1997 Upper Deck Legends Football
Original SRP: $4.99 Per Pack
- 208 Card Base Set
- 162 Card Autograph Checklist
1997 Upper Deck Legends Football is widely considered one of the top football sets of all-time and is the benchmark for all other ‘legend’ themed sets that followed. The stunning photography mixed with the main draw, the massive on-card autograph set, has kept ’97 UD Legends Football popular years after it’s original release. It was the first mainstream football set to exclusively feature retired players.
The print run for the base set autograph cards are not known, and many of them are short printed (SP). The border-less cards, coupled with the black bottoms make the 1997 UD Legends cards prone to chipping and fraying at the edges. I’ve also seen a few of the on-card autographs fade over time, (in particular a Freddie Solomon) but it hasn’t been a huge issue with all of the cards in the set.
In 2008, Upper Deck released a 1997 UD Legends Update set by inserting them, one per case, into 2008 UD Ultimate Collection Football. The cards have the same exact design as the cards from ’97 and also feature on-card autographs. The Update Set cards are numbered so that it actually continues the ’97 set. The complete checklist can be found by scrolling down the page.
1997 UD Legends – Base Set Checklist
1 Bart Starr
2 Jim Brown
3 Joe Namath
4 Walter Payton
5 Terry Bradshaw
6 Franco Harris
7 Dan Fouts
8 Steve Largent
9 Johnny Unitas
10 Gayle Sayers
11 Roger Staubach
12 Tony Dorsett
13 Fran Tarkenton
14 Charley Taylor
15 Ray Nitschke
16 Jim Ringo
17 Dick Butkus
18 Fred Biletnikoff
19 Lenny Moore
20 Len Dawson
21 Lance Alworth
22 Chuck Bednarik
23 Raymond Berry
24 Donnie Shell
25 Mel Blount
26 Willie Brown
27 Ken Houston
28 Larry Csonka
29 Mike Ditka
30 Art Donovan
31 Sam Huff
32 Lem Barney
33 Hugh McElhenny
34 Otto Graham
35 Joe Greene
36 Mike Rozier
37 Lou Groza
38 Ted Hendricks
39 Elroy Hirsch
40 Paul Hornung
41 Charlie Joiner
42 Deacon Jones
43 Bill Bradley
44 Floyd Little
45 Willie Lanier
46 Bob Lilly
47 Sid Luckman
48 John Mackey
49 Don Maynard
50 Mike McCormack
51 Bobby Mitchell
52 Ron Mix
53 Marion Motley
54 Leo Nomellini
55 Mark Duper
56 Mel Renfro
57 Jim Otto
58 Alan Page
59 Joe Jet Perry
60 Andy Robustelli
61 Lee Roy Selmon
62 Jackie Smith
63 Art Shell
64 Jan Stenerud
65 Gene Upshaw
66 Y.A. Tittle
67 Paul Warfield
68 Kellen Winslow
69 Randy White
70 Larry Wilson
71 Willie Wood
72 Jack Ham
73 Jack Youngblood
74 Danny Abramowicz
75 Dick Anderson
76 Ken Anderson
77 Steve Bartkowski
78 Bill Bergey
79 Rocky Bleier
