Who to look for?
 

I'm not an active futbol card collector but I've picked up some rare Pele cards just because I was in a position to find them before anyone else. That happens a lot in my internet travels and I was wondering if there were other futbol players from older eras that I should be scooping up if I come across.

Anyone pre-1920?

1920-1940?

1940-Pele?

Pele's playing days?

After Pele, I know of Maradona and then that's it until you get to players that are still active like Ronaldo. My searches don't really go more recent than 1980 so I'm not interested in any modern players.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Arthur

Even a casual fan, and that's essentially what I am maybe just slightly more knowledgeable, should consider having Cruyff and Distefano and Beckenbauer, I would think.

One day I will start a thread on the TOP 10 vintage soccer cards that everyone should own. Some of the cards that will be on this list include the 1947 Nannina Ferenc Puskas, 1946 Monte Cudine Alfredo Di Stefano & 1964 Barratt George Best.

I also want to add one more thing: just because a player was extremely talented, it doesn't mean he is popular with collectors. One example is Franz Beckenbauer. There are a lot of people who would rank him in the top 5, and yet his cards sell for very little.

Thanks guys, I'll keep a look out for those names.

Arthur

The name George Best has already been mentioned and that's certainly a player to keep an eye on from a collecting perspective. It also helps that the highlights of his career were spent with Manchester United, the most collectable British club by some distance.


The other name to keep a look out for, within the context of players from the British Isles is Bobby Moore who played in the same era as George Best (and Pele). He captained the England side that won the 1966 World Cup.


As I've stated previously on this forum, my knowledge of cards is very limited. However, more generally, when Best or Moore items (match worn shirts etc) come up for auction, they attract a significant premium over those relating to other big name British players of the period.

Shhh . . . Don't Tell Anyone Else
 

Part of me doesn't want to share who I collect because it just will increase the prices I have to pay for their cards. Like I once heard, when someone asks strangers "where's the best fishing hole" they'll never get a response (unless it's a lie).

That said, I really believe the best way to help soccer cards grow as a hobby is to share the knowledge we have all accumulated, as it will increase the interest in soccer cards and all boats will raise together.

As such, I will share the names I collect. It's worth noting my interest is Vintage Soccer. I chose these players because they seem to have the most history and interest. I actually know next to nothing about soccer and am really just a baseball card collector, but have found a lot of enjoyment dabbling in soccer because it is soooooo much less expensive to find really cool old cards of famous stars. So here is my list of more vintage players:

#1 I collect Pele because everyone has heard of him and he's the Babe Ruth of Soccer.

For vintage (pre-1930s) British cards I collect Billy Meredith, Steve Bloomer & GO Smith. Meredith & Bloomer seem to be early stars and GO Smith I latched onto because he has a small cult following.

Nasazzi & Andrade - these are players on the original 1920s and 1930s Uruguayan soccer squad that won the first World Cup (1930) and the 1928 Olympics. There are also others on the squad worth collecting

For the early Spanish league, I collect Zamora and Alcantara, who were early Spanish stars from the 1920s. Zarra also gets honorable mention as he had the most goals before Messi and Ronaldo came along (although he is more '40s - '50s). And definitely DiStefano is on this list.

For the Italian league, Piola and Meazza are the big names I have honed in on as worth collecting from the '30s.

Additionally, other more modern stars (40s - 80s) worth noting would be Dixie Dean, George Best, Eusebio, Maradona, Ronaldo, Baggio, Puskas, Yashin, Nordahl, Garrincha, Zico, Beckenbauer, Platini, & Cruyff.

You can see a full list of what I collect in the Soccer Roll Call Thread which I recommend you post in if you haven't already: http://net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=258087

Good luck and happy hunting! Hopefully you don't price me out :D

Awesome, thanks for sharing!

Arthur

Bobby Charlton?

You would think so given his Manchester United history. However, for some reason, much less sought after (memorabilia-wise generally, not card-specific) than Best or Moore.

England collectors love Moore. Manchester United collectors love Best.

For example, I purchased an England match-worn jersey of Charlton's with cast-iron provenance (Sothebys in London as part of the collection of an opposition international player and shirt could be dated to the game) for much less than I would have needed to pay for an equivalent Best or Moore shirt.