Yesterday I added 297 scanned cards of my 1991 Pro Line set (out of 300) that football fans may want to check out:

http://www.sportscollectors.net/PhotoAlbum.aspx?a=49

pictured are John Elway, Jerry Rice, John Riggins, Bruce Smith, Walter Payton, Eric Dickerson

The 1991 Pro Line Portraits football set has had a special place in my heart as it does for many collectors. The new Photos & Collections feature gives me an excuse to show them off.

I immediately fell in love with the great photographs of the players out of uniform on the fronts and the interesting quotes on the backs. It was especially cool that so many of the players are in Apex One apparel and I used to work for them not long after the set came out.

Also, this was the set that inspired the insert autograph madness that has forever changed the hobby. I remember the autographs from this set being highly sought after and going for relatively good money in the early 90's.

The ones inserted into packs have the certified stamp in the lower right corner, don't have numbers, and are mostly signed on the back and - like the example below.

With me being a poor student at the time, I figured trying to get them signed by mail would be a better option.

I believe the first one I got was of Jim McMahon back in 1993 or 1994. It's been an amazing challenge collecting this set over the years.

During the summer of 1995, I sent out quite a bunch of these cards - as most of the players were still active. I got decent responses, and I remember my initial goal was to get at least one card signed representing every team in the NFL.

It is amazing how guys from the early 90's had periods where you could get them for free TTM. The vast majority of the coaches signed by mail, so that was easy. Then there guys with short windows like Jackie Slater when he worked for ESPN his first year after retirement, Jerry Rice during his last year with the 49ers, Bruce Smith right after retirement, and Anthony Miller in 2002.

I have only gotten one In Person - and that was former Michigan and Giants RB Jarrod Bunch. He and his brother Milton came to Apex One to pick up some jackets and were nice enough to sign my card.

I just acquired the Dan Marino and Don Warren last night to bring me to 299 of 300, so I'll scan them in when I get them. 

All I need is Mark Clayton to finish the set. I can go buy a certified on for $15-20 now, but I'd rather have one signed on the front. I would also like to upgrade the two certified cards that I have not yet upgraded  to ones with sigs on the front - Erik Howard and J.T. Smith.

If I do manage to finish this set, it will be my first. It has given me tremendous enjoyment and passion working on this project. I think I have gotten more than 75% of these cards signed by the mail - thanks to Harvey and thanks to the members of this site.

I am also working on the 1992 Pro Line Portraits (15 away) and the 1993 Pro Line Portraits (4 away) sets that I'm fairly close to finishing. Unfortunately I need Al Davis, Art Monk, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, and Lynn Swann among others.

PRINT  |  PERMALINK        

Recent Topics

Month List