ABCs of Vintage Football Cards

nearmint · September 7, 2009 12:12AM

I sometimes have trouble thinking of topics for my blog, but I got an idea from the stamp collecting world. I have ideas for every letter but Z, but I have a little time before I get there. See what you think.

ABCs of Vintage Football Cards

IJustLoveCards · September 7, 2009 1:27AM

Amazing website..I am very impressed by the work, time, and thoughfulness you put into that.

I think it has the chance to be one of the most imformative football websites that has come along in our hobby in a long time.

I like the fact that you can see the cards, you talk about errors, point out short prints.

Just well done 100% ...I applause you...

nam812 · September 7, 2009 1:31AM

<< ..........I have ideas for every letter but Z........ >>

Z is for zebras (aka referees).

CrimsonTider · September 7, 2009 1:39AM

J is for Joe, Joe Namath, Theisman, & Montana

ChrisStufflestreet · September 7, 2009 1:47AM

<< J is for Joe, Joe Namath, Theisman, & Montana >>

And Greene. As the anchor for the Steel Curtain and an on-field leader of a team that won 4 Super Bowls, I think he deserves to be on the list.

Zeeck · September 7, 2009 2:02AM

Z is for Zeke Bratkowski

TomGshotput · September 7, 2009 2:22AM

Z is for ... constipation?

VikingDude · September 7, 2009 2:37AM

Looks like he is trying to stay away from names of specific players and teams. Besides, that would be WAY too easy.

Z is difficult, maybe "Zone" (as in end zone or strike zone)?

nearmint · September 7, 2009 2:54AM

I kind of like Z for Zebra. I wonder if I can come up with enough cards? There are a couple of referee signals cards in the Philadelphia sets, and I seem to recall signals on some card backs, too. Maybe there are some refs in the action shots, like the one on the Zimmerman card.

I have an idea for J, though it's a little contrived. I don't want to spill too much, though.

Thanks for the ideas!

nearmint · September 11, 2009 9:17PM

I added another letter yesterday: G is for Grading. Probably nothing new for the audience here, but I'm trying to write for beginners.

If you would like to get updates, you can register using one of the methods in the upper right corner of
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hookem · September 12, 2009 2:20AM

Nice work.

BTW, just became a fan on Facebook.

sayheykid54 · September 12, 2009 2:26AM

Fantastic well organized website. I love the fact the you have photo's for all of the cards that your selling.

revmoran · September 12, 2009 3:21AM

<< I kind of like Z for Zebra. I wonder if I can come up with enough cards? There are a couple of referee signals cards in the Philadelphia sets, and I seem to recall signals on some card backs, too. Maybe there are some refs in the action shots, like the one on the Zimmerman card.

I have an idea for J, though it's a little contrived. I don't want to spill too much, though.

Thanks for the ideas! >>

How about the Goal Line Art Card for Hugh Shorty Ray? There are also some 1935 Chicle R311s that have refs in them. Too bad there is not a card for Ed Thorpe, who with his brother Tom crossed the line from working college games to pro games - which was grounds to have them excluded from any further college work and was a boost to the early NFL. Ed Thorpe died in 1934 and he was so important to pro football at that time that they named the championship trophy in his memory - what is now the Lombardi trophy was the Ed Thorpe Memorial Trophy. Baseball has two umpire cards for men who also played in the NFL - Cal Hubbard and Hank Soar.

nearmint · September 18, 2009 6:03AM

Hi gang, here's the latest:

H is for Hall of Famers

gotsparks09 · September 18, 2009 6:43AM

<< Amazing website..I am very impressed by the work, time, and thoughfulness you put into that.

I think it has the chance to be one of the most imformative football websites that has come along in our hobby in a long time.

I like the fact that you can see the cards, you talk about errors, point out short prints.

Just well done 100% ...I applause you...

>>

Agreed.

nearmint · September 19, 2009 12:30AM

Thanks for the compliments. All I can say is that I love the hobby, and fooling around with the web sites is great fun, so it's easy to put the time in. If only I liked yard work and house painting as much...

Thanks for the "Z" suggestions, too. I thought of a subject for which I have plenty of material, and it will be a fun topic for the last letter. I have a long way to go before that, though!

weinhold · September 25, 2009 1:36AM

I just recently had a chance to spend more time reading the "ABCs of Vintage Football Cards", and some other website material. In a word, this stuff is f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c!

The compilation of terrific information and subject matter that research does not easily uncover, the complimentary scans, and tight condensed prose are wonderful. I just saved the Near Mint blog to my favorites, and I certainly plan to check in from time to time. Much like you, my greatest interest lies with the early '50s Bowman Football issues (along with '35 Chicles).

Exemplary work! Thanks for providing us with this. -Keith

nearmint · September 26, 2009 1:28AM

Thanks for the kind words, Keith. I have a lot of fun with this stuff.

Here's the latest in the ABC's: I is for Inserts

nearmint · October 2, 2009 1:02AM

I didn't get to J this week, but I did add 1964 Wheaties Stamps to the football card gallery. Here's the blog entry:

1964 Wheaties Stamps

My hosting service has been acting up, so if you get an error, refresh the page.

nearmint · October 9, 2009 10:52AM

I decided on part of CrimsonTider's suggestion for the letter J. Thanks, CT!

