Technology has sure changed our lives forever, and the trading card market is no exception to the trends. But while there are many trading card and auction websites out there, there is still something uniquely great about a card show. Just as it isn't quite the same only watching football on TV, it isn't quite the same trading, buying and selling cards online exclusively. Nowadays, the best way to find investment grade football cards is to vary your approach, and investigate all possibilities both online and in your community.
Bart Starr signing autographs
The buzz of a card show, with kids (plenty of adults as well) ripping open packs and players signing autographs, these events are still a unique experience. Flea markets used to be a great spot to find a steal of a deal, and in some parts some dealers go that route, for the most part, shows are now weekly, monthly or annual events instead of a daily occurrence. Although shows aren't quite the trading ground they used to be, deals can still be made.
Obviously, the internet has made it easier to find some of these events in your area, but it has also made it easier to compare market prices and get feedback on local card shops.
eBay is, of course, one of the preferred methods to find the cards you are looking for, and includes a reputable rating system that allows for trust. Many people in the market, even those trading on other websites, will ask for an Ebay reference before being willing to deal. So having an eBy account with a decent number of transactions is one way to build a trustworthy trading profile online.
Major sports memorabilia auction companies also carry high grade football cards and while some set records, others for some reason, slip through the cracks and sell at very reasonable rates, especially in bulk.
In addition, Beckett has created quite the marketplace and trading ground for collectors, especially if you like message boards. Many other sites exist on the web, but you'll need to be careful about how you select to trade or purchase. Buying cards through Paypal can make things easier, but you'll need a reputable way to know you can trust the person, such as a rating or reference from Ebay, Beckett or another type of account.
Hobby stores are still a great place to buy cards and hobby boxes, and while you may pay premium prices at times, you're likely to have a better experience and get a better product. Plus, if you become well known at local shops, you can usually meet other collectors and benefit from a relationship with a shop owner (find out when new products arrive, insider insight etc.).
Overall, the web and card shows are the best economical ways to buy investment grade cards, and local hobby shops are definitely worth consideration as well. There is something to be said for a tangible purchase, but online you may be able to get better deals (especially in bulk). We find that a varied approach is best when looking to buy investment grade football cards. Check out links below for some high grade football cards of Hall of Famers.
| 1963 TOPPS #155 LARRY WILSON RC PSA NM 7 (ST) / HOF ST. LOUIS CARDINALS | |
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$8.99 Time Remaining: 6h 9m Buy It Now for only: $8.99 |
| 1963 TOPPS #112 TOMMY McDONALD (SP) PSA 6 / HOF PHILADELPHIA EAGLES Purple Sky | |
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$8.99 Time Remaining: 6h 13m Buy It Now for only: $8.99 |
| 1966 Topps Football #95 Don Maynard SGC 88 / PSA 8! - Centered HOF! | |
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$64.95 Time Remaining: 7h 7m Buy It Now for only: $64.95 |
| 1964 Philadelphia Gum John Henry Johnson HOF (#144) PSA8 PSA | |
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$24.95 Time Remaining: 8h 59m Buy It Now for only: $24.95 |
| 1970 TOPPS #178 BOB BROWN RAMS HOF PSA 8 F1315867 | |
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$18.99 Time Remaining: 9h 13m Buy It Now for only: $18.99 |
| 1972 TOPPS #93 TED HENDRICKS RC HOF PSA 9 (OC) F1315892 | |
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$28.99 Time Remaining: 9h 16m Buy It Now for only: $28.99 |
| 2002 Playoff Honors Rookie Stallions #RS17 Ed Reed RC AUTO Fut. HOF Ravens PSA ? | |
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$100.00 Time Remaining: 9h 33m Buy It Now for only: $300.00 |
| 1961 Topps, #72 Mike McCormick HOF, Browns, PSA 8 NMMT | |
