinkcatfish

I actually would pass on the grading aspect due to the addtional cost- but got to love the players and being ON CARD auto's. I just can't stand the stickers.

Anyway, if anyone has any of these to move - let me know.

Thanks
J

Fabfrank

I'm actually one of the crazy ones who are building the set. First off the autograph set is actually 168 cards. Some cards were not signed. The set, IMO, is the best autograph set ever produced. My set is currently #1 on the Registry and I have a few more to add in the next month. You can check out the set (along with a few scans) here: Frabfranks 1997 Upper Deck Legends Autographs

As for extras, I might have some dupes already graded. PM me if you decide to try to build the set.

FrodoBaggins

I wouldn't recommend trying to put this set together. It would cost upwards of $35-$40k if you built it piecemeal, and it would take years to finish. Most of the SP's are in private collections and rarely show up for sale.

Not trying to be a downer, just a realist.

A much more attainable goal would be to build a team set of your favorite franchise.

ajw

Frank, that's an amazing collection you have, thanks for sharing. I love the scans (but would love to see the rest, too). Any chance you want to help educate those of us that have never even seen this set before? Why's it so expensive? How many of each card were signed? Are there any that seem harder or easier than you'd expect?

(this is why I love these boards...)

NickM

That set is the reason that PSA won't automatically certify any manufacturer-certified auto before 1998. There have been threads about which ones weren't signed by the actual players themselves (Mrs. Donnie Shell signed a large portion of his cards, and that's a good starting point for a search).

Nick

Fabfrank

ajw- Here is the write up I have about the set:
Another landmark for football collectors. This set was the first in Upper Decks Legends series. The photography is great, with color photos of modern players and black and white photos for the old-time legends. The set is loaded with Hall of Famers. 84 Hall of Famers in all and finally the best part... the autographs. Each card is autographed except for a select few. Here is a list of players which you had to mail in to get the autograph, but did NOT sign. S. Luckman W. Wood F. Dean Billy "White Shoes" Johnson B. Trumpy M. Webster (although Webster cards have been seen on the market, it is believed he kept the cards from Upper Deck and than either sold or gave them to friends. He did not return any cards to Upper Deck) This list is of players who did not sign any cards: J. McKay R. Francis (although I have seen 1 signed, it was obtained by going to his home and requesting a signature) J. Gibbs B. Walsh H. Stram T. Landry C. Noll S. Gillman V. Lombardi W. Ewbank I hope this info will help any other collectors when pursuing this set.

I remember when this product came out in Nov. of 97. This was during the end of the "glut" period of sportscards. Immediately after the product came out, dealers were discounting it. Autographs were 4 per box and boxes were selling for $25- $30. I bought a ton of the product and kept breaking it down. The SP's are tough. Out of the list above I pulled the Millen, Cannon, Green and Taylor. Aside from the big $$ SP's, B. Smith is the next toughest to find.
There was a recent article in Beckett Football, high lighting this set. Definitely worth reading and gives some insight on why Upper Deck pursued this set, how they got the autos, and why certain players didn't sign.

jradke4

its a great set for sure. if you watch ebay enough you will find some of the sp's over time. they are the thing that is keeping me from really going at that set.

Frank...glad to see that you have moved up to #1. I hope some of our trades helped you out.

Fabfrank

I hope some of our trades helped you out.

Jay, they definitely did

As for finding the SP's, you can look for months on Ebay and not see them. Recently there was a set break and all the cards were available. The big $$ SP's went for good money. I have a few to submit to PSA/DNA and according to my records I'll be short just the J. Brown and the W. Payton. I would still like to upgrade and have all the cards being minimum PSA 8.
I also picked up a rare sig card, but I want to see if it passes PSA/DNA before posting it.

Pinkcatfish

Great info guys - thanks. Maybe I will focus on a team or so- think I will do some more research. Imagine a box of these for $30 -ugh.

