Jim Brown’s top trading cards and collectibles

Pro football in the 1950s and ’60s was a different game than today. The past few decades have brought rules changes, expansion, a far more explosive passing game, and scheduling differences (the current 17-game season vs. 12 and then 14 in the 1950s and ’60s). As a result, the statistics we see now vs. those in Jim Brown’s era are an apples-and-oranges situation.

To wit: Brown was the NFL’s all-time rushing leader when he retired in 1965. Today, he’s not even in the top 10. His total of 12,312 rushing yards has been surpassed by Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton and even Frank Gore, along with seven others.

But make no mistake: Jim Brown is the NFL’s all-time best running back and maybe its best all-around player. He was more dominant in his era than anyone. His 6-foot-2, 232-pound frame no doubt would bowl over today’s defenders just as it did in the 1960s. 

Also See: Jim Brown makes collector's dream come true 

If you aren’t familiar enough with Brown’s rugged style, your assignment is to search his name on YouTube and click on any of the videos. Each will illustrate his power, speed, athleticism and determination. Not to be missed: the one titled “Jim Brown Highlights (Final Version).”

Brown led the NFL in rushing in eight out of his nine seasons — and then walked away from the game at age 29. He never missed a game, and, as he said, “was never laid out on the football field.” But he did lay out plenty of defenders on his way to 126 touchdowns in 118 games.

So it’s no surprise that Brown is in the uppermost echelon of football’s most collectible names. After his passing at age 87 on May 18, he’s become an even more desirable target for collectors. And really, all gridiron collectors should have some Jim Brown items in their stash.

The holy grail? His rookie card, of course. Issued in Topps’ 1958 set, it’s a gem. It pictures a colorized photograph of Brown in a running pose, making a cut with a football cradled in his right arm. 

PHOTO GALLERY: A special Jim Brown/Cleveland Browns collection 

In 9 condition, it can exceed $325,000 in value. An 8-grade Brown rookie can also push the $300,000 mark. If you’re okay with a 4-, 5- or 6-grade example, you can snag one for $3,000 to $6,000.

While high-grade ’58 Brown rookie cards usually change hands at major auction houses, you can find slightly lower-grade examples on eBay. Consider these listings from recent weeks:

• In March 2023, two months before Brown’s passing, a PSA 7.5 sold for $11,101 on 75 bids.

• Also in March, a host of PSA 6 examples brought prices of $3,751 on 30 bids, $3,300 on 78 bids and $3,107 on 62 bids. Two days after Brown’s death, a PSA 6 brought a similar price: $3,700 on 37 bids.

• In an auction that closed four days after his passing, a PSA 4 Brown rookie brought $5,355 on 43 bids.

Beyond Brown’s rookie card, there are plenty of appealing but more budget-friendly alternatives. Here’s a look at five gems that help celebrate the legendary Cleveland Browns fullback.

• 1959 Topps: Brown’s second-year card captures him in a striking low-angle pose and an almost icy glare that seems to reflect his steely determination. Two recent examples graded PSA 8 sold for the nearly identical prices of $1,629 (32 bids) and $1,636 (64 bids).

Also See: Emmitt Smith collection tells story of historic NFL career 

• 1961 Fleer: Brown is featured in his white jersey on the front of this card. The reverse lacks stats but points out his “perfect blend of size, muscle, and speed.” A PSA 8 example went for just $1,340 on 18 bids, while another fetched $1,300 on 38 bids.

• 1964 Philadelphia: This one is notable because it features a photograph of Brown in uniform posing strategically in front of his own Cadillac, which was parked on the street behind him. A PSA 8 example of this classic recently sold for $556 on 41 bids.

• 1966 Philadelphia: The front of Brown’s final player card presents a head-and-shoulders photo while the reverse rattles off the stellar stats he compiled in his last season: 1,544 yards on 289 carries for a 5.3 yards per-carry average. A well-preserved example graded PSA 8 sold for $1,556 on 22 bids in a recent eBay auction.

• 2000 Upper Deck Legends. This might be the best-looking among dozens of different Brown-signed cards issued after he retired. The front features an in-your-face action shot of Brown barreling directly at us on a power sweep, with his quarterback Frank Ryan trailing behind him. Brown’s bold signature is inked across the bottom. A PSA-authenticated (but not graded) example of this card got away for just $441 on 24 bids.

Also See: Ray Lewis offers career memorabilia through Emmitt Smith's Notable Live

Brown also appeared on a number of trading-card oddities, including various food issues. Examples: 

• A 1962 Post Cereal graded PSA 4 recently brought $200 on eBay.

• In the early 1960s, Khan’s Weiners put out multiple Brown cards that today can bring $1,000 to $2,000 or more, depending on condition.

• A rare food issue came from Bazooka’s 1959 set. None have sold in recent months on eBay, but at press time, three ungraded examples were offered with prices between $3,000 and $4,000.

One of the most intriguing Jim Brown items to sell after his passing was a check written to him by NBA legend Bill Russell. The check was for $300 and was dated Dec. 5, 1978. Both legends’ signatures appear on the check: Russell on the front (with a formal “William F. Russell”), with Brown’s endorsement on the back.

Also See: Bill Russell rookie card sets record 

The auction attracted 20 bids at eBay, selling for $2,033. The seller, alas, took a loss. His listing tells us, “I bid on and won this very rare and unique item in 2021 when Bill Russell auctioned off all of his personal items from his personal collection. … I paid $4,230 plus shipping and taxes in December 2021.” 

— For more auction news from Online Auctioneer Larry Canale, subscribe to Sports Collectors Digest here.