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$22.99 Time Remaining: 9h 46m Buy It Now for only: $22.99 |
| 1970 Topps Super Glossy #6 MEL RENFRO (HOF) PSA 8 NM/MT Dallas COWBOYS | |
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$18.99 Time Remaining: 10h 4m Buy It Now for only: $18.99 |
| 1970 Topps Super Glossy #19 JIMMY JOHNSON (HOF) PSA 8 NM/MT San Francisco 49ERS | |
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$13.99 Time Remaining: 10h 10m Buy It Now for only: $13.99 |
| 1970 Topps Super Glossy #24 FLOYD LITTLE (HOF) PSA 8 NM/MT Denver BRONCOS | |
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$26.99 Time Remaining: 10h 14m Buy It Now for only: $26.99 |
| 1995 Select Certified #117 CURTIS MARTIN Rookie RC - Graded PSA MINT 9 - HOF | |
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$4.99 Time Remaining: 10h 22m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 |
| 1990 SCORE SUPPLEMENTAL #68T CORTEZ KENNEDY RC HOF PSA 9 F1111 | |
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$7.99 Time Remaining: 11h 28m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
| 1972 TOPPS JOE GREENE PSA 5 & 6 EX + EX-MT "MEAN JOE GREENE" HOF | |
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$27.99 Time Remaining: 11h 43m |
| 1996 PACIFIC #32 JONATHAN OGDEN RC HOF POP 3 PSA 10 F1291923 | |
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$45.99 Time Remaining: 12h 15m Buy It Now for only: $45.99 |
| 1996 FINEST #308 JONATHAN OGDEN RC HOF POP 5 PSA 10 F1291921 | |
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$89.99 Time Remaining: 12h 15m Buy It Now for only: $89.99 |
| 1996 COLLECTOR'S CHOICE UPDATE #U3 JONATHAN OGDEN RC HOF POP 3 PSA 9 F1291929 | |
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$12.99 Time Remaining: 12h 15m Buy It Now for only: $12.99 |
| 2005 TOPPS #123 WILLIE ROAF HOF POP 1 PSA 10 F1316613 | |
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$13.99 Time Remaining: 12h 29m Buy It Now for only: $13.99 |
| 2005 TOPPS #128 WARREN SAPP RAIDERS HOF POP 3 PSA 10 F1316620 | |
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$13.99 Time Remaining: 12h 30m Buy It Now for only: $13.99 |
| 2005 TOPPS #176 CURTIS MARTIN JETS HOF POP 2 PSA 10 F1316636 | |
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$13.99 Time Remaining: 12h 30m Buy It Now for only: $13.99 |
| 1993 TOPPS #441 WILLIE ROAF RC HOF POP 5 PSA 10 F1316643 | |
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$94.99 Time Remaining: 12h 31m Buy It Now for only: $94.99 |
| 1972 TOPPS FOOTBALL #244 HOF CHARLIE JOINER (R) PSA 4 | |
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$15.93 Time Remaining: 14h 6m Buy It Now for only: $15.93 |
| 1962 Topps #63 Bart Starr PSA 5 EX Green Bay Packers HOF Vintage | |
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$59.00 Time Remaining: 14h 36m Buy It Now for only: $59.00 |
| 1992 Topps Gold #744 Troy Aikman HOF PSA Gem Mint 10 | |
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$75.00 Time Remaining: 14h 37m Buy It Now for only: $75.00 |
| 1959 Topps, #40 Bobby Layne HOF, Steelers, PSA 8 NMMT | |
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$67.99 Time Remaining: 14h 38m Buy It Now for only: $67.99 |
| 1966 Topps, #48 George Blanda HOF, Oilers, PSA 7 NM | |
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$40.99 Time Remaining: 14h 46m Buy It Now for only: $40.99 |
| 1962 Topps #66 JIM TAYLOR (HOF) PSA 4 VG/EX Green Bay PACKERS / L.S.U. | |
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$19.99 Time Remaining: 15h 6m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 |
| 1976 Wonder Bread #14 Jack Youngblood HOF PSA 10 GEM MT | |
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$262.49 Time Remaining: 15h 10m Buy It Now for only: $262.49 |
| Jack Butler Pittsburgh Steelers 1958 Topps PSA Graded 6 HOF | |
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$19.99 Time Remaining: 15h 16m |
| 1966 Topps FB #26 JACK KEMP HOF Buffalo Bills PSA 5 h9309 | |
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$30.00 Time Remaining: 15h 39m Buy It Now for only: $30.00 |
| 1966 Topps FB #48 GEORGE BLANDA HOF Houston Oilers PSA 7 h9310 | |
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$37.00 Time Remaining: 15h 43m Buy It Now for only: $37.00 |
| 1957 Topps Fb #49 CHUCK BEDNARIK HOF Eagles PSA 7 h9320 | |
