Honest question: what are the best football cards to have for a player?
 

I know baseball in and out, but I'm new to collecting actual football cards. If I wanted to get the best Mike Trout cards, I know I'd go with a Bowman's 1st auto and a Topps Chrome RC auto, etc... But what's the football equivalent? NT RPAs seem to hit big. Are Rookie Ticket autos the same as a Bowman's 1st? Appreciate the info.

Pre-1989: They'll usually have one clear RC. Usually Topps.

1989-1990: Score RC

1991-1993: Eh......SP foil?

1994-1995: Topps Finest refractor

1995-2015: Topps Chrome refractor (non-auto) and Contenders (auto)

2013-Present: Prizm silver (non-auto) and Contenders (auto)

National Treasures is usually the default "high end" option for RPAs (Rookie Patch Autos) and there's some competition by the Select silvers and Optic holos in challenging the Prizm silver's spot at the top of the non-auto hill. Mosaic is also coming in hot but it's still too new to say long term.

[QUOTE=TheFrenzy;16702599]Pre-1989: They'll usually have one clear RC. Usually Topps.

1989-1990: Score RC

1991-1993: Eh......SP foil?

1994-1995: Topps Finest refractor

1995-2015: Topps Chrome refractor (non-auto) and Contenders (auto)

2013-Present: Prizm silver (non-auto) and Contenders (auto)

National Treasures is usually the default "high end" option for RPAs (Rookie Patch Autos) and there's some competition by the Select silvers and Optic holos in challenging the Prizm silver's spot at the top of the non-auto hill. Mosaic is also coming in hot but it's still too new to say long term.[/QUOTE]

Hey thanks. I noticed Contenders Optic is a chrome version of the Rookie Ticket autos. Do they typically go for more than the paper Contenders?

Contenders have always been the best (as NT simply has priced people out... but obviously if you want super high end /99 RPA's then NT or Exquisite back in the day, and some cases SP Authentic, are on the list)

Contenders has the best checklist going back 20 years.

This is my response if you want autographs. You could literally collect 2000-2020 Contenders RC Autos and have your bases entirely covered.

If you want stuff that isn't autographed? That's a much larger post.

[QUOTE=Zoop;16703609]Hey thanks. I noticed Contenders Optic is a chrome version of the Rookie Ticket autos. Do they typically go for more than the paper Contenders?[/QUOTE]

Depending on the parallel # and scarcity and whether it's on-card or sticker, the Optic version can certainly go for more.

The Optic version is still really new and that might matter more nowadays given that Contenders is now the oldest continuous release we have. (Going back to 1998 I think?) Also, you might look at the signatures closely. I get the impression that the Optic chrome coating can sometimes cause the ink to bead up or fade more quickly. I only have a handful of Contenders Optic and those are all cards I intend to sell some day.

[QUOTE=TheFrenzy;16703637]Depending on the parallel # and scarcity and whether it's on-card or sticker, the Optic version can certainly go for more.

The Optic version is still really new and that might matter more nowadays given that Contenders is now the oldest continuous release we have. (Going back to 1998 I think?) Also, you might look at the signatures closely. I get the impression that the Optic chrome coating can sometimes cause the ink to bead up or fade more quickly. I only have a handful of Contenders Optic and those are all cards I intend to sell some day.[/QUOTE]

Very good points and things I will look out for. Really appreciate it.

It's Contenders in NFL. Yes, Contenders rookie tickets auto's equal to baseballs Bowman 1st autos.

Hobby Favorites (Ultra Modern Non-Inserts):
[LIST=1][*]National Treasures RPA[*]Silver Prizm Base[*]Standard Contenders Auto[*]Prizm Rookie Auto[*]Contenders Optic Auto[/LIST]
Hobby Favorites (Ultra Modern Inserts):
[LIST=1][*]Color Blast[*]Kaboom![*]1998/1999 Contenders Auto[*]Downtown[/LIST]
Personal Favorites:[LIST=1][*]NT RPA[*]Prizm Silver[*]Contenders On Card Auto (Standard)[*]Flawless Base[*]Flawless RPA[/LIST]

I haven't been around regularly since 2013, and mannnn has it changed.

Seems like Prizm is the top dog now, and autos aren't nearly as popular. Base rc's prices are through the roof. Wild!

Flawless and NT for autos.

The value in a card or more isn’t always in terms of $$ or card company but :

1. The quest to locate the card
2. Personally pulling the card
3. First card ever
4. Card passed down from father; etc

In football cards they often skip later round defensive players all together so all the criteria above like Contenders, Prizm, or even autographs in general are out of the question. Then it becomes a complete crapshoot on what the "best" card is.