1991 Pro Line Portraits Football Cards
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Product Details
1991 Pro Line Portraits Football has the distinction of being the first set to include certified autograph cards of many great players and coaches. Included on the autograph checklist are not only rookies of that year and stars from that era, but retired greats and Hall of Fame players. Produced right at the height of an era in the hobby where just about everything was overproduced, values remain in check despite the strong autograph checklist.
One of the characteristics that set 1991 Pro Line Portraits Football apart from other products of the era was the photography. Despite being a fully licensed NFL product, the set gave collectors a more candid, if not even glamorous, look at the league's stars.
Not content to simply deliver on-field action shots or posed images, the product takes a much more relaxed approach. Many players are photographed in workout gear or street clothes. It being 1991, many of these fashions are extremely dated today, giving it even more character. The lighting and angle of the photographs vary greatly providing a unique look to the set.
Fronts use full-bleed photos. A small NFL shield and the product name are the only other design elements.
Card backs have the player's name, team and position. Instead of the customary biographical and statistical information, a quote from the player is used instead. This provides for a more personalized card that was designed to compliment the photography.
The 1991 Pro Line Portraits set was released as a single series with 36 packs per box and 12 cards per pack. The product was distributed through multiple retail channels including hobby shops and department stores.
The complete base set consists of 300 total cards, including 24 rookies. The most notable players are Ed McAffrey, coach Bill Belichick, Chris Zorich and Herman Moore.
1991 Pro Line Portraits Football also has a handful of basic inserts and one promo card. The insert cards are the Amhad Rashad Family, golfer Payne Stewart, Emmitt Smith and a mail-away Santa Claus. There's also a seven-card insert set focusing on the wives of popular players. Among them are Jennifer Montana, Janet Elway and Phylicia Rashad.
The inclusion of Stewart in the product was an attempt at cross-over appeal as Stewart had recently won that year's U.S. Open.
Ahmad Rashad, upon retiring from the NFL, entered broadcasting, working for both NBC and ABC. At the time, NBC's The Cosby Show was one of the highest rated sitcoms on TV. In a highly publicized event, Rashad proposed, on live TV, to the show's co-star Phylicia Ayers, who played Clair Huxtable. Again, the idea of creating the Rashad Family card as an insert, helped the product receive some mainstream press coverage.
The promo card of the Kansas City Chiefs' Derrick Thomas was distributed in advance of the product release to dealers and collectors.
1991 Pro Line Portraits Football maintains its relevance today for being the first set to deliver certified autographs of numerous Hall of Fame players. Instead of creating a different card set, the players autographed the back of their base cards.
While this sounds like a recipe for counterfeiting disaster, there is an easy way to spot pack-inserted cards. These cards are embossed on one corner with a seal that can be seen on both the front and back.
The autograph checklist is extensive, with 302 signers. In addition to the football players, the seven wives and Payne Stewart also signed copies of their cards. Santa Claus also "signed" a limited number of his cards as well. These autographed cards were randomly inserted into packs at a rate of between one and three per case.
The more notable players and coaches to have signed for the product include Walter Payton, Jerry Rice, Jimmie Johnson, Jim Kelly, Emmitt Smith, O.J. Simpson, Troy Aikman and Dan Marino.
Despite a hefty print run, 1991 Pro Line Portraits Football was ahead of its time in many ways, most notably for the extensive autograph checklist. A fun product to open to this day, boxes can be found for at very reasonable prices. It's not a bad gamble for a shot at some of the autographs whose values still command good money.