80 Cliff Branch
81 John Brodie
82 Bobby Bell
83 Billy Cannon
84 Gino Capelletti
85 Harold Carmichael
86 Dave Casper
87 Wes Chandler
88 Todd Christensen
89 Dwight Clark
90 Mark Clayton
91 Cris Collinsworth
92 Roger Craig
93 Randy Cross
94 Isaac Curtis
95 Mike Curtis
96 Ben Davidson
97 Fred Dean
98 Tom Dempsey
99 Eric Dickerson
100 Lynn Dickey
101 John McKay
102 Carl Eller
103 Chuck Foreman
104 Russ Francis
105 Joe Gibbs
106 Gary Garrison
107 Randy Gradishar
108 L.C. Greenwood
109 Rosie Grier
110 Steve Grogan
111 Ray Guy
112 John Hadl
113 Jim Hart
114 George Halas
115 Mike Haynes
116 Charley Hennigan
117 Chuck Howley
118 Harold Jackson
119 Tom Jackson
120 Ron Jaworski
121 John Jefferson
122 Billy WS Johnson
123 Ed Too Tall Jones
124 Jack Kemp
125 Jim Kiick
126 Billy Kilmer
127 Jerry Kramer
128 Paul Krause
129 Daryle Lamonica
130 Bill Walsh
131 James Lofton
132 Hank Stram
133 Archie Manning
134 Jim Marshall
135 Harvey Martin
136 Tommy McDonald
137 Max McGee
138 Reggie McKenzie
139 Karl Mecklenberg
140 Tom Landry
141 Terry Metcalf
142 Matt Millen
143 Earl Morrall
144 Mercury Morris
145 Chuck Noll
146 Joe Morris
147 Mark Moseley
148 Haven Moses
149 Chuck Muncie
150 Anthony Munoz
151 Tommy Nobis
152 Babe Parilli
153 Drew Pearson
154 Ozzie Newsome
155 Jim Plunkett
156 William Perry
157 Johnny Robinson
158 Ahmad Rashad
159 George Rogers
160 Sterling Sharpe
161 Billy Sims
162 Sid Gillman
163 Mike Singletary
164 Charlie Sanders
165 Bubba Smith
166 Ken Stabler
167 Freddie Solomon
168 John Stallworth
169 Dwight Stephenson
170 Vince Lombardi
171 Weeb Ewbank
172 Lionel Taylor
173 Otis Taylor
174 Joe Theismann
175 Bob Trumpy
176 Mike Webster
177 Jim Zorn
178 Joe Montana
179 Packer Defense
180 Bart Starr
181 Max McGee
182 Joe Namath
183 Johnny Unitas
184 Len Dawson
185 Chuck Howley
186 Roger Staubach
187 Paul Warfield
188 Larry Csonka
189 Fran Tarkenton
190 Terry Bradshaw
191 Ken Stabler
192 Fred Biletnikoff
193 Chuck Foreman
194 Harvey Martin
195 Tony Dorsett
196 Terry Bradshaw
197 John Stallworth
198 Franco Harris
199 Ken Anderson
200 Joe Thiesman
201 Jim Plunkett
202 Roger Craig
203 William Perry
204 Steve Grogan
205 Joe Montana
206 Russ Francis
207 Joe Montana
208 Joe Montana
1997 UD Legends – Autograph Checklist
ODDS: 1:5 Packs – Hobby Box
Redemption Expiration Date: 10/15/1998
SP – Denotes Short Print
Please note that Billy Johnson, Fred Dean, Russ Francis, Sid Luckman, Bob Trumpy, Willie Wood, and Mike Webster all did not sign their redemption cards. UD sent replacement cards for those who did redeem a redemption card of those players.
