Cards From the Best Players of the 1980s
The 1980s built upon previous decades in not only the growing popularity of the NFL but in the significant presence Topps had in establishing iconic collectibles that would mark the beginnings of careers and incredible milestones seen throughout the decade. The rookie classes we would see in the ’80s were second to none, with 1983 alone welcoming in John Elway, Dan Marino, and Jim Kelly. 1984 would have Steve Young, 1989 would see Troy Aikman enter the league.
There was possibly no decade with more memorable teams than the ’80s. The New York Football Giants and Lawrence Taylor would wreak havoc upon the league, the Washington Redskins would win multiple Super Bowls, the Bears would do the Super Bowl Shuffle, and the 49ers would win more than any other team. Wide receivers drafted in the ’80s would redefine the position with Hall of Famers such as Art Monk, Jerry Rice, Andre Reed, Cris Carter and, Michael Irvin all seeing their rookie cards printed in the “Decade of Decadence.”
The Funkiest Cards Of The ’80s
1986 Topps Football Walter Payton in Motion #9 Bears Team Leaders
Player info
• Each team had “team leaders” (of rushing, receiving, ints, sacks, tkls) – horizontal card featuring their star player
• Winners of Super Bowl XX
Set info
• 396 card set
• Set also features box bottom cutouts, each of the 1985 division winners, and a 1000 Yard Club featuring the top rushers of the season
card back
• Features stats of Bears team leaders for the ’85 season: Walter Payton / Leslie Frazier / Richard Dent / Gary Fencik, and the team’s schedule and game results
1985 Topps Football Record Breaker #2 Eric Dickerson
Player info
• Eric Dickerson’s rushing record of 2,105 yards gained in a single season (1984) still stands today
• Next-closest rusher is Adrian peterson with 2,097 yards in 2012
Card info
• 528 card set
• Inserts include conference championship game cards, and team leaders cards
card back
• info on Dickerson’s rushing record, which topped OJ Simpson’s 2,003 rushing yards in 1973
1988 Topps Football #327 Bo Jackson RC
Player info
• Selected by bucs first overall in 1986 NFL draft, but chose to sign with Kansas city royals to play in MLB
• Eventually played his NFL rookie year with raiders in week 8 of the 1987 NFL season, after MLB season was done. In week 12, he rushed for 221 yards, 2 TDs, and added 1 catch for 14 yds and a td
Card info
• 396 card set
• glossy 1000-yard club inserts
card back
• Vitals, career stats to that point, and a mention of his heisman win at auburn in 1985, as well as his iconic 221-yard game.
1987 Topps Football 1000 Yard Club #21 Cris Collinsworth
Player info
• 1983 first team all-pro
• Three-time pro bowl selection
Card info
• 24 glossy thousand yard club cards
card back
• a game log of collinsworth’s 1986 season receiving stats for the bengals
1982 Topps Football #434 Lawrence Taylor RC
Player info
• 1981 defensive rookie of the year
• 1981 and 1982 NFL defensive player of the year
• 1986 NFL MVP and defensive player of the year
Card info
• 1982 marks the first time since 1969 that topps could use nfl-licensed logos on cards
card back
• Vitals, and a recap of his rookie year, as well as a seemingly randomized giants team record (player with most kickoff return yards)
1984 Topps Football #63 John Elway RC
Player info
• 1987 ap NFL MVP
• two-time super bowl winner (XXXII, XXXIII), super bowl XXXIII MVP
Card info
• 396 card set
• First cards to ever feature a tilted image
card back
• vitals, college baseball factoid, and a brief bio of his rookie year along with rookie year stats
1984 Topps Football #123 Dan Marino RC
Player info
• 1984 AP NFL MVP and offensive player of the year
• Most seasons leading league in pass attempts: 5 (1984, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1997)
Card info
• 396 card set
• inserts include conference stat leaders, 1000-yard club, conference championship game cards, and super bowl card
card back
• vitals, a factoid about becoming a QB in the 4th grade, a brief bio of his all-rookie team season and rookie year stats
1986 Topps Football #161 Jerry Rice RC
Player info
• Most career receiving yards (22,895), TDs (197), receptions (1,549) and just about every other record in the book
• six-time NFL receiving touchdowns leader (1986, 1987, 1989–1991, 1993), two-time Super bowl winner (there’s not enough room to list everything)
Card info
• 396 card set
• inserts include conference stat leaders, 1000-yard club, conference championship game cards, and super bowl card
card back
• vitals, a brief bio recalling his college career, and stats from his rookie year in which his 927 receiving yards set a 49ers rookie record
