1997 Score Board Playbook Football features a 100-card base checklist. Score Board touted these cards as “super premium,” though I am not quite sure they fit that bill. The cards were printed on thin stock and were fairly plain aside from some gold foil player and team names. The set does feature different base card designs for each player position group. Quarterbacks, receivers (including tight ends), running backs and defensive players all have different designs.

Score Board had broken into the NFL card market in 1996 with a single release, NFL Lasers. In 1997, the company’s second year, it expanded to four different offerings. It apparently didn’t go as planned, as by 1998, the company was no longer producing NFL cards.

There are a few inserts to find in this one. Franchise Player inserts feature die-cut ticket designs. Title Quest inserts are also ticket shaped die-cuts. Mirror Image inserts finish up the set and feature foil-finished cards.

There are also some autographed Mirror Image cards that are extremely tough to pull. These cards are found just 1:192 packs. The checklist is just seven players long but includes Brett Favre, Warrick Dunn, Emmitt Smith, Steve Young, Terrell Davis, Kordell Stewart and Kerry Collins. Favre’s autographs sell for around $100.

1997 Score Board Playbook Football Hobby Box Break 

Cards per pack: 5
Packs per box: 24
Price paid: $60

• Buy 1997 Score Board Playbook Football boxes on eBay or Amazon
• Shop for 1997 Score Board Playbook Football cards on eBay, Amazon, or Beckett Marketplace

Pack 1 highlights: 

Brett Favre and Terrell Davis Mirror Image (1:24 packs)

Pulling the box hit in the first pack is always a bit of a buzzkill, huh?

Pack 2: 

Terrell Davis, Carl Pickens and Keenan McCardell

Pack 3: 

Barry Sanders, Marvin Harrison, and Junior Seau base and Franchise Player (1:6 packs)

Pack 4: 

Mark Brunell, Marshall Faulk and Jake Plummer RC

Plummer finished third in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting following the 1997 season. He threw for 15 touchdowns.

Pack 5: 

Troy Aikman, Isaac Bruce, Thurman Thomas and Irving Fryar

Pack 6: 

Jeff Blake, Herman Moore and Jake Reed

Pack 7: 

John Elway, Terry Glenn and Reggie White

I love the landscape photos for the defensive players, especially this Reggie.

Pack 8: 

Drew Bledsoe, Cris Carter and Tiki Barber RC

Pack 9: 

Ricky Watters, Warrick Dunn, Ben Coates and Gus Frerotte Franchise Player (1:6 packs)

Pack 10: 

Emmitt Smith, Jim Harbaugh and Jimmy Smith

Now coach Harbaugh, his Chargers sit at 7-4 so far this season.

Pack 11: 

Kordell Stewart, Steve McNair and Derrick Thomas Title Quest (1:32 packs)

Pack 12: 

Curtis Martin and Simeon Rice

Pack 13: 

Dan Marino, Michael Irvin and Tony Gonzalez RC

Heck of a pack here with three Hall of Famers!

Pack 14: 

Steve Young and Keyshawn Johnson

Pack 15: 

Jerry Rice and Jamal Anderson Franchise Player (1:6 packs)

Pack 16: 

Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Corey Dillon RC and Jamal Anderson

Anderson made one Pro Bowl appearance in his career. He made the game in 1998 after rushing for 14 touchdowns.

Pack 17: 

Eddie George, Antowain Smith RC and Bruce Smith

Pack 18: 

Marcus Allen, Deion Sanders and Warren Moon

Pack 19: 

Terrell Davis, Warrick Dunn RC, Vinny Testaverde, Shannon Sharpe and Junior Seau

Davis led the NFL with 15 rushing touchdowns in 1997.

Pack 20: 

Dan Marino, Barry Sanders and Lawrence Phillips

Pack 21: 

Mark Brunell, Michael Irvin and Joey Galloway Franchise Player (1:6 packs)

Pack 22: 

Troy Aikman, Carl Pickens and Joey Galloway

Galloway had a long NFL career, 16 seasons. He finished six of those seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards.

Pack 23: 

Marshall Faulk and Isaac Bruce

Pack 24: 

Garrison Hearst and Robert Smith

Lastly, the Faulk card back. It’s interesting and different to have a play drawn up on the back of the card.

I do like the differing designs on these, though as I mentioned earlier, I don’t necessary agree with the “super premium” boast. The insert designs are fun, especially the Mirror Image. Now, if only I could have pulled an autograph.

Want more installments of Shane Salmonson’s Cheap Wax Wednesday? Check out his other breaks in the archives.

---

Protect Your Collection With:

• Penny Sleeves — On Amazon | On eBay | On Fanatics
• Top Loaders — On Amazon | On eBay | On Fanatics
• Binders — On Amazon | On eBay
• 9-Pocket Card Pages — On Amazon | On eBay