1970-1979 Football Cards

While the 1960s were the first big step for football cards, the 1970s helped establish football cards as a legitimate option for a league with growing popularity. Topps was the king of 1970s football cards and the products include many top rookie players that are still relevant in the hobby today.

A few well-known names top the list of 1970s rookie football cards. Comprised of elite Hall of Fame players, the most valuable rookies from the decade include Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach and Walter Payton. Many other names are hotly pursued by collectors, such as O.J. Simpson, Steve Largent, Earl Campbell, Joe Greene, Steve Spurrier, Tony Dorsett, and Lynn Swann.

1973 Topps Football Trading Card Set

Rookie cards for Franco Harris, Ken Stabler, Dan Dierdorf and Jack Ham headline 1973 Topps Football trading card set.

Product Details

In 1973, Topps released the largest football card set ever issued, at 528 cards. At the same time, the company dropped the practice of issuing cards in series and printed them all at once. At the same time, there was a reliance on more game-actions and sideline shots, even though the team logos then needed to be painted over.

1973 Topps Football Set Details

Card fronts feature a player picture inside a thick black line that serves as a frame. A two-colored ribbon icon runs down the left side, appearing to slip behind the photo. The player's name appears at the top of the card, while his position and team name are below the photo. The first name and team name match the color of the left side of the ribbon, and each team has its own color scheme throughout the set. Card backs are vertically oriented and printed in red, white and blue. A football helmet icon contains the card number, while the player's name is inside a blue stripe that stretches along the top. His team, position and vital stats appear just under the stripe. There is a short biography, with a reversion to the year/life statistics box for most players. A trivia cartoon appears at the bottom.

There are a number of subsets. Cards #1-6 list the leaders in each conference for a variety of 1972 statistics. A recap of the '72 postseason takes up cards #133-139. Finally three cards (#265-267) show boyhood photos of then-current players.

With such a large set, Topps was able to feature a lot more players that they ever were able to fit inside its sets. As a result, nearly a third of the players are being shown for the very first time. Key rookie cards include Franco Harris, Jack Youngblood, Jack Ham, Art Shell, Ken Stabler, Dan Dierdorf, Jim Langer and Bob Brown.

How We Grade:

Gem Mint (GMT): (10.0) A flawless card. To be in Gem Mint condition, a card’s borders must have a ratio of 50/50 side to side and top to bottom. 

Mint (MT): (9.0-9.5) A perfect card. Well-centered with parallel borders which appear equal to the naked eye. Four sharp, square corners. No creases, edge dents, surface scratches, paper flaws, loss of luster, yellowing or fading, regardless of age. No imperfectly printed cards – out of register, badly cut or ink flawed – or card stained by contact with gum, wax or other substances can be considered truly Mint, even if new out of the pack. Generally, to be considered in Mint condition, a card’s borders must exist in a ratio of 60/40 side to side and top to bottom. 

Near Mint/Mint (NM/MT): (8.0-8.5) A super high-end card that appears Mint 9 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may exhibit a very slight wax stain on reverse, slight fraying at one or two corners, or a minor printing imperfection. Centering must be app. 65/35 to 70/30 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. 

Near Mint (NM): (7.0-7.5) A nearly perfect card at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may have slight surface wear, slight fraying on some corners, slightly out-of-register picture focus, a minor printing blemish or slight wax stain on reverse. Centering must be 70/30 to 75/25 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

Excellent/Near Mint (EX/NM): (6.0-6.5) Card may have visible surface wear or a printing defect. A very light scratch. Corners may have slightly graduated fraying. Picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. Card may have minor wax stain on reverse, may have very slight nothing on edges. Centering must be 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

Excellent (EX): (5.0-5.5) Corners are still fairly sharp with only moderate wear. Card borders may be off center as much as 85/15. No creases. May have very minor gum, wax or product stains, front or back. Surfaces may show slight loss of luster from rubbing across other cards. Dark bordered cards may have one or two small nicks.

Very Good/Excellent (VG/EX): (4.0-4.5) Shows obvious handling, but still looks nice. Corners may be rounded or have minor creases. No major creases, tape marks or extraneous markings or writing. Surfaces does exhibit loss of luster, but the printing is intact. May have paper wrinkles. May show major gum, wax or other packaging stains. All four borders visible, though the ratio may be as poor as 95/5. Exhibits honest wear. 

Very Good (VG): (3.0-3.5) A well-worn card, but exhibits no intentional damage or abuse. May be “Mis-cut or Off-Center” with no border visible. May have major or multiple creases, however, creases are not so deep as to show the underlying paper. This card is completely readable, has not been written on, and has no tape marks or holes. Corner rounding may extend well beyond the border. 

Good (GD) (2.0-2.5) Shows excessive wear, along with damage or abuse. Will show all the wear characteristics of a Very Good card, along with such damage as thumb tack holes in or near margins, evidence of having been taped or pasted, perhaps small tears around the edges or creases so heavily as to break the cardboard. Backs may show minor added pen or pencil writing or be missing small bits of paper. Still basically a complete card. 

Poor (P): (1.0-1.5) A card that has been tortured to death. Corners or other areas may be torn off. Card may have been trimmed, show holes from a paper punch or have been used for BB gun practice. Front may have extraneous pen or pencil writing, or other defacement. Major portions of front or back design may be missing. Not a pretty sight. 

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