1951 Topps Magic Football Cards

Product Details

When it comes to early gridiron cards, 1951 Topps Magic Football was a little different than most.

For its second set of collegiate football players, Topps went with a gimmick, incorporating scratch-off areas that hid the identity of the college the player represented. This time, however, Topps went through the motions of producing a set of cards that could be issued in its own wax package along with a slab of gum.

1951 Topps Magic Football Set Details

The 1951 Topps Magic Football cards were larger (2 1/16 inches by 2 15/16 inches) and issued inside penny packs or as perforated two-card panels that came three to a nickel pack. The cards that were issued in panel form are often found with tabs at the top or bottom.

Card fronts feature a colorized action shot of a player. At the bottom of the picture is a black box that contains his name, position and team nickname. A thick black line and then a white border surrounding the photo.

The 1951 Topps Magic Football backs are oriented vertically, with a card number in the upper left corner. The player's name runs along the top, followed by his age, height and weight. A short write-up about the player appears, along with a picture of his school's mascot and a question about which school he attends.

When the cards originally came out of the package, the bottom half of the back was covered with a scratch-off surface that covered a picture of his school grounds. Cards that still have the scratch-off surface present are given a premium over those that have been scratched. Intact two-card panels are very rare.

There are 75 cards in the 1951 Topps Magic Football checklist. The top overall option is the rookie card Heisman Trophy winner Vic Janowicz. In addition, Babe Parilli, Bill Wade, George Young, Marion Campbell and Bert Rechichar are also rookies found in the set.

Key 1951 Topps Magic Football Cards:

• Vic Janowicz RC #10
• Babe Parilli RC #4
• Bill Wade RC #2
• George Young RC #48
• Marion Campbell RC #19