What do you think are the 5 most "iconic" football cards ever? - Page 4

JeremyNick · 08-07-2021, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjforce

No, I'm pointing out that the logic of the Mahomes NT can't be iconic because "99% of people in the hobby will never touch or see in person and will never own" is a double standard to cards like the Wagner or the Mantle.

It’s comparing apples to airplanes.

deathwished13 · 08-07-2021, 06:39 AM

Jim Brown 58 Topps
BRADY contenders
Broadway Joe tall boy

Last 2 open for debate but those 3 are absolutely the top 3 iconic fellas

Hellcat · 08-07-2021, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whodey14

The Payton/Sanders to me is the pinnacle of football cards. I still have my true gem +. Financially it was foolish to keep over a Brady Championship Ticket but it is always going to remain my favorite.

Ouch as record sales in the millions happen year after year the Champ Ticket will always haunt you. What year did you sell/trade the Champ Ticket and explain the thinking process. I’m curious!

Whodey14 · 08-07-2021, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellcat

Ouch as record sales in the millions happen year after year the Champ Ticket will always haunt you. What year did you sell/trade the Champ Ticket and explain the thinking process. I’m curious!

I never loved it or the several other Brady cards I had at the time. I just bought my first house, figured it would be smart to increase my rainy day fund. The ptt was my grail from day 1 so it was never in the discussion in all reality.

2015 I believe.

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bloodwings19 · 08-07-2021, 08:14 AM

1965 Topps Joe Namath RC

I never heard of Joe Namath before reading stories, but I know the card from Beckett magazines, or at shows in the 90s while growing up. That is my top 1.

Dallas Cowboys · 08-07-2021, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jplarson

This card in spots 1-5.

Although an iconic card for sure this is technically not a football card. It was released in 1990 Score baseball. There is a vertical version of this released the year before in 1989 Score football update that is not near as iconic.

JeremyNick · 08-07-2021, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjforce

No, I'm pointing out that the logic of the Mahomes NT can't be iconic because "99% of people in the hobby will never touch or see in person and will never own" is a double standard to cards like the Wagner or the Mantle.

They are not iconic because of their price.

Which is the entire premise of why you think the Mahomes NT is. That and your friends texting you about it.

I’ll go with the strong majority opinion here that the 2017 Prizm Mahomes has the ability to the the iconic card for this generation.

Dallas Cowboys · 08-07-2021, 09:31 AM

To me there are two levels of iconic:
1. The level where most collectors can picture the card in their head immediately without looking it up online.
2. The level where the general public that doesn't collect can picture it in their head without looking it up - like the Griffey rookie.

I wouldn't say the Mahomes RPA falls under that status.

jplarson · 08-07-2021, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dallas Cowboys

Although an iconic card for sure this is technically not a football card. It was released in 1990 Score baseball. There is a vertical version of this released the year before in 1989 Score football update that is not near as iconic.

It's so iconic it transcends mundane debate of what constitutes a "football" card. It's on the list otherwise the list is trash and it's not even close to being the GOAT of top 5 iconic card lists.

oplum29 · 08-07-2021, 11:00 AM

1981 Topps Joe Montana
2000 Contenders Tom Brady
1965 Joe Namath
1958 Jim Brown

those four to me are an absolute lock

the other one is very much up for debate, bet it the Jerry Rice rookie, the 89 Aikman Score rookie, Walter Payton's rookie, the Unitas rookie, the 84 Elway or Marino, the 93 Bledsoe SP, the Bronco Nagurski 1935 card, or the Jim Thorpe 1955 All-American.

whatever it may be. i like these debate, just wish we had some pictures, because there's something about looking at some iconic football cards

one other thing, when i was a kid, before Tom Brady was even playing in high school, i grew up on the Montana, Namath, Brown, an Nagurski card as the most iconic cards at time. they all got shoved in with the stars of that time, like the Marino and Elway rookies, but the overall consensus was always the Montana, Namath, Jim Brown, and Bronco Nagurski card.

oplum29 · 08-07-2021, 11:10 AM

also, idk if anybody has brought up these two beauties, but their signifance cannot be lost to how much a role they played in the growth of football cards.

the Aikman 1989 Score

and the 93 SP Bledsoe

tjforce · 08-07-2021, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyNick

They are not iconic because of their price.

