Show your favorite card(s)

[S_GERACE]

They don't have to be expensive or rare. But show your favorite card or cards and say what you like about them.

I like the 1951 & 1952 Bowman small Baugh cards for the artwork. The 1951 shows a nice action shot w/ plenty of detailed artwork in the background. The 1952 small is basically the same shot but is cropped more closely. It shows more of the detail in Baugh's weathered face and the background of orange gradually fading to yellow reminds me of Fall and the leaves changing color (Fall means Football weather).

My honorable mention is the 1973 Topps Tarkenton. It's a nice action shot and I just love all of the purple (The players look like a bunch of grapes!).

I don't mean to step out of bounds on the first play from scrimmage as this is not a card.... but here's a personal favorite from my collection; the 1929 Entiat High School football team.

The majority of my collection is central Washington sports history. The more obscure the town or team the better. The pose of this team is great, but the story is just bizarre. The entire town of Entiat was relocated in the 1950's after hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River raised the water level. The hills in the background, once known as Chinaman's Hat, are submerged these days.

[S_GERACE]

Pretty cool image & story! Do you know if any of the players went on to play college ball?

[jefferyepayne]

Great idea for a thread! I'm struggling to figure out what to show, though. I hope others have more clarity on their favorites than I do as I'd love to see some more cards in this thread!

jeff

[HRBAKER]

This is my favorite football card. Although not near the most valuable FB card I have it combines a lot of things for me - one of my favorite players from my favorite team in one of my favorite sets.

[Mikehealer]

This is easily my favorite card. I'm thinking about hoarding them.

[revmoran]

Don't ask how many - ask how many more!

Originally Posted by S_GERACE

Pretty cool image & story! Do you know if any of the players went on to play college ball?

Sorry, missed your question. Two played for State Normal School of Ellensburg (CWU), and one played at WSU (Craig Wimpel, DB/HB Top row third from left). This Entiat team finished the season with 5 wins, 1 tie (Yakima HS), and beat archrival Wenatchee HS.

That is quite the collection of Hap Moran's..... WOW! More?

Sammy Baugh seems to be a favorite of many....

The 1964 Kahns is an interesting choice, any particular reason Charley Johnson is a favorite player?

[CW]

I don't have a lot of football cards, and this also isn't technically my most valuable, but in terms of visual appeal this is my favorite (if I had a nice '62 Topps Jim Brown that might change, but I have yet to land one).

The composition and aesthetics of this card are just perfect to me -- a tastefully colorized version of Jim Thorpe holding his old school leather helmet, the black n' white photo of the gridiron as a background, and all of it surrounded by that blue frame with the Carlisle logo in the corner. The stars aligned when the folks at Topps designed this beauty.

At one time I owned a perfectly centered PSA 9 of this card, but sold it to fund another purchase. After I sold it, I was immediately on the lookout for another decently centered copy (as many know, this card is notoriously difficult to find with good centering). While this one isn't perfect, it helped fill the void left behind by the PSA 9 example, and it didn't break the bank.

[LuckyLarry]

I have to many favorites, so I'll go with this one. 1973 Topps #304 Happy Feller

If I was ever going to "hoard" a card it would be this one!
Larry

[Hot Springs Bathers]

Larry I always appreciate your enthusiasm but not in this case since Happy kicked the winning extra point in the Game of the Century to beat my Razorbacks 15-14 in 1969!

[LuckyLarry]

Sorry about that Mike I admit the only reason I've always liked this card was because of Fellers name. I grew up with a family of "Fellers" across the street, and my best friend in High School was Jack "Happy" Richard Ross

I was a freshman in High School in 1969 and probably watched this game on TV but I don't remember. And I've enjoyed the last couple hours reading about the "Game of the Century" and also just watched a video of Happys acceptance speech into the Texas Longhorns "Hall of Honor"

Dr. Archibald "Moonlight" Graham: We just don't recognize life's most significant moments while they're happening. Back then I thought, "Well, there'll be other days." I didn't realize that that was the only day.

It doesn't appear that Happys pro career was all that great, but his significant moment occurred December 6th 1969. And this morning I'm a bigger Happy Feller fan!

Larry

[GoldenAge50s]

The recent death of Frank Gifford reminded me of one of my favorite cards--Frank's Rookie in my 1952 Bowman Large set.

Card is #16 also, which just happens to be his NFL Giants uni #.

[jefferyepayne]

Never noticed that about his '52 card, Fred! Cool the card number is the same as his uniform. Here is my favorite Gifford:



jeff

[S_GERACE]

Eric,
Is your entire '52 Large set in the same quality as the Gifford? That's sweet!

Jeff,
What an amazing card. Those bazooka cards were very prone to surface wear but your Gifford looks flawless. The cut is nice and even too. By chance would you have the Brown card as well? If so, would you post an image of it? That is one of the few non-mainstream cards that I would consider purchasing right now (along with the Bread for Health Baugh).

[jefferyepayne]

You mean these?





My Brown isn't in great shape but its passable. So is the Baugh. Tough cards.

jeff

[Mikehealer]

Nice Baugh, Jeff. That is also on my want list. Thanks for posting.