J is for Joe Namath and the 1965 Topps Tall Boys

I also put together another virtual uncut sheet this week:

Virtual 1960 Topps football uncut sheet

nearmint · October 16, 2009 10:23AM

Hi gang, here's this week's effort:

K is for KDKA Steelers and Other Regional Sets

nearmint · October 23, 2009 7:43AM

I'm not an expert on the old Leaf sets, but I gave this a shot anyway. Comments are always welcome.

L is for Leaf

nearmint · October 30, 2009 5:43AM

This is a short one, since I don't yet have any of the cards. The Harvard-Yale site is worth a visit, though.

M is for Mayo

nearmint · November 13, 2009 5:47AM

N is for National Chicle

nearmint · November 21, 2009 7:14AM

O is for Oddball

weinhold · November 21, 2009 7:35AM

I just read about the '35 Chicles and '48 Leafs. Thanks for providing these.

nearmint · November 28, 2009 5:05AM

P is for Philadelphia

nearmint · December 24, 2009 2:40AM

Q is for Quarterbacks
R is for Rookie Cards

Merry Christmas, everyone!

nearmint · January 9, 2010 1:22AM

S is for Scratch-Offs

nearmint · January 22, 2010 9:21AM

T is for Topps, Part 1

SOM · January 22, 2010 9:30AM

From a kid who began his CBS career at KDKA in Pittsburgh, Two Thumbs Up for your "K" blog!

You have done an absolutely wonderful job on this, nearmint!

Nick

nearmint · January 22, 2010 9:34AM

Thanks, Nick. I love those KDKA cards! Why didn't the major companies print more multi-player cards?

nearmint · February 5, 2010 8:32AM

T is for Topps, Part 2: 1960-1963

Blackborder · February 5, 2010 9:12AM

Love your website, I have it bookmarked and look at it often.

How about U for Unusual. Stuff like odd backgrounds, i.e. 1974 Henneburger, 1977 Fouts etc.

nearmint · February 5, 2010 9:32AM

Thanks, Blackborder. (I like your avatar, by the way.) I'm thinking either U is for Uncut Sheets or U is for Universities, and I'm leaning toward the latter. With U is for University, I can cover the college sets, such as 1961 Nu-Cards, and college players that appear in other sets, like 1951 Berk Ross.

Uncut sheets are interesting, too: they're good indicators of which cards will be hard to find in top condition. But I've already covered a lot of that in my virtual uncut sheet pages, like this one.

Blackborder · February 5, 2010 9:44AM

Ok, W for Weird then. Stuff like odd backgrounds, i.e. 1974 Henneburger, 1977 Fouts etc.

nearmint · February 5, 2010 10:33AM

I'll see what I can do--it does sound like a fun topic.

Actually, I think I'll come around and do more articles for some letters I've already covered. Like A for Airbrushing--that certainly has its place in the hobby.

Blackborder · February 5, 2010 1:00PM

<< I'll see what I can do--it does sound like a fun topic.

Actually, I think I'll come around and do more articles for some letters I've already covered. Like A for Airbrushing--that certainly has its place in the hobby. >>

Yup, Topps air brush era 1971-1981. I remember opening packs as a kid, not understanding why the logo's were missing and thinking - what a ripoff.

nearmint · February 12, 2010 7:09AM

T is for Topps, Part 3: 1964-1969

Blackborder · February 12, 2010 11:09AM

nearmint · March 1, 2010 11:50AM

Finally finished with T!

T is for Topps, Part 4: the 70s

nearmint · March 5, 2010 11:24PM

Just 5 letters to go...

U is for uncut sheets

Blackborder · March 5, 2010 11:54PM

Don't stop at 73. I'd like to see some commentary on 74 and 75.

Also, just my opinion, but you should classify vintage up to 1981, which is through the Topps air brush era. That's a good cut off in my opinion if you're going past 1969, which is the other natural cut off.

I like you your commentary, keep up the good work!

nearmint · March 6, 2010 3:25AM

Well, maybe someday. I'm just more interested in older cards, so I'm not motivated to go further in the 70s. I think of 1969 as the end of vintage, too, but I happen to have sets up to 1973, so I went that far with it.

Thanks for the compliment--it's good to know someone's reading the stuff!

nearmint · April 27, 2010 1:22AM

Hi gang, here's the latest:

V is for Values

I also added a couple of sets to my card gallery recently. Here are the blog entries for them:

1974 Parker Brothers
1976 Wonder Bread

Haven't seen my blog before?

Start at the home page!

shouldabeena10 · April 27, 2010 6:44AM

W is for Washington Redskins!!!!!

nearmint · April 27, 2010 7:27AM

But of course!

nearmint · April 30, 2010 8:55AM

Only 3 letters to go!

W is for Wonder Bread--and Other Food Issues. (Sorry, Mike.)

bsidegrve · April 30, 2010 9:03AM

W is for Why would you go to any other site besides Nearmints site if your a Vintage Football fan
He has the best site on the web as far as Vintage Football cards go

otwcards · April 30, 2010 10:52AM

And I love his 1948 Leaf write up . . .

nearmint · April 30, 2010 12:07PM

Thanks, guys. OTW, did you like this article, too?