Which is the entire premise of why you think the Mahomes NT is. That and your friends texting you about it.

I’ll go with the strong majority opinion here that the 2017 Prizm Mahomes has the ability to the the iconic card for this generation.

And what drives the price? The fact that it's 'the best Mahomes to have'.

When ever anybody asks what Mahomes' top rookie card is the answer is:
-Prizm is his low end
-NT is his high end

Same way when it's asked what's Mantle's key card it 1952 Topps, not 1951 Bowman, or for MJ, 1986 Fleer and not 1984 Star.

But it's fine, we can agree to disagree on this, they are both fantastic cards and I'm very glad to own one of them.

pip · 08-07-2021, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

Iconic as in "most instantly recognizable"?

1935 National Chicle, Bronko Nagurski
1958 Topps, Jim Brown RC
1965 Topps Joe Namath RC
1981 Topps Joe Montana RC
2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady RC

My picks as well except substitute 1976 Walter Payton for Montana. The 1952 Bowman Large Buck Lansford would be the next card out.

gmarutiak · 08-07-2021, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asujbl

I don’t think the Montana is iconic at all. Not sure why. I just don’t. I think more people would recognize, and to me that matters, something like a Barry Sanders Score before the Montana

81 just falls in that spot where it’s not “super vintage” like a Namath but is just old enough that collectors in their 30-45 range weren’t necessarily buying 81 Topps

I’d say the Marino rookie is more “iconic” than Montana.

It’s why Rice definitely is. Guys my age were 5 years old and starting to buy 86 Topps

That’s not a player judgement

84 is just more in the sweet spot

Normally, I would say that opinions, by definition, can't be wrong. Your opinion is the exception to that rule. '81 Montana is top 5 iconic.

49erRCCollector · 08-07-2021, 03:43 PM

if I disregard recency bias, and team preference bias but also include the caveat that at age 47 certain cards have more meaning to me, personally?

Namath
W. Payton
Montana (or maybe Rice here, I'm torn...)
Brady Contenders

I think the Manning Contenders (not a true RC) and the A-Aron SP Auth are up there. Bradshaw was also a big deal when I was a kid. Less so, these days, but before Joe won 4, he was the QB with 4.

Kind of an impossible task because if you are 18, it probably is Brady and maybe Mahomes, if you are a 90s kid, it probably is different than an 80s kid...

I never saw Nagurski play, obviously, and I've seen docs and stuff on Thorpe but as far as cards go? I'm not really tied to it and I'm not SUCH a historian of the game that Thorpe = Babe Ruth, to me you know? My card love is inextricably tied to the 49ers so 1950 Bowman on is where my radar is picking up stuff.

oplum29 · 08-07-2021, 04:12 PM

can't believe somebody even mentioned that the Montana wasn't one of the most iconic football cards ever, the same card that was the Mona Lisa of modern football cards.

even Beckett listed it as the best football card of all-time some years ago.

49erRCCollector · 08-07-2021, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oplum29

can't believe somebody even mentioned that the Montana wasn't one of the most iconic football cards ever, the same card that was the Mona Lisa of modern football cards.

even Beckett listed it as the best football card of all-time some years ago.

asujbl said "Guys my age were 5 years old and starting to buy 86 Topps" which means Montana was out of the league by the time he was 12. And won his last SB by the time he was 9.

He just might have missed "it".

At age 47 I can say Montana was a MUST OWN. Until Tom came a long and re-wrote records, Montana was the guy.