[cmoore330]

I've always felt very fortunate that my alma mater has a pre-1910 football postcard. I have a blown up poster version hanging above my desk at work.

[quinnsryche]

Not vintage but I think it's awesome.

[Hot Springs Bathers]

Casey- Much like my Happy Feller post above your Bronchos (yes everybody that is their correct spelling) caused great problems for my Henderson State Reddies back in the 1980's!

I remember a game in Edmond in 1983 when I swear the opening kickoff reached our goal line but the wind blew it back to the 20 where it hit one of our players in the back with the Bronchos recovering on their way to a 56-14 victory.

We did get some revenge in 1985 in the quarterfinals of the playoffs with a late 50 yard field goal to beat then top ranked Central State 18-15!

[Publius]

"favorite" varies from day or week to week. Some are favorite because they are nostalgic (an autographed Steve Largent card), or because of the price. I like this card because of the story behind it , I first saw it at the Dreier museum, Carl I think you were there. Little did I know that 4-5 years later I would have an opportunity to buy it, sadly through *shudder* Legendary-felony....

My favorite card, from first sight, to purchase to rarity

[ZernialFan]

My favorites for today!

[sockwell123]

i dunno if this is odd being from Texas.. but this guy will always be my favorite.

[jefferyepayne]

Originally Posted by Publius

My favorite card, from first sight, to purchase to rarity

+1

Always loved that card, Joe!

jeff

[butcher354435]

Awesome card Joe!

[S_GERACE]

Originally Posted by Publius

"favorite" varies from day or week to week. Some are favorite because they are nostalgic (an autographed Steve Largent card), or because of the price. I like this card because of the story behind it , I first saw it at the Dreier museum, Carl I think you were there. Little did I know that 4-5 years later I would have an opportunity to buy it, sadly through *shudder* Legendary-felony....

My favorite card, from first sight, to purchase to rarity

I don't think that there is a T206 Wagner of football cards, but if there is, that card is it! I hope someday I get the chance to own one but I'm doubtful about it. Fantastic card!

[cmoore330]

Originally Posted by Hot Springs Bathers

Casey- Much like my Happy Feller post above your Bronchos (yes everybody that is their correct spelling) caused great problems for my Henderson State Reddies back in the 1980's!

I remember a game in Edmond in 1983 when I swear the opening kickoff reached our goal line but the wind blew it back to the 20 where it hit one of our players in the back with the Bronchos recovering on their way to a 56-14 victory.

We did get some revenge in 1985 in the quarterfinals of the playoffs with a late 50 yard field goal to beat then top ranked Central State 18-15!

Good luck to your Reddies this year, Mike! Less than one week now until the Bronchos kick off the season at home!

[butcher354435]

I've always enjoyed the artwork of the N162 Goodwin Champions issue:

[revmoran]

That's a super Beecher - I've divested all my pre WW I cards except that one - and I saved this photograph as a companion piece

[TanksAndSpartans]

That's the nicest Beecher I've seen! And love the football - imagine passing that thing.

[argpdt]

Although not my most valuable football cards, these are my favorites.

[DBesse27]

I'm not too well versed in pre war football, but I love that Payton collection!!

[sockwell123]

Thanks!

[jefferyepayne]

Great cards, guys! Lots of history in that Yale football team photo, Mike. Beecher, Stagg, Pa Corbin, etc. That's one of my favorite images of all time and someday hope to own one.

Lots of people don't know Trenchard but he was a very early pro player ... possibly the earliest known pro on a football card! He was also head coach at U of NC, Pitt, WVU, etc.

jeff

[jefferyepayne]

Can't seem to narrow it down to my favorite card so thought I'd pick one per decade between the 1880s and 1980s.

There's only one football card in the 1880s so this decade was easy.



Hard to pass up 4x AA Frank Hinkey in the 1890s but gotta go with the iconic Mayo Anonymous card.



There isn't much to choose from in the first decade of the 20th century but I really like this Postcard of Walter Eckersall. If there was a Heisman Trophy back then, he would have won it!



I hope you all will pardon me for showing a baseball card here but this decade belongs to Thorpe.



Grange owned the 20s and this is my favorite Grange card ... and might be his true rookie.



Gotta go with the "Wagner of Football" for the 30s.



Props to my all time favorite QB for the 40s.



I could go Unitas or Brown rookie in the 50s but just love the Bazooka set.



The 60s belongs to the card I lusted after as a kid.



70s = Walter



80s = Montana



Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did!

Keep the cards coming.

jeff

[Beansballcardblog]

I sometimes drool so much looking at these cards that I'm afraid I might ruin my laptop!

[herbc]

One of my favorites due to its historical significance. I also like the bright colors and how the picture fills its frame, looks 3D to me.



Another nicely colored card. Namath's image pops out at you. I wanted to be Broadway Joe.

[DBesse27]

Jeff, that 26 Grange is outstanding!!

[TanksAndSpartans]

Jeff, great idea doing one per decade - nice choices!

[tuckr1]

Very nice Cards Jeff!!!

You need to upgrade your Namath and sell me that one cheap!! LOL