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Set Checklist
1991 Pro Line Portraits Football Set Checklist
Base Set Checklist
2 Carl Banks
3 Neal Anderson
4 James Brooks
5 Reggie Langhorne
6 Robert Awalt
7 Greg Kragen
8 Steve Young
9 Nick Bell RC
10 Ray Childress
11 Albert Bentley
12 Albert Lewis
13 Howie Long
14 Willie Anderson
15 Mark Clayton
16 Jarrod Bunch RC
17 Bruce Armstrong
18 Vinnie Clark RC
19 Rob Moore
20 Eric Allen
21 Timm Rosenbach
22 Gary Anderson
23 Martin Bayless
24 Kevin Fagan
25 Brian Blades
26 Gary Anderson
27 Earnest Byner
28 O.J. Simpson
29 Dan Henning
30 Sean Landeta
31 James Lofton
32 Mike Singletary
33 David Fulcher
34 Mark Murphy
35 Issiac Holt
36 Dennis Smith
37 Lomas Brown
38 Ernest Givins
39 Duane Bickett
40 Barry Word
41 Tony Mandarich
42 Cleveland Gary
43 Ferrell Edmunds
44 Randal Hill RC
45 Irving Fryar
46 Henry Jones RC
47 Blair Thomas
48 Andre Waters
49 J.T. Smith
50 Thomas Everett
51 Marion Butts
52 Tom Rathman
53 Vann McElroy
54 Mark Carrier
55 Jim Lachey
56 Joe Theismann
57 Jerry Glanville
58 Doug Riesenberg
59 Cornelius Bennett
60 Mark Carrier
61 Rodney Holman
62 Leroy Hoard
63 Michael Irvin
64 Bobby Humphrey
65 Mel Gray
66 Brian Noble
67 Al Smith
68 Eric Dickerson
69 Steve DeBerg
70 Jay Schroeder
71 Irv Pankey
72 Reggie Roby
73 Wade Wilson
74 Johnny Rembert
75 Russell Maryland RC
76 Al Toon
77 Randall Cunningham
78 Lonnie Young
79 Carnell Lake
80 Burt Grossman
81 Jim Mora
82 Dave Krieg
83 Bruce Hill
84 Ricky Sanders
85 Roger Staubach
86 Richard Williamson
87 Everson Walls
88 Shane Conlan
89 Mike Ditka
90 Mark Bortz
91 Tim McGee
92 Michael Dean Perry
93 Danny Noonan
94 Mark Jackson
95 Chris Miller
96 Ed McCaffrey RC
97 Lorenzo White
98 Ray Donaldson
99 Nick Lowery
100 Steve Smith
101 Jackie Slater
102 Louis Oliver
103 Kanavis McGhee RC
104 Ray Agnew
105 Sam Mills
106 Bill Pickel
107 Keith Byars
108 Ricky Proehl
109 Merril Hoge
110 Rod Bernstine
111 Andy Heck
112 Broderick Thomas
113 Andre Collins
114 Paul Warfield
115 Bill Belichick RC
116 Ottis Anderson
117 Andre Reed
118 Andre Rison
119 Dexter Carter
120 Anthony Munoz
121 Bernie Kosar
122 Alonzo Highsmith
123 David Treadwell
124 Rodney Peete
125 Haywood Jeffires
126 Clarence Verdin
127 Christian Okoye
128 Greg Townsend
129 Tom Newberry
130 Keith Sims
131 Myron Guyton
132 Andre Tippett
133 Steve Walsh
134 Erik McMillan
135 Jim McMahon
136 Derek Hill
137 D.J. Johnson
138 Leslie O'Neal
139 Pierce Holt
140 Cortez Kennedy
141 Danny Peebles
142 Alvin Walton
143 Drew Pearson
144 Dick MacPherson
145 Erik Howard
146 Steve Tasker
147 Bill Fralic
148 Don Warren
149 Eric Thomas
150 Jack Pardee
152 Leonard Marshall
153 Chris Spielman
154 Sam Wyche
155 Rohn Stark
156 Stephone Paige
157 Lionel Washington
158 Henry Ellard
159 Dan Marino
160 Lindy Infante