Boo · 08-07-2021, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oplum29

also, idk if anybody has brought up these two beauties, but their signifance cannot be lost to how much a role they played in the growth of football cards.

the Aikman 1989 Score

and the 93 SP Bledsoe

ReggieBush22 · 08-07-2021, 05:57 PM

Great feedback everyone.

So far, looks like almost near consensus is 2 cards (and I agree):

1965 Topps Namath
2000 Contenders Brady

Just missing near consensus:

1981 Topps Montana

Then after that, a slew of other cards.

ReggieBush22 · 08-07-2021, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oplum29

can't believe somebody even mentioned that the Montana wasn't one of the most iconic football cards ever, the same card that was the Mona Lisa of modern football cards.

even Beckett listed it as the best football card of all-time some years ago.

Yeah, I remember around 1989/1990, this card was selling for like $175 and Marino for like $35 and Rice for like $5. That card was on fire and at the time, went to levels never seen before. Everyone wanted one. Montana was Brady before Brady. Meaning the GOAT QB. Without a doubt, top 5 iconic card by objective measures.

ReggieBush22 · 08-07-2021, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bloodwings19

1965 Topps Joe Namath RC

I never heard of Joe Namath before reading stories, but I know the card from Beckett magazines, or at shows in the 90s while growing up. That is my top 1.

Yup, collecting in the late 1980's and reading every Beckett religiously, that was like the Holy Grail football card from my recollection.

oplum29 · 08-07-2021, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 49erRCCollector

asujbl said "Guys my age were 5 years old and starting to buy 86 Topps" which means Montana was out of the league by the time he was 12. And won his last SB by the time he was 9.

He just might have missed "it".

At age 47 I can say Montana was a MUST OWN. Until Tom came a long and re-wrote records, Montana was the guy.

no i understand that too, but i wasn't around when Namath, Brown, or Bronco were playing either, but i remember how sports cards magazines always showcased those cards or listed them in the top cards to collect.

oplum29 · 08-07-2021, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boo

what? why not? they aren't in the top 5, but certainly in the Top 100.

jbmm161 · 08-08-2021, 12:08 AM

Duplicate

jbmm161 · 08-08-2021, 12:26 AM

I’m 41 didn’t really start collecting football until 1990. I had these cards all ungraded but in really nice shape and purchased for very reasonable prices around 2009/2010. I had to sell them in 2012 unfortunately.
Would like to pick them all up again. Considered getting graded versions this time, but don’t think it’s gonna be in budget.

Top 5

81 Topps Joe Montana
86 Topps Jerry Rice
89 Score Troy Aikman
89 Score Barry Sanders
90 Score Emmitt Smith
———
Next 5
84 Dan Marino
84 John Elway
76 Walter Payton
72 Roger Staubach
78 Tony Dorsett

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08-07-2021, 11:00 AM	#85
oplum29 Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 10,405	1981 Topps Joe Montana 2000 Contenders Tom Brady 1965 Joe Namath 1958 Jim Brown those four to me are an absolute lock the other one is very much up for debate, bet it the Jerry Rice rookie, the 89 Aikman Score rookie, Walter Payton's rookie, the Unitas rookie, the 84 Elway or Marino, the 93 Bledsoe SP, the Bronco Nagurski 1935 card, or the Jim Thorpe 1955 All-American. whatever it may be. i like these debate, just wish we had some pictures, because there's something about looking at some iconic football cards one other thing, when i was a kid, before Tom Brady was even playing in high school, i grew up on the Montana, Namath, Brown, an Nagurski card as the most iconic cards at time. they all got shoved in with the stars of that time, like the Marino and Elway rookies, but the overall consensus was always the Montana, Namath, Jim Brown, and Bronco Nagurski card. __________________ "got em, got em, need em, got em, got em, need em, got em" - Little Monsters Last edited by oplum29; 08-07-2021 at 11:12 AM.

