1969 Topps Football Card # 148 Billy Martin

Description: 1969 Topps Football Card # 148 Billy Martin - Minnesota Vikings (EX) 1960-1969 Football CardsThe 1960s football card sets elevated the football card hobby and collecting to a whole new level. This included a strong lineup of former greats and iconic card designs. The main card companies during this period consist of Topps, Fleer and Philadelphia Gum Company. They combined to offer collectors vintage 1960 football card sets for each year of the decade. Vintage football cards still rank behind baseball, but the 1960s helped close the gap.1961 was a great year for football cards as it ushered in a decade where collectors had a choice. In addition, two football leagues were now vying for fans across America as the fledging American Football League (AFL) emerged to compete against the established National Football League (NFL).The most valuable 1960s football rookie cards are available for Dick Butkus, Joe Namath and Mike Ditka. Other popular rookie options include Fran Tarkenton, Ray Nitschke, Gale Sayers, Fred Biletnikoff, Lance Alworth, Bob Lilly, Ernie Davis, Deacon Jones, Brian Piccolo, Larry Csonka, Don Meredith, Roman Gabriel, Jack Kemp, and Lenny Dawson.1969 Topps Football Trading Card SetThe largest football set at the time, 1969 Topps Football Trading Card Set offers collectors a solid overall checklist. Top rookies include Larry Csonka and Brian Piccolo. Product DetailsThe 1969 Topps Football card set includes a checklist of 263 total cards, making it the largest football card set ever produced, at that time. It was also the first time that the price of a pack of cards had increased. Wax packs were no longer merely a nickel, as 1969 saw the price double to ten cents. Additionally, it would be the last Topps Football card release before the merger of the AFL and NFL. Measuring the standard 2-1/2 by 3-1/2 inches, the set is anchored by several future Hall of Fame players, including Gale Sayers (#51), Joe Namath (#100) and Dick Butkus (#139) to name a few. Key rookie cards in the set belong to Brian Piccolo (#26) and Larry Csonka (#120).DesignThe front of the cards feature a player picture superimposed over a solid-colored background of either green, yellow, red, blue, orange or pink. A white block area at the bottom of the card contains the player's name, team and position, with a logo that extends into the rest of the card image. The first and last initials of the player's name are printed in red, with the rest of the letters in black. In contrast, the backs of the cards utilize a striking black background. A green football icon contains the card number, with the player's name, position, team and some vital stats stretching across the top. On the left side of a card, a biography is written with a box for yearly and lifetime statistics for most players. To the right is a separate green section that features a cartoon about the player.Printing and DistributionThe 1969 Topps Football card set was printed in two series, each consisting of 132 cards. The checklist card (#132), is printed in both series and has two variations. Card numbers 133-263 are slightly more difficult to locate than the first 132 cards. Topps made a slight change to the design of the second series of cards. Where the first series featured a full bleed of the background color into the edges, a white border was added to the second series cards. Also, ten cards from the second series feature pieces of a Fran Tarkenton puzzle on their backs. In addition to the cards and accompanying gum, wax packs also contained 1 of 66 inserts. At the time they were referred to as mini-cards but are more commonly known today as 4-in-1's.Errors and VariationsThe 1969 Topps Football card set contains the only card issued of Brian Piccolo before his untimely death. Interestingly, Piccolo's name is spelled differently on both sides of his card, and both are wrong. The error was never corrected. While not technically true variations, the tone of the background is prone to different hues based on ink levels at the time that particular sheet was being printed. No specific premium is placed on the cards displaying a more consistent background but they are more popular with collectors.Condition Issues and NotesThe 1969 Topps Football card set marked the last time collectors would see NFL team logos on uniform helmets and the cards themselves, for eleven years. Instead of paying the licensing fee required by the NFL, Topps decided to forgo the use of these logos. The cards from the first series, with their full bleed background are more prone to displaying chipping and edge wear than those from the second series whose border helps hide such blemishes.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. We believe that all our listings are 100% Original and Authentic unless otherwise noted. They are all covered by a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee, if for whatever reason you are not happy with your purchase we will exchange it, replace it, discount it or you can return it for a full refund. Standard Shipping via USPS Ground Advantage is $3.95 per individual item purchased. Standard/Combined Shipping via USPS Ground Advantage is $3.95 for the first card and $0.15 for each additional card when purchased through the E-bay Shopping Cart application, with a max. of (40) items per invoice. Shipping costs are subject to change as postal rates continue to increase. Estimated delivery is 3-5 days. Subject to change as postal delivery schedules continue to increase. Please see the shipping tab for current postage rates. All cards will ship in penny sleeves, top loaders, team bag & bubble wrap envelopes. 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Price: 9.95 USD

Location: Madison, Alabama

End Time: 2024-12-25T17:31:12.000Z

Shipping Cost: 3.95 USD