161 Dan McGwire RC
162 Ken O'Brien
163 Tim McDonald
164 Louis Lipps
165 Billy Joe Tolliver
166 Harris Barton
167 Tony Woods
168 Matt Millen
169 Gale Sayers
170 Ron Meyer
171 William Roberts
172 Thurman Thomas
173 Steve McMichael
174 Ickey Woods
175 Eugene Lockhart
176 George Seifert
177 Keith Jones
178 Jack Trudeau
179 Kevin Porter
180 Ronnie Lott
181 Marty Schottenheimer
182 Morten Andersen
183 Anthony Thompson
184 Tim Worley
185 Billy Ray Smith
186 David Whitmore RC
187 Jacob Green
188 Browning Nagle RC
189 Franco Harris
190 Art Shell
191 Bart Oates
192 William Perry
193 Chuck Noll
194 Troy Aikman
195 Jeff George
196 Derrick Thomas
197 Roger Craig
198 John Fourcade
199 Rod Woodson
200 Anthony Miller
201 Jerry Rice
202 Eugene Robinson
203 Charles Mann
204 Mel Blount
205 Don Shula
206 Jumbo Elliott
207 Jay Hilgenberg
208 Deron Cherry
209 Dan Reeves
210 Roman Phifer RC
211 David Little
212 Lee Williams
213 John Taylor
214 Monte Coleman
215 Walter Payton
216 John Robinson
217 Pepper Johnson
218 Tom Thayer
219 Dan Saleaumua
220 Ernest Spears RC
221 Bubby Brister
222 Junior Seau
223 Brent Jones
224 Rufus Porter
225 Jack Kemp
226 Wayne Fontes
227 Phil Simms
228 Shaun Gayle
229 Bill Maas
230 Renaldo Turnbull
231 Bryan Hinkle
232 Gary Plummer
233 Jerry Burns
234 Lawrence Taylor
235 Joe Gibbs
236 Neil Smith
237 Rich Kotite
238 Jim Covert
239 Tim Grunhard
240 Joe Bugel
241 David Wyman
242 Maury Buford
243 Kevin Ross
244 Jimmy Johnson
245 Jim Morrissey RC
246 Jeff Hostetler
247 Andre Ware
248 Steve Largent
249 Chuck Knox
250 Boomer Esiason
251 Kevin Butler
252 Bruce Smith
253 Webster Slaughter
254 Mike Sherrard
255 Steve Broussard
256 Warren Moon
257 John Elway
258 Bob Golic
259 Jim Everett
260 Bruce Coslet
261 James Francis
262 Eric Dorsey
263 Marcus Dupree
264 Hart Lee Dykes
265 Vinny Testaverde
266 Chip Lohmiller
267 John Riggins
268 Mike Schad
269 Kevin Greene
270 Dean Biasucci
271 Mike Pritchard RC
272 Ted Washington RC
273 Alfred Williams RC
274 Chris Zorich RC
275 Reggie Barrett
276 Chris Hinton
277 Tracy Johnson RC
278 Jim Harbaugh
279 John Roper
280 Mike Dumas RC
281 Herman Moore RC
282 Eric Turner RC
283 Steve Atwater
284 Michael Cofer
285 Darion Conner
286 Darryl Talley
287 Donnell Woolford
288 Keith McCants
289 Ray Handley
290 Ahmad Rashad
291 Eric Swann RC
292 Dalton Hilliard
293 Rickey Jackson
294 Vaughan Johnson
295 Eric Martin
296 Pat Swilling
297 Anthony Carter
298 Guy McIntyre
299 Bennie Blades
300 Paul Farren
Inserts Set Checklist
2 Payne Stewart
Emmitt Smith
Santa Claus Captain SP
Autographs Set Checklist
2 Troy Aikman
3 Eric Allen
4 Morten Andersen
5 Flipper Anderson
6 Gary Anderson
7 Gary Anderson
8 Neal Anderson
9 Ottis Anderson
10 Bruce Armstrong
11 Steve Atwater
12 Robert Awalt
13 Carl Banks
14 Reggie Barrett
15 Harris Barton
