Why is 1981 Topps unlicensed?

JWBlue · 10-05-2020, 01:29 AM

Shame Montana RC doesn’t have a 49ers logo.

deemsterz33 · 10-05-2020, 03:04 AM

It is licensed, hence why they can use the name of the team on the card. Not all licensed cards use a team logo.

Ferg1945 · 10-05-2020, 03:19 AM

Guess I never noticed it before. None of the helmets on the cards have the logos either.

Most of the cards are sideline shots without helmets.

deemsterz33 · 10-05-2020, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferg1945

Guess I never noticed it before. None of the helmets on the cards have the logos either.

Most of the cards are sideline shots without helmets.

Interestingly enough it looks like Topps only used sideline shots and logo-less helmets in every set prior to 1982.

rcmb3220 · 10-05-2020, 06:46 AM

It’s not just 1981. Most years around that time show the logos airbrushes from helmets and not used on the card. Fleer had a license to produce cards with logos but not have player names on the card. So that might have had something to do with it. But Fleer and Topps produced cards with logos in 1982, so maybe Topps was just being cheap.

estang · 10-05-2020, 07:16 AM

Topps didn't have NFL licenses to use team logos from 1970 through 1981.

As stated, Fleer had them during this time to produce team sticker, patches, and Team Action card sets that started in 1976.

Disappointing when looking back, but that's why you see so many portrait and sideline cards without helmets on them.

nfcsaints · 10-05-2020, 09:17 AM

Was a bit confused upon first read as I collect Nolan Cromwell and know his ‘81 card pictures him wearing his helmet that includes the horns. Maybe that isn’t technically considered a “logo”?

bmann33 · 10-05-2020, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by estang

Topps didn't have NFL licenses to use team logos from 1970 through 1981.

As stated, Fleer had them during this time to produce team sticker, patches, and Team Action card sets that started in 1976.

Disappointing when looking back, but that's why you see so many portrait and sideline cards without helmets on them.

I had no idea-even on Montana’s RC, it’s easy to overlook. Thanks for the info.

whoshotjr · 10-05-2020, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nfcsaints

Was a bit confused upon first read as I collect Nolan Cromwell and know his ‘81 card pictures him wearing his helmet that includes the horns. Maybe that isn’t technically considered a “logo”?

Looked up the card and it looks like the curl of the horns was airbrushed off. Looks like a generic stripe rather than the true Rams helmet.

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no10pin · 10-05-2020, 10:44 AM

I was looking at some of them on COMC, and the weird thing is that a lot of the 1981 Topps Stickers aren't airbrushed.

Maybe they were produced right after they got the license to use logos?

glen87 · 10-05-2020, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deemsterz33

It is licensed, hence why they can use the name of the team on the card. Not all licensed cards use a team logo.

not locensed by the nfl. so all of the rookies during those years are technically unlicensed - montana, payton, fouts, harris, oj, etc

Throughout the 1970s until 1982, Topps did not have the rights to reproduce the actual team logos on the helmets and uniforms of the players; curiously, these could be found on the Fleer sets of the same era, but Fleer could not name specific player names (likely an issue of Topps holding the National Football League Players Association license and Fleer holding the license from the league). As a result, helmet logos for these teams were airbrushed out on a routine basis.

glen87 · 10-05-2020, 10:49 AM

and don't forget 1990 topps is also unlicensed as well by the league.

they did have nflpa license, but not nfl.

glen87 · 10-05-2020, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nfcsaints

Was a bit confused upon first read as I collect Nolan Cromwell and know his ‘81 card pictures him wearing his helmet that includes the horns. Maybe that isn’t technically considered a “logo”?

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoshotjr

Looked up the card and it looks like the curl of the horns was airbrushed off. Looks like a generic stripe rather than the true Rams helmet.

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

no - this has been a topic for nearly 40 years - for some reason the rams horn "logo" was on cards. here are just some of the 1979 ones:

glen87 · 10-05-2020, 10:56 AM

https://sportscollectorsdigest.com/c...football-cards

JWBlue · 10-05-2020, 11:15 AM

Does this mean Montana’s 1982 Topps card is undervalued since it is licensed?

whoshotjr · 10-05-2020, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glen87

no - this has been a topic for nearly 40 years - for some reason the rams horn "logo" was on cards. here are just some of the 1979 ones:

If you look at Glen Walker, if it wasn't airbrushed, you would be able to see the yellow curl of the horn underneath where his facemask connects to his helmet. You would also probably be able to see some of the curl around the ear hole as that almost touches where the face mask opens.