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$30.00 Time Remaining: 16h 22m Buy It Now for only: $30.00 |
| TROY AIKMAN 1992 TOPPS GOLD HIGH NUMBER GEM MINT PSA 10 DALLAS COWBOYS NFL HOF | |
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$20.00 Time Remaining: 16h 32m Buy It Now for only: $20.00 |
| 1957 Topps Raymond Berry rookie PSA 6 HOF | |
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$67.00 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 16h 38m |
| 1994 SP #3 MARSHALL FAULK FOIL HOF RC PSA 10 GEM MINT - Free Shipping | |
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$79.99 Time Remaining: 16h 45m Buy It Now for only: $79.99 |
| 1963 TOPPS CFL #56 WHITMAN TUCKER PSA 7 NQ HOF ROOKIE RC OTTAWA ROUGH RIDERS | |
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$17.83 Time Remaining: 16h 58m Buy It Now for only: $17.83 |
| 1970 Topps FB #70 GALE SAYERS Bears HOF PSA 5 h9324 | |
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$15.00 Time Remaining: 16h 59m Buy It Now for only: $15.00 |
| 1970 Topps FB #80 FRAN TARKENTON NY Giants HOF PSA 7 h9325 | |
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$18.00 Time Remaining: 17h 2m Buy It Now for only: $18.00 |
| 1963 TOPPS MIKE DITKA # 62 PSA 6 EX-MT SHARP BEARS HOF | |
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$36.99 Time Remaining: 17h 4m |
| 1958 TOPPS SONNY JURGENSEN # 90 ROOKIE CARD PSA 4 VG-EX CREASE FREE HOF | |
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$24.99 Time Remaining: 17h 5m |
| 1986 TOPPS STEVE YOUNG # 374 PSA 7 NM 49ERS ROOKIE HOF | |
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$19.99 Time Remaining: 17h 6m |
| 1988 SWELL GREATS CHUCK BEDNARIK #14 PSA/DNA SIGNED AUTO HOF PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | |
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$17.93 Time Remaining: 17h 7m Buy It Now for only: $17.93 |
| 1995 Score Red Siege Artist's Proof #206 Emmitt Smith HOF PSA Mint 9 pop 1 | |
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$75.00 Time Remaining: 17h 31m Buy It Now for only: $75.00 |
| 1998 Randy Moss Chrome RC PSA 10 Gem Mint Vikings 49ers Marshall HOF for sure!! | |
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$30.00 Time Remaining: 17h 31m Buy It Now for only: $30.00 |
| 1977 TOPPS # 360 WALTER PAYTON, CHICAGO BEARS HALL OF FAME GRADED PSA 6 EXMT | |
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$19.99 Time Remaining: 17h 33m |
| 1976 Topps #308 LEN DAWSON (HOF) PSA 8 nm/mt Kansas City CHIEFS PURDUE | |
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$12.99 Time Remaining: 17h 34m Buy It Now for only: $12.99 |
| 1976 Topps #148 WALTER PAYTON (R-HOF) PSA 4 vg/ex Chicago BEARS nice eye-appeal | |
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$99.99 Time Remaining: 17h 41m Buy It Now for only: $99.99 |
| 1985 MCDONALDS BLUE WALTER PAYTON PSA 6 Chicago Bears HOF | |
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$90.00 Time Remaining: 17h 44m Buy It Now for only: $90.00 |
| 1966 Mel Renfro (HOF) . PSA Graded Mint 9. NO RESERVE. BV $415.00 | |
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$299.00 Time Remaining: 18h 33m |
| 1995 SCORE #214 DAN MARINO PSA 10 GEM MINT HOF MIAMI DOLPHINS GRADED CARD | |
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$10.77 Time Remaining: 18h 34m Buy It Now for only: $10.77 |
| 1995 BOWMAN #40 DAN MARINO PSA 10 GEM MINT HOF POP 10 MIAMI DOLPHINS CARD | |
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$10.77 Time Remaining: 18h 36m Buy It Now for only: $10.77 |
| 1995 SELECT CERTIFIED #30 DAN MARINO PSA 10 GEM MINT HOF MIAMI DOLPHINS CARD | |
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$10.77 Time Remaining: 18h 37m Buy It Now for only: $10.77 |
| 1995 FLAIR #111 DAN MARINO PSA 10 GEM MINT HOF MIAMI DOLPHINS GRADED CARD | |
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$10.77 Time Remaining: 18h 40m Buy It Now for only: $10.77 |
| 1995 UPPER DECK #103 DAN MARINO PSA 10 GEM MINT POP 9 HOF MIAMI DOLPHINS CARD | |
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$10.77 Time Remaining: 18h 40m Buy It Now for only: $10.77 |
| 1991 UPPER DECK #465 DAN MARINO PSA 10 GEM MINT HOF MIAMI DOLPHINS FOOTBALL CARD | |
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$10.75 Time Remaining: 18h 40m Buy It Now for only: $10.75 |
| 1996 COLLECTOR'S CHOICE MVP #M25 DAN MARINO PSA 10 GEM MINT HOF MIAMI DOLPHINS | |
