Honestly, if you're looking for the absolute holy grail of sports history, you don't look at modern flashy chrome cards. You look at the Jim Thorpe football card. Most people forget that Thorpe wasn't just a name in a history book; he was the first real "multiverse" athlete. He won Olympic gold in the decathlon and pentathlon, played professional baseball for the New York Giants, and was basically the reason the NFL even exists today.
But here's the thing. Finding an authentic Jim Thorpe football card is like trying to find a needle in a haystack that's currently on fire. Because he played in an era before mass-produced trading cards were really a "thing," his cards are exceptionally rare. We’re talking about a guy who was the first president of what became the NFL. You’d think there would be thousands of cards, right? Nope.
The market for Thorpe is weirdly specific. You've got cards issued during his playing days, which are mostly baseball-related, and then you have the legendary "post-career" football cards that every serious vintage collector dreams of owning.
Why the 1933 Goudey Sport Kings Jim Thorpe Is King
If you ask any high-end collector about the definitive Jim Thorpe football card, they’ll point you straight to the 1933 Goudey Sport Kings #6. This isn't just a football card. It's a multi-sport masterpiece. Goudey decided to put the greatest athletes of the era in one set—Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and, of course, Thorpe.
Technically, this is Thorpe’s first "major" card that shows him in a football context. Even though he had been retired from the NFL (then the APFA) for a few years, Goudey knew his legend was too big to ignore.
The Price of Greatness
Let's talk money, because that’s what everyone wants to know. In 2026, the prices for a Goudey Thorpe are basically in "buy a small house" territory for high grades.
👉 See also: Why the Marlins Won World Series Titles Twice and Then Disappeared
- PSA 8 (NM-MT): These have historically crossed the $45,000 to $50,000 mark.
- PSA 9 (Mint): Good luck. One of these sold for roughly $138,000.
- The "Everyman" Grade: If you're like most of us and don't have six figures lying around, a PSA 2 or 3 (Good to Very Good) will still set you back between $3,000 and $7,000.
Why so expensive? Supply. The population reports are tiny. There are only a few hundred of these graded by PSA in total. Compare that to thousands of cards for modern stars. It’s simple math.
The 1955 Topps All-American: The Accessible Legend
Now, if the Goudey is the "Ferrari" of Thorpe cards, the 1955 Topps All-American #37 is the "classic Mustang." It’s beautiful, iconic, and you might actually be able to afford one if you save up.
Topps released this set two years after Thorpe passed away. It was a tribute to the greatest college players ever. The card features a stunning painted image of Thorpe in his Carlisle Indian Industrial School uniform. It captures that stoic, powerhouse look that defined his career.
Market Value for the 1955 Topps
This card is often labeled as a "rookie" in some circles, though that's technically incorrect since he'd been retired for decades. Still, it’s his most popular football-specific card.
Recent 2025 and 2026 auction data shows a steady climb:
✨ Don't miss: Why Funny Fantasy Football Names Actually Win Leagues
- PSA 7 (NM): Hovering around $1,500 to $2,200.
- PSA 8 (NM-MT): Can fetch $4,000 to $6,000.
- SGC 1 to PSA 2 (Low Grade): You can snag these for $150 to $300.
Honestly, even a "beater" 1955 Thorpe looks great on a shelf. The colors are vibrant—bright yellows and deep reds. It’s a piece of art.
Don't Get Fooled: The Reprint Trap
You've probably seen them on eBay for $10. "1933 Sport Kings Jim Thorpe - Beautiful Condition!"
It’s a reprint. People get burned on this all the time. The 1933 Goudey is one of the most faked cards in history. Authentic ones have a specific "stock" (the cardboard feel) and a distinct smell—yeah, vintage collectors actually smell the cards. Authentic Goudeys have a porous texture that modern reprints can't perfectly replicate.
If the card looks too white, too crisp, or the "Sport Kings Gum" logo looks like it was printed yesterday, walk away. Always look for third-party grading (PSA, SGC, or Beckett). If it’s raw and looks "too good to be true," it 100% is.
The "Hidden" Thorpe Cards
While the 1933 and 1955 issues get all the glory, there are others.
The 1916 Standard Biscuit or the 1922 Zee-Nut are actually from his playing days. But here's the catch: those are baseball cards.
If you want a Jim Thorpe football card from when he was actually terrorizing defenses on the gridiron? You’re mostly looking at team postcards or very obscure regional issues like the 1937 Kellogg’s Pep Stamps. These aren't traditional cards, which is why the 1933 Goudey is the one that really "counts" for football collectors.
🔗 Read more: Heisman Trophy Nominees 2024: The Year the System Almost Broke
Real Advice for Buying a Thorpe Today
If you’re seriously considering adding a Thorpe to your collection, don't just jump at the first one you see.
First, buy the grade, not the slab. Sometimes an SGC 3 looks better than a PSA 4 because of "eye appeal." Vintage collectors care about centering and whether the color is faded. A card with a small crease in the corner but perfect centering is often more desirable than a crease-free card that's shifted way to the left.
Second, watch the auctions. Private sales are okay, but public auctions at places like Heritage or Robert Edward Auctions give you a real sense of what people are actually paying right now.
What to do next:
- Identify your budget: If it’s under $500, go for a mid-grade 1955 Topps All-American.
- Verify the seller: Only buy raw (ungraded) Thorpe cards if you are an expert at identifying vintage paper stock. Otherwise, stick to PSA, SGC, or CGC/CSG.
- Check the Pop Report: Before buying a "rare" version, check the PSA Population Report to see exactly how many exist in that grade. Knowledge is power, especially when you're dropping thousands on a piece of cardboard.
Jim Thorpe was a man who had his Olympic medals taken away (and finally returned). He was a man who struggled, triumphed, and changed sports forever. Owning his card isn't just about the "investment"—it's about holding a piece of that history.