Football Cards, A real contender in the hobby!
Sports card collecting has been around since the early 1900's and beyond.
These cards were originally promotional items put out by the tobacco
companies. In the 1930's the tobacco was replaced by gum and companies
like Goudey produced them, but not widely or frequently. It wasn't until
Bowman's debut in 1948, then Topps in 1951, that cards were produced on a
regular basis. Topps was the only card company from 1956 through 1980 after
it acquired Bowman. Football cards were printed during this time, but with
collectors and Topps alike, baseball was always the main focus. Times have
changed!
Many vintage football cards are now realizing their potential, and so are
collectors. The range is also very attractive to collectors as well. Very
serious collectors can find must have vintage cards as high end as 1935
National chicle Bronco Nagurski, the great Bear's QB, which has reportedly
sold as high as $240,000.00, and goes all the way to Bowman's Tom Brady RC
which can be shopped out at around $50.00. This attracts collectors from
all walks, interests, and ages. This is only one of the factors that have
football cards dramatically increasing in value. The list goes on with the
quality of manufacturers competing against each other, the rise in
superstars, and record breaking performers in the NFL, the sky is the
limit with football cards. NFL is the most watched, most profitable, and
most recognizable sport in the world. Finally it is being reflected in the
hobby, and sports card collectors are taking notice.
As with all sports cards, prior to 1980, rookies dominated the value. With
the sports card industry now providing certified autos, inserts, and serial
numbered cards, football cards are now becoming a huge focus among the
sports card speculators. You have to be selective, and smart when deciding
to take on your football collection. Football has a few more companies now
that the hobby has veered it's way. You want to be careful with your pre
rookie card companies like Press Pass and SAGE-HIT. These are reputable
companies with quality products, and have produced some cards with a
substantial return, but are definitely not comparable to the big boys such
as Topps, Upper Deck, and Bowman. Many speculators will buy these cards in
hopes of pulling next years #1 draft pick, or first rounder. The reality
of the matter is even after they are picked, the big boys(Topps, Bowman)
rookie cards, and autos will be of significantly more value almost
every time.
Now with all the hype and excitement, the next question is usually " What
cards should I buy ? ", which is a great question! The beauty of the hobby
is that collectors like to collect different cards for different reasons.
Some people like certain designs, themes, inserts, etc. Most collectors
want to know one thing, What cards are worth the most, have the best
autos, relics,etc. The card manufacturers do a good job of making this a
pretty even draw. As in most cases, like in life, you get what you pay for.
I have compiled a list of the best selling, and most anticipated cards for
2011, while you can't always guarantee a great pull, or expensive card, I
think these will give you the best chance for your money.
1. 2011 Topps Inception
2. 2011 Topps Chrome (available Oct 26th)
3. 2011 Topps Finest
4. 2011 Topps
These cards are around the market value. If you can afford to, you should
always invest in hobby boxes of whatever brand you decide. This greatly
increases your chance at quality cards, and in most cases will guarantee
an auto, relic, or substantial pull. Then you have the higher end cards
which are usually the producers of high value stars, rookies, and limited
cards. These cards are usually considerably more expensive, with fewer
cards. These sets, although less cards, will usually yield the biggest
hits. Here are recommendations for those sets based on sales and demand.
1. 2011 Bowman Sterling (available Dec 14th)
2. 2011 Panini Gold Standard (available Nov 9th)
3. 2011 Panini Crown Royale ( available Oct 19th)
Next time you head to your favorite hobby shop, online sports card store,
or your regular trading board, don't forget to throw football in the mix.
Now is a great time to speculate, trade, and purchase your favorite
football players, Football cards are rapidly increasing in quality and
value, and that always leads to popularity! The hobby is heating back up,
the standards are higher, the players are better than ever. Football cards
are making their mark. Good luck and happy collecting!
________________________________________________________________
Football is the most popular
spectator sport in the United States, and collecting football cards is a
passion for many football fans.
Like baseball cards, football
cards first appeared in the 1800's. The cards were inserted in various
tobacco products as a means of advertising.
P.H. Mayo was the first
company to produce a football card series in 1894. Of course there was no
NFL back then, but there were several college football teams. The Mayo set
consisted of 35 players from Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.