AL1 Bart Starr SP
AL2 Jim Brown SP
AL3 Joe Namath SP
AL4 Walter Payton SP
AL5 Terry Bradshaw SP
AL6 Franco Harris SP
AL7 Dan Fouts
AL8 Steve Largent
AL9 Johnny Unitas SP
AL10 Gale Sayers
AL11 Roger Staubach
AL12 Tony Dorsett SP
AL13 Fran Tarkenton
AL14 Charley Taylor
AL15 Ray Nitschke
AL16 Jim Ringo
AL17 Dick Butkus SP
AL18 Fred Biletnikoff
AL19 Lenny Moore
AL20 Len Dawson
AL21 Lance Alworth SP
AL22 Chuck Bednarik
AL23 Raymond Berry
AL24 Donnie Shell
AL25 Mel Blount
AL26 Willie Brown
AL27 Ken Houston
AL28 Larry Csonka SP
AL29 Mike Ditka
AL30 Art Donovan
AL31 Sam Huff
AL32 Lem Barney
AL33 Hugh McElhenny
AL34 Otto Graham
AL35 Joe Greene SP
AL36 Mike Rozier
AL37 Lou Groza
AL38 Ted Hendricks
AL39 Elroy Hirsch
AL40 Paul Hornung
AL41 Charlie Joiner
AL42 Deacon Jones
AL43 Bill Bradley
AL44 Floyd Little
AL45 Willie Lanier
AL46 Bob Lilly
AL47 Sid Luckman EXCH
AL48 John Mackey
AL49 Don Maynard
AL50 Mike McCormack
AL51 Bobby Mitchell
AL52 Ron Mix
AL53 Marion Motley
AL54 Leo Nomellini
AL55 Mark Duper
AL56 Mel Renfro
AL57 Jim Otto
AL58 Alan Page
AL59 Joe Perry
AL60 Andy Robustelli
AL61 Lee Roy Selmon
AL62 Jackie Smith
AL63 Art Shell SP
AL64 Jan Stenerud
AL65 Gene Upshaw
AL66 Y.A. Tittle
AL67 Paul Warfield
AL68 Kellen Winslow
AL69 Randy White
AL70 Larry Wilson
AL71 Willie Wood EXCH
AL72 Jack Ham
AL73 Jack Youngblood
AL74 Danny Abramowicz
AL75 Dick Anderson
AL76 Ken Anderson
AL77 Steve Bartkowski
AL78 Bill Bergey
AL79 Rocky Bleier
AL80 Cliff Branch
AL81 John Brodie
AL82 Bobby Bell
AL83 Billy Cannon SP
AL84 Gino Cappelletti
AL85 Harold Carmichael
AL86 Dave Casper
AL87 Wes Chandler
AL88 Todd Christensen
AL89 Dwight Clark
AL90 Mark Clayton
AL91 Cris Collinsworth
AL92 Roger Craig
AL93 Randy Cross
AL94 Isaac Curtis
AL95 Mike Curtis
AL96 Ben Davidson
AL97 Fred Dean EXCH
AL98 Tom Dempsey
AL99 Eric Dickerson
AL100 Lynn Dickey
AL102 Carl Eller
AL103 Chuck Foreman
AL104 Russ Francis SP
AL106 Gary Garrison
AL107 Randy Gradishar
AL108 L.C. Greenwood
AL109 Rosey Grier
AL110 Steve Grogan
AL111 Ray Guy
AL112 John Hadl
AL113 Jim Hart
AL115 Mike Haynes
AL116 Charlie Hennigan
AL117 Chuck Howley
AL118 Harold Jackson
AL119 Tom Jackson
AL120 Ron Jaworski
AL121 John Jefferson
AL122 Billy Johnson EXCH
AL123 Ed Too Tall Jones
AL124 Jack Kemp
AL125 Jim Kiick
AL126 Billy Kilmer
AL127 Jerry Kramer
AL128 Paul Krause
AL129 Daryle Lamonica
AL131 James Lofton
AL133 Archie Manning
AL134 Jim Marshall
AL135 Harvey Martin
AL136 Tommy McDonald
AL137 Max McGee
AL138 Reggie McKenzie
AL139 Karl Mecklenburg
AL141 Terry Metcalf
AL142 Matt Millen SP
AL143 Earl Morrall
AL144 Mercury Morris
AL146 Joe Morris
AL147 Mark Moseley
AL148 Haven Moses
AL149 Chuck Muncie
AL150 Anthony Munoz
AL151 Tommy Nobis
AL152 Babe Parilli
AL153 Drew Pearson
AL154 Ozzie Newsome
