Essential Football Cards to Own?

colts900 · July 6, 2010 4:25AM

Hey guys I am thinking about totally revamping my collection. I want to start picking up some of the most essential football cards of all time. What are some opinions on the must haves for every football collection? Thanks

List So Far Based On Replies

1933 Sport Kings Grange
1933 Sport Kings Thorpe
1935 National Chicle Nagurski
1948 Leaf Sammy Baugh
1957 Topps Unitas
1957 Topps Starr
1958 Topps Jim Brown
1976 Topps Walter Payton
1981 Topps Joe Montana

nfbuckeye · July 6, 2010 4:57AM

'58 Topps Jim Brown
'57 Topps Unitas/Starr/Hornung
'65 Topp Namath
'76 Topps Payton

eagles33 · July 6, 2010 5:08AM

in addition to the first ones listed...

35 bronko
72 staubach
71 bradshaw
i think its 1955 forgot the date.. but the bowman large gifford RC has always been a big one. It was always just behind the 65 namath in the old Becket monthly

72skywalker · July 6, 2010 5:23AM

1984 Dan Marino
1981 Joe Montana
1986 Jerry Rice
1989 Score Barry Sanders
1991 Brett Favre

hookem · July 6, 2010 5:29AM

I am working on a bit of the same project as well for for all 3 major sports. (minus Mantle)

For my football side, in addition to those listed above I had to add in:

1990 Score Supplemental Emmitt Smith
1989 Score Troy Aikman
1978 Topps Earl Campbell
1979 Topps Tony Dorsett

MJB14 · July 6, 2010 5:43AM

1955 Topps All-American #37 Jim Thorpe

bobbyw8469 · July 6, 2010 6:11AM

1933 Goudey Sport Kings Red Grange & Jim Thrope.....2 classic cards!

drewsef · July 6, 2010 6:19AM

All-American Four Horsemen
All-American Don Hutson

And I don't know how you could leave a Sammy Baugh RC out.

colts900 · July 6, 2010 6:34AM

The only thing about the AA is that they were made long after their playing days.

Reljac · July 6, 2010 6:46AM

You didn't state the was exclusive to NFL...In my opinion, this is essential to football:

1950 Topps Feltback Joe Paterno RC

weinhold · July 6, 2010 7:24AM

Besides those already mentioned:

1948 Leaf Chuck Bednarik - need a player best known for defense on the list, also tough card to find
1950 Bowman Otto Graham - winningest quarterback ever by some measures
1952 Bowman Large Frank Gifford - major card, big personality, and best New York Giants player card ever
1982 Topps Lawrence Taylor - high production card yet perhaps greatest defender ever

eagles33 · July 6, 2010 7:28AM

should throw in

84 usfl young
84 elway
77 largent
73 franco harris
i know this isn't his rookie.. but i've always really liked 1983 Jogo Warren Moon. i'm not even a moon fan. just a fan of that card ever since i read about it in one of those old Becket books.. not the monthy issue.. but the thick book that issued once a year.

Ironmanfan · July 6, 2010 7:30AM

Troy Aikman Score rookie

BigDaddyBowman · July 6, 2010 7:49AM

You might as well just do the HOF rookies registry because most were mentioned already.

lsutigers1973 · July 6, 2010 9:00AM

Check this THREAD

thenavarro · July 6, 2010 9:22AM

You gotta have a Rockne in there.

1933 Sport Kings Rockne
1935 National Chicle Rockne

nfbuckeye · July 6, 2010 10:40AM

1966 Philadelphia Gale Sayers is another.

1962 Topps Mike Ditka

1962 Topps Ernie Davis

otwcards · July 6, 2010 11:12AM

Not to poop in your cornflakes, but why not find something that you like and try sticking to it for more than 4 days. You're like the guy with the lead in Short Attention Span Theater. You've been in and out of at least six collecting projects in the past 8 weeks and given your admitted lack of a bankroll, you might want to relax a bit and find a niche that suits you and your bank account.

Why not focus on RC's of the top players from the last decade? You can collect them from various releases and build a nice collection in NM/MT condition for a fraction of what you would be looking at for the card that others are suggesting. Even in low grade, most of the "essential" cards are currently out of your price range. And regardless, given your short track record, this will change to another project by the All-Star break.

hammered · July 6, 2010 11:20AM

How bout the Essential Cards of NFL Criminals?
That'd be an interesting collection (and cheap)

JeMarcus Russell (newest member of the club)
Lawrence Taylor
Mark Chmura
Nate Newton
OJ
should get you started

lsutigers1973 · July 6, 2010 11:21AM

<< <i>Why not focus on RC's of the top players from the last decade? >>

He already has those. They are in his photobucket account under his first ID here.

dfr52 · July 6, 2010 11:54AM

<< <i>Not to poop in your cornflakes, but why not find something that you like and try sticking to it for more than 4 days. You're like the guy with the lead in Short Attention Span Theater. You've been in and out of at least six collecting projects in the past 8 weeks and given your admitted lack of a bankroll, you might want to relax a bit and find a niche that suits you and your bank account.

Why not focus on RC's of the top players from the last decade? You can collect them from various releases and build a nice collection in NM/MT condition for a fraction of what you would be looking at for the card that others are suggesting. Even in low grade, most of the "essential" cards are currently out of your price range. And regardless, given your short track record, this will change to another project by the All-Star break. >>

I have to agree w/ the observation and the suggestion.

colts900 · July 6, 2010 12:20PM

<< <i>

<< <i>Why not focus on RC's of the top players from the last decade? >>

He already has those. They are in his photobucket account under his first ID here. >>

First ID?

GeoffEighinger · July 6, 2010 3:39PM

1999 Upper Deck Tim Couch

Dude, you HAVE to have this one.

Sadly, I was obsessed with Couch cards for like four years.

God.

Essential Football Cards to Own?

Comments