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$10.78 Time Remaining: 18h 40m Buy It Now for only: $10.78 |
| 1995 SKYBOX PREMIUM #72 DAN MARINO PSA 10 GEM MINT HOF MIAMI DOLPHINS CARD | |
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$10.77 Time Remaining: 18h 40m Buy It Now for only: $10.77 |
| 1995 SCORE #36 DAN MARINO PSA 10 GEM MINT HOF MIAMI DOLPHINS GRADED CARD | |
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$10.77 Time Remaining: 18h 40m Buy It Now for only: $10.77 |
| 1995 UPPERDECK SP #170 DAN MARINO PSA 10 GEM MINT HOF MIAMI DOLPHINS CARD | |
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$10.77 Time Remaining: 18h 40m Buy It Now for only: $10.77 |
| 1996 COLLECTOR'S CHOICE #183 DAN MARINO PSA 10 GEM MINT HOF MIAMI DOLPHINS CARD | |
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$10.78 Time Remaining: 18h 40m Buy It Now for only: $10.78 |
| 1995 PINNACLE #22 DAN MARINO PSA 10 GEM MINT HOF MIAMI DOLPHINS GRADED CARD | |
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$10.77 Time Remaining: 18h 40m Buy It Now for only: $10.77 |
| 1995 FLEER FLAIR PREVIEW #18 DAN MARINO PSA 10 GEM MINT HOF MIAMI DOLPHINS CARD | |
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$10.77 Time Remaining: 18h 40m Buy It Now for only: $10.77 |
| 1986 Topps #22 Dan Hampton Autographed PSA/DNA Auto Chicago Bears 1985 Champ HOF | |
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$39.00 Time Remaining: 18h 44m Buy It Now for only: $39.00 |
| 1955 Topps All American Football #85 Sid Luckman HOF Columbia PSA 7 NM | |
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$66.00 (11 Bids) Time Remaining: 18h 47m |
| 1951 Bowman Football #4 Norm Van Brocklin HOF Los Angeles Rams PSA 5 EX | |
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$41.01 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 18h 47m |
| 1955 Bowman Football Misspelled Tunnel #136 Emlen Tunnell HOF Giants PSA 3 VG | |
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$5.50 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 18h 47m |
| 1962 Topps Football #110 Sam Huff HOF New York Giants PSA 5 EX | |
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$2.27 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 18h 47m |
| 1964 TOPPS CFL #17 JERRY KEELING PSA 6.5 NQ HOF QB CALGARY STAMPEDERS FOOTBALL | |
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$14.78 Time Remaining: 18h 54m Buy It Now for only: $14.78 |
| 1964 TOPPS CFL #15 DON LUZZI PSA 7 NQ HOF POP 9 CALGARY STAMPEDERS FOOTBALL CARD | |
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$14.78 Time Remaining: 18h 54m Buy It Now for only: $14.78 |
| 1963 Topps Football #68 Doug Atkins HOF Chicago Bears PSA 7 NM | |
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$3.75 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 18h 58m |
| 1997 Upper Deck Legends #178 Joe Montana 49ers AUTO HOF PSA/DNA | |
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$42.03 (9 Bids) Time Remaining: 19h 3m |
| 1978 TOPPS #10 KEN HOUSTON PSA/DNA SIGNED AUTOGRAPH NFL HOF WASHINGTON REDSKINS | |
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$20.87 Time Remaining: 19h 9m Buy It Now for only: $20.87 |
| 1962 TOPPS CFL #155 GERRY JAMES PSA 8 NQ HOF WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBER POP 4 NONE ^ | |
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$20.77 Time Remaining: 19h 13m Buy It Now for only: $20.77 |
| 1962 TOPPS CFL #155 GERRY JAMES PSA 8 NQ HOF BLUE BOMBERS POP 4 NONE HIGHER | |
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$20.77 Time Remaining: 19h 13m Buy It Now for only: $20.77 |
| 1962 TOPPS CFL 159 LEO LEWIS PSA 8 HOF THE LINCOLN LOCOMOTIVE POP 5 BLUE BOMBERS | |
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$20.77 Time Remaining: 19h 13m Buy It Now for only: $20.77 |
| 1962 TOPPS CFL #165 FRANK RIGNEY PSA 8 HOF BLUE BOMBERS POP 4 NONE GRADED HIGHER | |
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$20.77 Time Remaining: 19h 13m Buy It Now for only: $20.77 |
| 1962 TOPPS CFL #165 FRANK RIGNEY PSA 8 HOF BLUE BOMBERS POP 4 NONE GRADED HIGHER | |
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$20.77 Time Remaining: 19h 13m Buy It Now for only: $20.77 |
| 1962 TOPPS CFL #163 KENNY PLOEN PSA 8 HOF WINNIPEG BOMBERS POP 2 NONE HIGH ERROR | |