AL155 Jim Plunkett
AL156 William Perry
AL157 Johnny Robinson
AL158 Ahmad Rashad
AL159 George Rogers
AL160 Sterling Sharpe
AL161 Billy Sims
AL163 Mike Singletary
AL164 Charlie Sanders
AL165 Bubba Smith SP
AL166 Ken Stabler
AL167 Freddie Solomon
AL168 John Stallworth
AL169 Dwight Stephenson
AL172 Lionel Taylor
AL173 Otis Taylor SP
AL174 Joe Theismann
AL175 Bob Trumpy EXCH
AL176 Mike Webster SP
AL177 Jim Zorn
AL178 Joe Montana
2008 Ultimate Collection – 1997 UD Legends Update Set
ODDS: 1 Per Case of 2008 Ultimate Collection Football
SP – Denotes Short Print
- #179 Steve Young
- #180 Emmitt Smith SP
- #181 Barry Sanders
- #182 Brett Favre SP
- #183 Rod Woodson
- #184 Jerry Rice SP
- #185 Jim Kelly
- #186 Troy Aikman
- #187 John Elway
- #189 Daryl Johnston SP
- #191 Marshall Faulk
- #193 Bo Jackson
- #194 Tom Rathman
- #195 Brian Bosworth
1997 UD Legends – Big Game Hunters
- ODDS: 1:75 Packs – Hobby Box
- ODDS: 1:58 Special Retail Packs
- All Cards Are Die-Cut W/ Oval Photos
BG 1 Joe Montana
BG 2 Bart Starr
BG 3 Roger Staubach
BG 4 Johnny Unitas
BG 5 Terry Bradshaw
BG 6 Ken Stabler
BG 7 Jim Plunkett
BG 8 Len Dawson
BG 9 Fran Tarkenton
BG 10 Dan Fouts
BG 11 Daryle Lamonica
BG 12 Y.A. Tittle
BG 13 Joe Namath
BG 14 Kenny Anderson
BG 15 John Brodie
BG 16 Billy Kilmer
BG 17 Earl Morrall
BG 18 Jack Kemp
BG 19 Stev Grogan
BG 20 Joe Thiesmann
1997 UD Legends – Marquee Matchups
- ODDS: 1:17 Packs – Hobby Box
- ODDS: 1:8 Special Retail Packs
MM 1 Joe Namath/Dan Fouts
MM 2 Johnny Unitas/Joe Namath
MM 3 Len Dawson/Bart Starr
MM 4 Roger Staubach/Fran Tarkenton
MM 5 Terry Bradshaw/Ken Stabler
MM 6 Joe Montana/Kenny Anderson
MM 7 Bart Starr/Johnny Unitas
MM 8 Joe Greene/Jim Kiick
MM 9 Franco Harris/Walter Payton
MM 10 Ken Stabler/Dan Fouts
MM 11 Charlie Joiner/Steve Largent
MM 12 James Lofton/Drew Pearson
MM 13 John Brodie/Deacon Jones
MM 14 Fred Biletnikoff/Don Maynard
MM 15 Jim Brown/Chuck Bednarik
MM 16 Ray Nitschke/Gayle Sayers
MM 17 Paul Hornung/Dick Butkus
MM 18 Joe Montana/Eric Dickerson
MM 19 Tony Dorsett/Mike Singletary
MM 20 Billy Sims/Chuck Foreman
MM 21 Len Dawson/Willie Brown
MM 22 Johnny Robinson/Larry Wilson
MM 23 Marion Motley/Raymond Berry
MM 24 Ron Mix/Jim Otto
MM 25 Roger Staubach/Terry Bradshaw
MM 26 Bob Lilly/Billy Kilmer
MM 27 Ted Hendricks/Russ Francis
MM 28 Babe Parilli/Jack Kemp
MM 29 Deacon Jones/Alan Page
MM 30 Dick Butkus/Ray Nitschke
1997 UD Legends – Sign of the Times Autographs
Print Run – 100 Copies
- ST 1 Joe Montana
- ST 2 Fran Tarkenton
- ST 3 Johnny Unitas
- ST 4 Joe Namath
- ST 5 Terry Bradshaw
- ST 6 Jim Brown
- ST 7 Franco Harris
- ST 8 Walter Payton
- ST 9 Steve Largent
- ST 10 Bart Starr
1997 UD Legends – Jumbo Box Topper
- Inserted as a Box Topper in Special Retail Boxes
- Approx. 5×7 in size