The information you need to start collecting
football cards is essentially identical to collecting baseball cards. To
learn more about how to collect football
cards please visit our baseball card collecting pages. Here you will
find information about the various
types of football cards to collect.
Please take the time to learn
how to store football cards so
that all of your fun, hard work, and money don't go to waste. For some collectors,
investing in football cards
is a serious business, which type of collector are you? Once you've
started collecting, you'll want to learn how to figure out
the value of a football card. For
those that are absolutely passionate about collecting you'll want to read
about the possibility of a football
card career.
As with all sports cards we believe that
trading is an excellent way to add to your collection. While you are here
have a look at our
football card
trading message board.
April 2010
25th - 2010 Sage Autographed Football Hobby Box
28th - 2010 Press Pass Portrait Edition Football Hobby Box
May 2010
11th - 2010 Panini Prestige Football Hobby Box
June 2010
2nd - 2010 Sage Squared Football Hobby Box
16th - 2010 Donruss Elite Football Hobby Box
July,
2010
7th - 2010 Score Football Box
28th -2010 Panini Classics Football Hobby Box
-2010 TriStar Hidden Treasures
Autographed Mini-Helmet Football Hobby Box
August 2010
17th - 2010 Panini Rookies & Stars Football Hobby Box
23rd - 2010 Topps Football Hobby Box
September 2010
1st - 2010 Upper Deck NCAA Sweet Spot Football Hobby Box
8th - 2010 Panini Threads Football Hobby Box
15th - 2010 Topps Platinum Football Hobby Box
22nd - 2010 Panini Epix Football Hobby Box
23 - 2010 Topps Finest Football Hobby Box
October 2010
4th -2010 Topps Factory Set Football Hobby Box
6th - 2010 Panini Absolute Memorabilia Football Hobby Box
13th - 2010 Topps Chrome Football Hobby Box
November 2010
3rd -2010 Panini Crown Royale Football Hobby Box
10th - 2010 Topps Triple Threads Football Hobby Box
16th -
2010 Upper Deck SPx Football Hobby Box
17th - 2010 Panini Certified Football Hobby Box
24th - 2010 Topps Unrivaled Football Hobby Box
December 2010
1st - 2010 Panini Gridiron Gear Football Hobby Box
3rd - 2010 Topps Prime Football Hobby Box
15th - 2010 Panini Plates & Patches Football Hobby Box
27th - 2010 Bowman Sterling Football Hobby Box
27th - 2010 Topps Magic Football Hobby Box
January 2011
5th - 2010 Playoff Contenders Football Hobby Box
11th - 2010 Upper Deck SP Authentic Football Hobby Box
12th - 2010 Topps Supreme Football Hobby Box
February 2011
2nd - 2010 Topps Tribute Football Hobby Box
2009/2010 Football card release dates
Football Card News
1/15/2011
Topps announces it will be adding its popular player sketch-cards
as additional hits to the
highly-anticipated Five Star Football Cards. Several gridiron
stars have added their artistic skills including Tony Romo, Reggie Wayne,
Vincent Jackson, LaDainian Tomlinson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Roddy White,
Matthew Stafford, C.J. Spiller, Matt Ryan, Mike Williams, Tim Tebow, Aaron
Hernandez and many more.
Each original 1 of 1 drawing features the artist/player’s signature on the
card’s back.
The hobby exclusive Topps Five Star Football hits stores late February.
1/5/11
Topps Creates Exclusive Cards for Under Armor All American Game.
The first 5000 fans attending the 4th Annual Under Armour All-American
Football Game ( January 5th – Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL), will
receive 3 exclusive Topps cards featuring a 2011 All-American. There are
92 different cards in all.
Topps, the official trading card of the Under Armour All-American Football
game, photographed the players on Friday and on Monday they were each
presented with personal copies of their card. In addition, Topps had each
player sign cards which will be shelved and used at a later date.