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$20.77 Time Remaining: 19h 13m Buy It Now for only: $20.77 |
| 1962 TOPPS CFL #159 LEO LEWIS PSA 8 HOF WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS LINCOLN LOCOMOTIVE | |
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$20.77 Time Remaining: 19h 13m Buy It Now for only: $20.77 |
| 1985 FOOTBALL IMMORTALS BOB LILLY #70 PSA/DNA SIGNED AUTOGRAPH HOF DALLAS COWBOY | |
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$23.91 Time Remaining: 19h 23m Buy It Now for only: $23.91 |
| DAN DIERDORF 1981 TOPPS PSA 10 Gem Mint HOF | |
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$32.00 Time Remaining: 19h 35m Buy It Now for only: $32.00 |
| 1959 Topps Football #114 Roosevelt Brown HOF (New York Giants) PSA 8 NM-MT | |
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$30.00 Time Remaining: 19h 51m |
| 2001 Donruss Elite #47 Dan Marino PSA 8 POP 1 THIS IS THE ONLY ONE HOF | |
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$7.99 Time Remaining: 20h 20m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
| 1999 Score Numbers Game #15 Barry Sanders PSA 8 POP 1 THIS IS THE ONLY ONE HOF | |
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$7.99 Time Remaining: 20h 20m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
| 1999 Score Franchise #4 Barry Sanders PSA 8 POP 1 THIS IS THE ONLY ONE HOF | |
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$7.99 Time Remaining: 20h 20m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
| 1986 MCDONALDS AS BLUE WALTER PAYTON PSA 8 HOF Chicago Bears | |
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$40.00 Time Remaining: 20h 20m Buy It Now for only: $40.00 |
| 1980 TOPPS SUPER #30 WALTER PAYTON PSA 8 BEARS HOF | |
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$45.00 Time Remaining: 20h 20m Buy It Now for only: $45.00 |
| 1985 MCDONALDS YELLOW WALTER PAYTON PSA 6 BEARS HOF Chicago Bears | |
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$75.00 Time Remaining: 20h 20m Buy It Now for only: $75.00 |
| 1998 UD Choice Starquest #13 Dan Marino PSA 8 POP 3 HOF | |
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$7.99 Time Remaining: 20h 20m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
| 1991 Fleer Stars n Stripes #70 Emmitt Smith PSA 8 POP 5 WOW ONLY 5 HOF | |
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$11.96 Time Remaining: 20h 21m Buy It Now for only: $11.96 |
| 1985 MCDONALD'S ORANGE WALTER PAYTON PSA 6 BEARS HOF Chicago Bears | |
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$100.00 Time Remaining: 20h 41m Buy It Now for only: $100.00 |
| 1968 Topps #192 CHARLIE TAYLOR Redskins HOF PSA 9 Mint | |
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$95.00 Time Remaining: 21h 29m Buy It Now for only: $95.00 |
| 1972 TOPPS 230 MEAN JOE GREENE ---Graded PSA 9--- $250 Pittsburgh Steelers HOF | |
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$39.99 Time Remaining: 1d 5h 19m Buy It Now for only: $149.99 |
| 1997 Skybox Autographics Larry Allen PSA/DNA 10 Auto Dallas Cowboys HOF 2013 | |
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$199.99 Time Remaining: 1d 7h 32m Buy It Now for only: $199.99 |
| 1993 SP #6 Jerome Bettis RC PSA/DNA Certified Authentic Auto HOF 2014? Autograph | |
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$149.99 Time Remaining: 1d 7h 33m Buy It Now for only: $149.99 |
| 1990 Swell Admission Coupon Pro Football HOF Ray Nitschke AUTO PSA/DNA Certified | |
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$99.99 Time Remaining: 1d 8h 37m Buy It Now for only: $199.99 |
| 2002 Topps Chrome Ed Reed Baltimore Ravens #208 RC PSA 9 Future HOF | |
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$35.20 Time Remaining: 1d 9h 23m Buy It Now for only: $75.00 |
| 1990 ACTION PACKED ROOKIE UPDATE #46 SHANNON SHARPE HOF RC PSA 8 F1336934 | |
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$14.99 Time Remaining: 1d 9h 47m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 |
| 1980 STOP 'N' GO #47 JACK HAM STEELERS HOF PSA 9 F1336959 | |
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$9.99 Time Remaining: 1d 9h 49m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
| 1982 TOPPS #153 MIKE HAYNES PATRIOTS HOF PSA 9 F1336944 | |
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$7.99 Time Remaining: 1d 9h 49m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