16 Martin Bayless
17 Bill Belichick
18 Nick Bell
19 Cornelius Bennett
20 Albert Bentley
21 Rod Bernstine
22 Dean Biasucci
23 Duane Bickett
24 Bennie Blades
25 Brian Blades
26 Mel Blount
27 Mark Bortz
28 Bubby Brister
29 James Brooks
30 Steve Broussard
31 Lomas Brown
32 Maury Buford
33 Joe Bugel
34 Jarrod Bunch
35 Jerry Burns
36 Kevin Butler
37 Marion Butts
38 Keith Byars
39 Earnest Byner
40 Mark Carrier SP
41 Mark Carrier
42 Anthony Carter
43 Dexter Carter
44 Deron Cherry
45 Ray Childress
46 Vinnie Clark
47 Mark Clayton
48 Michael Cofer
49 Monte Coleman
50 Andre Collins
51 Shane Conlan
52 Darion Conner
53 Bruce Coslet
54 Jim Covert
55 Roger Craig
56 Randall Cunningham
57 Steve DeBerg
58 Eric Dickerson
59 Mike Ditka
60 Ray Donaldson
61 Eric Dorsey
62 Mike Dumas
63 Marcus Dupree
64 Hart Lee Dykes
65 Ferrell Edmunds
66 Henry Ellard
67 Jumbo Elliott
68 John Elway
69 Boomer Esiason
70 Jim Everett
71 Thomas Everett
72 Kevin Fagan
73 Paul Farren
74 Wayne Fontes
75 John Fourcade
76 Bill Fralic
77 James Francis SP
78 Irving Fryar
79 David Fulcher
80 Cleveland Gary
81 Shaun Gayle
82 Jeff George
83 Joe Gibbs
84 Ernest Givins
85 Jerry Glanville
86 Bob Golic
87 Mel Gray
88 Jacob Green
89 Kevin Greene
90 Burt Grossman
91 Tim Grunhard
92 Myron Guyton
93 Ray Handley
94 Jim Harbaugh
95 Franco Harris
96 Andy Heck
97 Dan Henning
98 Alonzo Highsmith SP
99 Jay Hilgenberg
100 Bruce Hill
101 Derek Hill
102 Randal Hill
103 Dalton Hilliard
104 Bryan Hinkle
105 Chris Hinton
106 Leroy Hoard
107 Merril Hoge
108 Rodney Holman SP
109 Issiac Holt
110 Pierce Holt
111 Jeff Hostetler
112 Erik Howard
113 Bobby Humphrey
114 Lindy Infante
115 Michael Irvin
116 Mark Jackson
117 Rickey Jackson
118 Haywood Jeffires
119 D.J. Johnson
120 Jimmy Johnson
121 Pepper Johnson
122 Tracy Johnson
123 Vaughan Johnson
124 Brent Jones
125 Henry Jones
126 Keith Jones
127 Jim Kelly (2 versions)
128 Jack Kemp (Autopen)
129 Cortez Kennedy
130 Chuck Knox
131 Bernie Kosar
132 Rich Kotite
133 Greg Kragen
134 Dave Krieg
135 Jim Lachey
136 Carnell Lake
137 Sean Landeta
138 Reggie Langhorne SP
139 Steve Largent
140 Albert Lewis
141 Louis Lipps
142 David Little
143 Eugene Lockhart
144 James Lofton
145 Chip Lohmiller
146 Howie Long
147 Ronnie Lott
148 Nick Lowery
149 Dick MacPherson
150 Ed McCaffrey
151 Keith McCants
153 Tim McGee
154 Kanavis McGhee
155 Dan McGwire
156 Guy McIntyre SP
157 Jim McMahon SP
158 Steve McMichael
159 Erik McMillan
160 Bill Maas
161 Tony Mandarich
162 Charles Mann
163 Dan Marino
164 Leonard Marshall
165 Eric Martin
166 Russell Maryland
167 Tim McDonald SP
168 Ron Meyer
169 Matt Millen
170 Anthony Miller
171 Chris Miller
172 Sam Mills
173 Warren Moon
174 Herman Moore
175 Rob Moore
176 Jim Mora
177 Jim Morrissey
178 Anthony Munoz
179 Mark Murphy
180 Browning Nagle
181 Tom Newberry
182 Brian Noble