It seems like they left the top part of the logo, but airbrushed out the last 25% or so that loops around the ear hole.

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glen87 · 10-05-2020, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWBlue

Does this mean Montana’s 1982 Topps card is undervalued since it is licensed?

probably not - because frankly i do not even know how many people still do not realize it is unlicensed.

Ferg1945 · 10-05-2020, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no10pin

I was looking at some of them on COMC, and the weird thing is that a lot of the 1981 Topps Stickers aren't airbrushed.

Maybe they were produced right after they got the license to use logos?

Maybe it was a "sportscard" only type of deal. Stickers were fine.

glen87 · 10-05-2020, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferg1945

Maybe it was a "sportscard" only type of deal. Stickers were fine.

probably the same as they are currently doing with the NHL for stickers

deemsterz33 · 10-05-2020, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glen87

not locensed by the nfl. so all of the rookies during those years are technically unlicensed - montana, payton, fouts, harris, oj, etc

Throughout the 1970s until 1982, Topps did not have the rights to reproduce the actual team logos on the helmets and uniforms of the players; curiously, these could be found on the Fleer sets of the same era, but Fleer could not name specific player names (likely an issue of Topps holding the National Football League Players Association license and Fleer holding the license from the league). As a result, helmet logos for these teams were airbrushed out on a routine basis.

Thanks for clarifying. Same issue happened with 2009-10 Topps basketball.

10-05-2020, 01:29 AM	#1
JWBlue Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 10,269	Why is 1981 Topps unlicensed? Shame Montana RC doesn’t have a 49ers logo.

10-05-2020, 09:17 AM	#7
nfcsaints Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,795 nfcsaints	Was a bit confused upon first read as I collect Nolan Cromwell and know his ‘81 card pictures him wearing his helmet that includes the horns. Maybe that isn’t technically considered a “logo”? __________________ SUPERCOLLECTING Jim Everett and Henry Ellard Jim Everett (804/841 = 95%) Henry Ellard (524/602= 87%)

10-05-2020, 10:44 AM	#10
no10pin Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 16,952 no10pin no10pin	I was looking at some of them on COMC, and the weird thing is that a lot of the 1981 Topps Stickers aren't airbrushed. Maybe they were produced right after they got the license to use logos? __________________ Always looking for more George Brett stuff. Need more rookies, low numbered inserts/parallels and on-card autos (no Panini).

10-05-2020, 10:49 AM	#12
glen87 Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: VERMONT Posts: 74,545 glen87 glen87	and don't forget 1990 topps is also unlicensed as well by the league. they did have nflpa license, but not nfl. __________________ collecting James Madison University players of all sports JMU cards: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jmucards/ other cards: https://www.flickr.com/photos/glen87/albums

10-05-2020, 10:56 AM	#14
glen87 Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: VERMONT Posts: 74,545 glen87 glen87	https://sportscollectorsdigest.com/c...football-cards __________________ collecting James Madison University players of all sports JMU cards: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jmucards/ other cards: https://www.flickr.com/photos/glen87/albums

10-05-2020, 03:04 AM	#2
deemsterz33 Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 5,934 phunkified	It is licensed, hence why they can use the name of the team on the card. Not all licensed cards use a team logo.

10-05-2020, 03:19 AM	#3
Ferg1945 Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Midwest Posts: 14,720	Guess I never noticed it before. None of the helmets on the cards have the logos either. Most of the cards are sideline shots without helmets.

10-05-2020, 06:46 AM	#5
rcmb3220 Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 4,136	It’s not just 1981. Most years around that time show the logos airbrushes from helmets and not used on the card. Fleer had a license to produce cards with logos but not have player names on the card. So that might have had something to do with it. But Fleer and Topps produced cards with logos in 1982, so maybe Topps was just being cheap.

10-05-2020, 07:16 AM	#6
estang Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: USA Posts: 104 hstang	Topps didn't have NFL licenses to use team logos from 1970 through 1981. As stated, Fleer had them during this time to produce team sticker, patches, and Team Action card sets that started in 1976. Disappointing when looking back, but that's why you see so many portrait and sideline cards without helmets on them.

10-05-2020, 11:15 AM	#15
JWBlue Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 10,269	Does this mean Montana’s 1982 Topps card is undervalued since it is licensed?