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History Of Football Cards
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Published: August 30, 2006
Football began in the late 19th century as a spin-off of English rugby. At the time rugby made its way to Canada and the United States, it was a sport almost exclusively played by college men.
The reinvention did not leave college campuses. The football the nation has come to know and enjoy was conceived in universities, such as McGill, Rutgers, Harvard, Princeton and Yale.
One could say football is the original, quintessential college sport. However, the trading card industry did not decide to make football cards as prominent as baseball cards until 1951.
The first set of football cards from Topps, called Magic, was created for the National Football League. Four years later, the company released another set called All-American. Previously, Bowman produced the majority of football cards. During the premiere of the All-American set, Topps bought Bowman and the entire football card industry was consolidated.
In 1960, Topps received competition in the form of a new league and a new football card series. With the advent of the American Football League, football card company Fleer began competing alongside Topps in a totally different market for the same sport. This proved trying for both companies. Along with Philadelphia Gum securing NFL rights, Topps edged Fleer out and overtook the AFL card market.
Despite the industry's competitiveness, football cards did not turn much profit until later in the 1960s, due to an NFL merger with the AFL. Even at this time, and for another decade and a half to come, the profit for football card sales was significantly small.
High-priced, rare football cards now can include promising, young players as well as vintage Hall of Fame athletes. 1933 Sports Kings #6, Jim Thorpe's card is an example of a vintage football card snagging a significantly high price. Thorpe is one of those players who immediately come to mind when one thinks of all-American football legends. In near-mint condition, this specific card sold for nearly $5,000.
Football cards for current starters also are snagging high prices in the card-trading market. The 2004 Sequoia Trading Company Steven Jackson card recently sold for just less than $2,000. With high selling values for both young and vintage athletes, Thorpe and Jackson prove football cards can acquire high value and yet simultaneously shine a spotlight on football's past and present glory.
Today, football cards are beginning to make up for decades of profit losses. Even though the industry is not as lucrative as baseball cards, football cards are almost as voluminous. It will be a matter of time before high value is acquired.
The reinvention did not leave college campuses. The football the nation has come to know and enjoy was conceived in universities, such as McGill, Rutgers, Harvard, Princeton and Yale.
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The first set of football cards from Topps, called Magic, was created for the National Football League. Four years later, the company released another set called All-American. Previously, Bowman produced the majority of football cards. During the premiere of the All-American set, Topps bought Bowman and the entire football card industry was consolidated.
In 1960, Topps received competition in the form of a new league and a new football card series. With the advent of the American Football League, football card company Fleer began competing alongside Topps in a totally different market for the same sport. This proved trying for both companies. Along with Philadelphia Gum securing NFL rights, Topps edged Fleer out and overtook the AFL card market.
Despite the industry's competitiveness, football cards did not turn much profit until later in the 1960s, due to an NFL merger with the AFL. Even at this time, and for another decade and a half to come, the profit for football card sales was significantly small.
High-priced, rare football cards now can include promising, young players as well as vintage Hall of Fame athletes. 1933 Sports Kings #6, Jim Thorpe's card is an example of a vintage football card snagging a significantly high price. Thorpe is one of those players who immediately come to mind when one thinks of all-American football legends. In near-mint condition, this specific card sold for nearly $5,000.
Football cards for current starters also are snagging high prices in the card-trading market. The 2004 Sequoia Trading Company Steven Jackson card recently sold for just less than $2,000. With high selling values for both young and vintage athletes, Thorpe and Jackson prove football cards can acquire high value and yet simultaneously shine a spotlight on football's past and present glory.
Today, football cards are beginning to make up for decades of profit losses. Even though the industry is not as lucrative as baseball cards, football cards are almost as voluminous. It will be a matter of time before high value is acquired.
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