12/14/2010
Vick gets most
unusual autograph request from Cowboys Choice
11/18/2010
Rookie Football Standouts McCoy, Best, Mathews and Spiller Provide
Thoughtful Interviews for Upper Deck. Trading Card Company secured
exclusive sound bites with the league’s much-touted rookies at the 2010
NFL PLAYERS Rookie Premiere event. (read
more)
Upper Deck Releases 2010 SPx Football
Featuring Top Rookie Performers Tebow, Bradford and McCoy! Company’s
latest gridiron launch includes four sought-after inserts per hobby box
including at least one rookie autographed memorabilia card. (read
more)
11/16/2010
After last night’s stunning six-touchdown performance in the face of a $78
million Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick is
becoming a serious comeback case. Reaffirming fortitude on the field, he
might be on the verge of rebuilding his hobby following. (read
more)
10/19/2010
The 2010 football card market is enjoying a resurgence,
both in sales and in interest, at least compared with recent years. This
year’s product, at least so far, appears to be a hit both with the
consumer/collector as well as within the hobby itself. (read
more)
9/23/2010
Demaryius Thomas is the Topps Rookie of the Week.
Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas is the Topps Rookie of the Week for
Week 2. Thomas, the 22nd overall pick in the 2010 draft, had 8 catches for
97 yards and a touchdown in his NFL debut.
9/20/2010
Jahvid Best Kicks Off Topps Rookie of the Week Program
9/15/2010
Upper Deck Launches 2010 NCAA Sweet Spot Football; Video Shows College
Draft Picks Singing Fight Songs. Video shows 14 top college football draft
picks battling for best rendition; winner earned a pair of autographed
LeBron James shoes from Upper Deck!
8/26/2010
2010 Topps Football arrives this week!
8/12/2010
Panini America Selects Peyton
Manning as Official NFL Spokesman and Trading Card Ambassador.
8/2/2010
Panini Announces Exclusive Agreement with Pro Football Hall of Fame.
4/29/2010
The Topps Company, a leading creator and marketer of sports cards,
today announced a multi-year trading card licensing agreement with the
National Football League and NFL PLAYERS (the marketing and licensing arm
of the NFLPA).
“We are excited to continue our deep, long standing partnership with the
NFL and the NFLPA,” said Ryan O’Hara, CEO of The Topps Company. “Topps
will bring innovative, exciting and fun products to the marketplace to
serve consumers and customers well.”
3/31/2010
Upper Deck Unveils 2009 Exquisite Collection Football. Bonus pack
of one autographed memorabilia card included in every box!
2/23/2010
Upper Deck Proudly Launches 2009 Ultimate Collection Football! One
autograph or memorabilia card in every box; updated '97 Legends autographs
fall at one per case!
2/19/2010
Saints Alive: Upper Deck Unveils Super Bowl XLIV Box Set!
Impressive 50-card collection spotlights key moments from Super Bowl 44
and includes oversized commemorative card!
2/12/2010
Punt, Pass and Kick: Upper Deck Releases 2009 SP Authentic Football Card
Set . Sports card leader unveils latest gridiron collection; once again,
autographs are all hard-signed on cards!
2/4/10
In celebration of Super Bowl 44 in Miami, Panini, a leading
manufacturer of licensed collectibles, NFL and NBA trading cards, put out
a bounty valued at more than $1,500, for the collector who pulls the NFL
Limited 2009 Pro Bowl Combo Materials card featuring Super Bowl
quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Drew Brees (sequentially numbered #44 of
100). With a week left before the offer expired, collector Dawn McNew of
Lehigh Acres, Fla., contacted the Panini offices to let them know the card
all of America was searching for was part of her 1,000+ card Peyton
Manning card collection.
1/27/10
Panini, a leading manufacturer of licensed collectibles, is offering the
collector who uncovers the NFL 2009 Limited Pro Bowl Combo Materials card
featuring Super Bowl quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Drew Brees
(sequentially numbered #44 of 100), the chance to trade the card in for
one box of every Panini NFL trading card released in 2010 and an exclusive
Manning-Brees card sequentially numbered #1-of-1. Based upon the current
production schedule, the collector will receive 10-15 products with a
retail value of more than $1500.
1/25/2010
2009 NFL Contenders Legendary Contenders Short-Prints. Officials
at Panini America announced today the complete list of short-printed
Legendary Contenders from 2009 Contenders football.
1/18/2010
2009 NFL Contenders College Tickets Short-Prints. Officials at Panini
America announced today the complete list of short-printed College Rookie
Tickets from 2009 Contenders football.