08-07-2021, 11:10 AM	#86
oplum29 Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 10,405	also, idk if anybody has brought up these two beauties, but their signifance cannot be lost to how much a role they played in the growth of football cards. the Aikman 1989 Score and the 93 SP Bledsoe __________________ "got em, got em, need em, got em, got em, need em, got em" - Little Monsters

08-07-2021, 03:43 PM	#90
49erRCCollector Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 12,890	if I disregard recency bias, and team preference bias but also include the caveat that at age 47 certain cards have more meaning to me, personally? Namath W. Payton Montana (or maybe Rice here, I'm torn...) Brady Contenders I think the Manning Contenders (not a true RC) and the A-Aron SP Auth are up there. Bradshaw was also a big deal when I was a kid. Less so, these days, but before Joe won 4, he was the QB with 4. Kind of an impossible task because if you are 18, it probably is Brady and maybe Mahomes, if you are a 90s kid, it probably is different than an 80s kid... I never saw Nagurski play, obviously, and I've seen docs and stuff on Thorpe but as far as cards go? I'm not really tied to it and I'm not SUCH a historian of the game that Thorpe = Babe Ruth, to me you know? My card love is inextricably tied to the 49ers so 1950 Bowman on is where my radar is picking up stuff. __________________ Will MASSIVELY overpay for: 2002 Fleer Authentix #180, 181 Derek Smith & Zack Bronson AND 2007 Upper Deck Target Exclusive Rookies Autographs #261 Joe Staley #'d to /5

08-07-2021, 04:12 PM	#91
oplum29 Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 10,405	can't believe somebody even mentioned that the Montana wasn't one of the most iconic football cards ever, the same card that was the Mona Lisa of modern football cards. even Beckett listed it as the best football card of all-time some years ago. __________________ "got em, got em, need em, got em, got em, need em, got em" - Little Monsters

08-08-2021, 12:08 AM	#99
jbmm161 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Ft Worth Posts: 666 jbmm161	What do you think are the 5 most "iconic" football cards ever? Duplicate Last edited by jbmm161; 08-08-2021 at 08:07 AM.

08-07-2021, 06:39 AM	#77
deathwished13 Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 798 deathwished13	Jim Brown 58 Topps BRADY contenders Broadway Joe tall boy Last 2 open for debate but those 3 are absolutely the top 3 iconic fellas

08-07-2021, 08:14 AM	#80
bloodwings19 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,021	1965 Topps Joe Namath RC I never heard of Joe Namath before reading stories, but I know the card from Beckett magazines, or at shows in the 90s while growing up. That is my top 1.

08-07-2021, 09:31 AM	#83
Dallas Cowboys Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Amarillo, Texas Posts: 1,093 joyboy23 legolas27	To me there are two levels of iconic: 1. The level where most collectors can picture the card in their head immediately without looking it up online. 2. The level where the general public that doesn't collect can picture it in their head without looking it up - like the Griffey rookie. I wouldn't say the Mahomes RPA falls under that status.

08-07-2021, 05:57 PM	#94
ReggieBush22 Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,673 lionpride	Great feedback everyone. So far, looks like almost near consensus is 2 cards (and I agree): 1965 Topps Namath 2000 Contenders Brady Just missing near consensus: 1981 Topps Montana Then after that, a slew of other cards.

08-08-2021, 12:26 AM	#100
jbmm161 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Ft Worth Posts: 666 jbmm161	I’m 41 didn’t really start collecting football until 1990. I had these cards all ungraded but in really nice shape and purchased for very reasonable prices around 2009/2010. I had to sell them in 2012 unfortunately. Would like to pick them all up again. Considered getting graded versions this time, but don’t think it’s gonna be in budget. Top 5 81 Topps Joe Montana 86 Topps Jerry Rice 89 Score Troy Aikman 89 Score Barry Sanders 90 Score Emmitt Smith ——— Next 5 84 Dan Marino 84 John Elway 76 Walter Payton 72 Roger Staubach 78 Tony Dorsett Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk