Note: Grading is based on Image Centering & Die Strike more than overall cardboard condition due to the amount of variation in this process. 

The numerous 1960s football card sets produced elevated the football card hobby and collecting to a whole new level, which include 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 60’s. Vintage football cards still rank behind baseball, but the 1960s helped close the gap.

The first year of the decade 1960 was a great year for football cards as it ushered in a decade where collectors could buy two different football card sets. Two football leagues were now vying for fans across America as the fledging American Football League brought their wide open play to the Gridiron that fall. And two different card manufactures, Topps and Fleer each has a small 132 card set for the season. This really set the stage for football cards to take off.

The most valuable 1960s football rookie cards are 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.

The largest football set at the time, 1969 Topps Football offers collectors a solid overall checklist. Top rookies include Larry Csonka and Brian Piccolo.

The 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).

Design

The 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 Distribution

The 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 Variations

The 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 Notes

The 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.

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