1/15/2010
2009 NFL Contenders Short-Prints. Officials at Panini America announced
today the complete list of short-printed Rookie Cards for 2009 Contenders
football.
12/17/2009
Bengals WR
Chris Henry dead at 26
12/11/2009
Upper Deck Captures Michael Oher, Subject of ‘The Blind Side,’
on Many 2009 Football Cards! New movie showcases homeless
youngster from a broken home who fulfills potential by becoming starting
offensive lineman in the NFL
12/9/2009
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Unveils
Super High-End football Card Set
Upper Deck is proud to present the 2009 NFL
America's Team insert set paying homage to one of the greatest
professional sports franchises of all-time. 2009 NFL America's Team -
Collect the Dallas Cowboys like never before - Available in 2009
NFL Icons, 2009 NFL Upper Deck, 2009 NFL First Edition and 2009 NFL SP
Signature Edition.
12/5/2009
NFL Players Association opts
not to renew
Topps football card license.
12/3/2009
Tattooed Colts’ Follower Matt Ellis
Wins Upper Deck’s Ultimate NFL Fan Contest! Fanatical gridiron fan
from Auburn, Indiana, proves worthy of grand-prize package
10/28/2009
History has a way of repeating itself, and with the forthcoming
release of
2009 Limited Football Panini America Inc. has return a hobby
classic to its roots.
10/26/2009
Christmas Arrives Early:
Upper Deck Releases 2009 SP Threads Football Card Set. Extremely
popular brand has been reconfigured to deliver the same high-end rookie
cards at an even greater value!
10/20/2009
Upper Deck Releases
2009 SP Threads Football Card Set. Extremely popular brand has
been reconfigured to deliver the same high-end rookie cards at an even
greater value!
10/15/2009
Upper Deck Searches for the Ultimate NFL Fan!
Sports card company to give away Ultimate VIP Fan Package to the
most creative NFL fanatic via online promotion.
10/6/2009
Panini Releases FIRST
Brett Favre Vikings Certified Autograph Football Card - Officials
at Panini America announced today that the company will be including the
FIRST certified autograph trading card of Minnesota Viking's quarterback,
Brett Favre, in its October 2009 hobby release Certified Football. Facing
his former team Monday night, Favre completed 24 of 31 passes for 271
yards and three touchdowns. The Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay
Packers, 30-23 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
9/24/2009
Absolute
Memorabilia Football
Raises the Bar with Additional Hobby Hits.
9/21/2009
Within days of a season-ending wrist injury, Chicago Bears
linebacker Brian Urlacher says he was
written off by an autograph and sports memorabilia company.
9/18/2009
Upper Deck Kicks Off ’09
Football Season by Launching
New, Interactive Gridiron Website. Collectors will be treated to
online contests, a revolutionary new rookie card management system and
much more!
9/15/2009
Sneak Peek Gallery:
2009 Playoff Absolute Football Cards
9/11/2009
2009 Topps
National Chicle Football cards coming this winter
9/2/2009
2009 National Treasures Pen Pals.
8/31/2009
NFL Hall of Famer Elvin Bethea and five other
players have sued the NFL for using their names and images for
profit without their permission.
8/26/2009
Farve's First Donruss Threads Card Will Now Be Available at Target
too
8/25/2009
Panini Makes First
Favre Vikings Football Card a Walmart Exclusive
8/21/2009
Topps this afternoon revealed a card from the forthcoming 2009
Topps Finest Football, due out Sept. 15, sure to have a certain sect of
purple people eating it up:
Brett Favre’s first Minnesota Vikings card.
8/13/2009
Lights, Camera, Action: Top NFL Rookies
Discuss the Art of Autographs. Standouts like Matt Stafford, Mark
Sanchez, Percy Harvin, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Aaron Curry provide their
take on signing for the fans!
8/1/2009
Topps officials recently released preliminary information and
images on the
rookie-laden 2009 Bowman Chrome Football, a 165-card set featuring
55 rookies seeded one per pack.
7/28/2009
Topps announces that there are
several
short-printed autographed cards and 50 base cards in the recently
released 2009 Topps Magic Football.