183 Chuck Noll
184 Danny Noonan
185 Ken O'Brien
186 Leslie O'Neal
187 Bart Oates
188 Christian Okoye
189 Louis Oliver
190 Stephone Paige
191 Irv Pankey
192 Jack Pardee
193 Walter Payton
194 Drew Pearson
195 Danny Peebles
196 Rodney Peete
197 Michael Dean Perry
198 William Perry
199 Roman Phifer
200 Bill Pickel
201 Gary Plummer
202 Kevin Porter
203 Rufus Porter
204 Mike Pritchard
205 Ricky Proehl
206 Ahmad Rashad SP
207 Tom Rathman
208 Andre Reed
209 Dan Reeves
210 Johnny Rembert
211 Jerry Rice
212 Doug Riesenberg
213 John Riggins
214 Andre Rison (Pen)
215 Andre Rison (Sharpie)
216 William Roberts
217 Eugene Robinson
218 John Robinson
219 Reggie Roby
220 John Roper
221 Timm Rosenbach
222 Kevin Ross
223 Ricky Sanders
224 Dan Saleaumua
225 Gale Sayers
226 Mike Schad
227 M. Schottenheimer
228 Jay Schroeder
229 Junior Seau
230 George Seifert
231 Art Shell
232 Mike Sherrard
233 Don Shula
234 O.J. Simpson
235 Phil Simms
236 Keith Sims
237 Mike Singletary
238 Jackie Slater
239 Webster Slaughter
240 Al Smith
241 Billy Ray Smith
242 Bruce Smith
243 Dennis Smith
244 J.T. Smith
245 Emmitt Smith SP
246 Neil Smith
247 Steve Smith
248 Ernest Spears
249 Chris Spielman
250 Rohn Stark
251 Roger Staubach
252 Eric Swann
253 Pat Swilling
254 Darryl Talley
255 Steve Tasker
256 John Taylor
257 Lawrence Taylor
258 Vinny Testaverde
259 Tom Thayer
260 Joe Theismann
261 Blair Thomas
262 Broderick Thomas
263 Derrick Thomas
264 Eric Thomas
265 Thurman Thomas
266 Anthony Thompson
267 Andre Tippett
268 Billy Joe Tolliver
269 Al Toon
270 Greg Townsend SP
271 David Treadwell
272 Jack Trudeau
273 Renaldo Turnbull
274 Eric Turner
275 Clarence Verdin
276 Everson Walls
277 Steve Walsh
278 Alvin Walton
279 Andre Ware
280 Paul Warfield
281 Don Warren
282 Lionel Washington SP
283 Ted Washington
284 Andre Waters
285 Lorenzo White
286 David Whitmore
287 Alfred Williams
288 Lee Williams
289 Richard Williamson
290 Wade Wilson
291 Ickey Woods
292 Tony Woods
293 Rod Woodson
294 Donnell Woolford
295 Barry Word
296 Tim Worley
297 Sam Wyche
298 David Wyman
299 Lonnie Young
300 Steve Young
301 Gary Zimmerman
302 Chris Zorich
Insert Autographs Set Checklist
Santa Claus "Santa"
Santa Claus #Santa Claus" #/200
Promo Set Checklist
Wives Set Checklist
2 Babette Kosar
3 Janet Elway
4 Michelle Oates
5 Toni Lipps
6 Stacey O'Brien
7 Phylicia Rashad
Nate H
Been having a blast getting into these lately. As a kid, I got a few packs, but never knew there were autos to go after. After purchasing a few cards of the set, I decided to buy two boxes. Five packs in, I got a Junior Seau auto which was in great shape. Only inserts or parallels so far are the wives’ cards. Only 2/3 through first box. On a pace whereupon completing base set in one box is doable. Most fun I’ve had opening cards in a long time.