J

brianwintersfan

<< <i>Great info guys - thanks. Maybe I will focus on a team or so- think I will do some more research. Imagine a box of these for $30 -ugh.

J >>



Any idea what boxes fetch these days??

2dueces

I have one for my Kemp collection. It is quite a feat to put together this set today. Good luck.

KLS23

Frank,

A rare sig card? C'mon you have to PM me and tell me what you found. I don't even mind if it's another Francis and mine gains a friend:}. Always excited to see the tough ones.

Ken

sinnbadd

Hi there guys, I bought a few of these back in 1997, and I don't collect football at all. I am into vintage baseball. i guess I couldn't resist the ripping! I have severalof the autograph cards, all off which are in at least PSA 8 condition IMO. Any ideas what they are worth?

AL-8 Largent,AL 13 - Tarkenton, AL 43 - Bradely, AL 62 Smith, AL 73 Youngblood, AL 96 Davidson, AL 117 Howley.

I would happily sell them if someone is interested. Thanks, Jeff

Ahmanfan

I have an Otto Graham if you're interested. thanks
JOhn

shouldabeena10

Hey Ken ..... as soon as I saw Frank post that "rare sig" card comment .... my first thought was that he'd talked you out of your rare 1/1 Russ Francis signed card! I was getting just ready to PM you! lol

So come on Frank ...... spill the beans ... what did you find!!?

BTW, I noticed Nick saying above that this set was "the reason PSA won't automatically certify any manufacturer-certified auto before 1998."

I was under the impression that it was actually the 1997 Pro Line auto set that had all of the bogus autograph problems, and was one of the main reasons the card companies stopped sending cards out to the players to sign at home.

Has anyone ever seen any of the '97 Legends cards (besides Donnie Shell's wife) rejected by any of the grading companies, or questioned about not being legit?

I'm curious, because I've always hoped that PSA might someday change their mind on this set and start grading them without the higher authentication fees. Can you guys imagine how popular this set would be on the PSA set registry if we could get them slabbed for $5 or $6 bucks?

I know that personally the grading fees are what have stopped me from grading my set. I'm still 9 cards away from completing the set, but I'd still love to get it all slabbed someday.

Mike

Tvac897

Good luck man!

Fabfrank

Any idea what boxes fetch these days??

Last card show I went to (1 1/2 years ago) I saw a dealer with 5 boxes at $175 per box.

Fabfrank

was under the impression that it was actually the 1997 Pro Line auto set that had all of the bogus autograph problems, and was one of the main reasons the card companies stopped sending cards out to the players to sign at home.

This is partially the reason and more the catalyst for 1997 being the cut off year. The bottom line is..... basically the bottom line
By making 97 the cut off it generates a higher grading fee for PSA.

Has anyone ever seen any of the '97 Legends cards (besides Donnie Shell's wife) rejected by any of the grading companies, or questioned about not being legit?

I have not had a single 97 Legends card rejected and have sent in... quite a few

If you ever decide to do the set Mike, you can submit them with us under a bulk deal. Greg M. negotiates a discounted price for us on a minimum 100 card submission.

In the Beckett article about this set, the Upper Deck rep that they interviewed said that they would probably never be able to do a set with this many veteran and HOF players again. At the time they did 97 Legends set, he said they were able to negotiate a great price from the players that they wouldn't be able to touch today. In hind sight, this set probably helped Ron Mix get his 1998 HOF auto set off the ground. I remember reading an interview with Mix saying that once he explained that the proceeds of his set would be going to help those retired players in need, many of the HOF'ers jumped at the chance to participate. Matter of fact, in the interview he said that all the players were paid the same fee and if they wanted a set (the cards were not sold individually) they had to pay full price. Although they were given the choice as to which number set they wanted.
Hope this info helps.

IMeddie

I know some of the cards were never returned. Anyone know why Willie Wood did not sign? Just curious.
Thanks.
Toddn