7/21/2009
Topps officials on Tuesday
morning released preliminary details and images of
2009 Topps Mayo Football.
7/15/2009
*
Panini America will be continuing the
tradition of holding the
wrapper redemption. Collectors bringing FIVE un-opened packs of
any 2009 Panini hobby product (or box of any Retail product), will receive
a one-three card pack. Included in the packs will be updated Donruss Elite
rookie cards, basketball and even Americana cards.
* Back by popular
demand, Upper Deck proudly presents its new, league-approved “Top
10 Touchdown
Dance Challenge” video captured at this year’s
NFL Rookie Premiere Photo Shoot inside the Los Angeles Memorial
Coliseum. The cream of the league’s rookie crop proved that they not only
possess great skills on the football field but can also hold their own
with the best of them out on the dance floor or – in this case – the end
zone.
6/25/2009
Bowman Sterling Football In a Class of Its Own. The
collector-popular
Bowman
Sterling Football returns in 2009 featuring all the top rookies
and super veterans for the upcoming NFL Season.
6/18/2009
Panini America
Brings Back 1989 Score Football Cards
6/9/2009
Topps Chrome Football Returns with
the Most Collectible 2009 NFL Rookie Cards! Every hobby box
guarantees (1) autographed rookie card featuring names such as Mark
Sanchez, Michael Crabtree and Matthew Stafford. Black Refractor (#’d to
25), Gold Refractor (#’d to 10) and SuperFractor (1 of 1) autograph
parallels round out the assortment.
6/2/2009
* Record Breaker: Pristine
Joe Montana Rookie Card Sells for $65K!
* The
Upper Deck 2009 NFL Rookie Touchdown Dance Challenge video
5/28/2009
First look:
2009 Topps Chrome football
5/23/2009
Panini Confirms Prestige Variations
5/12/2009
The top picks from the 2009 NFL Draft, including the top three
selections in Matthew Stafford, Jason Smith and Tyson Jackson, will
headline a group of more than 30 NFL rookies who will make their
professional debut at this weekend’s Reebok
NFL Players Rookie Premiere presented by EA Sports and hosted by NFL
Players.
5/6/2009
Panini: 2009 Playoff
Prestige will have zero redemptions
4/28/2009
* Press Pass announces
2009 football cards red ink, inscriptions list
* McFarlane Toys unveils
college football figures
4/27/2009
*
Upper Deck Soliciting
Special Inscriptions for NFL’s Top Rookies
*
Panini America's Draft Day Surprise
3/11/2009
2008 UD
Ultimate Collection Football Packs a Punch
2/26/2009
Officials at Donruss recently released images for its
first NFL set of 2009, Playoff Prestige. Set to hit streets May
13th (just two weeks after the NFL Draft), the rookie cards from Prestige
are the first official trading cards on the market with updated team and
draft information for the new rookie class.
2/19/2009
Topps Mayo NFL / Short Prints Revealed - Topps announces that the
recently-released and very popular
2008 Topps Mayo Football features a number of short printed cards
including base cards, autographs and relics.
2/5/2009
2/4/2009
Stadium Club Football Super Teams….Prizes Announced
2/2/2009
Donruss officials said they were extremely happy with the turnout
at
this year’s Super Bowl Card Show, the first held under the
company’s sponsorship.
1/26/2009
Playoff
National Treasures 1 of 1's
1/22/2009
Donruss has created a 440-card Super Bowl edition factory set that
will be sold at the event. Produced under the Score name, each card will
feature the official Super Bowl XLIII logo. As a free bonus, collectors
purchasing the factory set will get an exclusive 18-card set of those
participating in this year's Super Bowl. Nine cards will highlight the
NFC's Arizona Cardinals and nine will highlight the AFC's Pittsburgh
Steelers.
1/20/2009
2008 Playoff Contenders
Football Cards Part 2 of 2
1/16/2009
Product Review:
2008 Playoff Contenders Football Cards
1/12/2009
* Donruss Becomes the "Official Trading Card Sponsor of the NFL
Experience"
* Topps announces the next etopps installment of its popular
Allen & Ginter Super Bowl Champions collection.
1/8/2009
Football cards -
On card rookie autographs in 2008 Playoff National Treasures
Sammy Baugh: 1914-2008
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