Welcome to our Football Card Collecting Glossary/Legend/Terms Guide

Collector's searching eBay have asked many questions on the abbreviated terms or acronyms that sellers use and we wanted to help provide the Sports Card Industry Standard Glossary Legend for these from 2007 Beckett Official Guide and other publications.  We will break this down into the main three sports to make sure that everything is sport specific.  We hope this helps all collectors in finding great items on eBay.  If you find this guide helpful, please rate us as helpful at the bottom of this guide.   Thank you!

Football Terms

ACC - Acrnym for American Card Catalog.
ACETATE - A transparent plastic.
AFC - American Football Conference.
AFL - American Football League.
AS - All-Star.
ATG - All Time Great card.
AU(TO) - An autographed card.
BRICK - A group or "lot" of cards usually 50 of more having common characteristics that is intended to be bought, sold, or traded as a unit.
C - Center.
CB - Cornerback.
CFL - Canadian Football League.
CL - Checklist card.  A card that lists in order the cards and players in the set or series.  Older checklist cards in mint condition that have not been checked off are very desirable and command large premiums.
CO - Coach Card.
COLLECTOR ISSUE - A set produced for the sake of the card itself, with no product or service sponser.  It derives its name from the fact that most of these sets are produced for sale directly to the hobby market.
COMBINATION CARD - A single card depicting two or more players (not including team cards).
COMMON CARD - The typical car of any set; it has no premium value accuring from subject matter, numerical scarcity, popular demand, or anomaly.
CONVENTION - A large gathering of dealers and collectors at a single location for the purpose of buying, selling, and sometimestrading sports memorabilia items.  Conventions are open to the public and sometimes also feature autograph guests, door prizes, films, contests, etc.  More commonly called "show".
COR - Corrected card.  A version of an error card that was fixed by the manufacturer.
DB - Defensive Back.
DIE-CUT - A card with its stock partially cut.  In some cases, after removal or appropriate folding, the remaining part of the card can be made to stand up.
DISPLAY SHEET - A clear, plastic page that is punched for insertion into a binder (with standard three-ring spacing) containing pockets for displaying cards.  Many different styles of sheets exist with pockets of varying sizes to hold the many differing card formats.  The vast majority of current cards measure 2 1/2 by 3 1/2
DP - Double Print.  A card that was printed in approximately double the quantity compared to other cards in the same series, or draft pick card.
DT - Defensive tackle or Dream Team.
DUFEX - A method of card manufacturing technology patented by Pinnacle Brands, Inc.  It involves a refractive quality to a card with a foil coating.
EMBOSSED - A raised surface; features of a card that are projected from a flat background.
ERR - Error card.  A card with erroneous information, spelling, or depiction on either side of the card.  Most errors are never corrected by the producing card company.
ETCHED - Impressions within the surface of a card.
EXHIBIT - The generic name given to thick-stock, postcard-size cards with single-color, obverse pictures.  The name is derived from the Exhibit Supply Co. of Chicago, the principal manufacturer of this type of card. 
FB - Fullback.
FDP - First (round) draft pick.
FG - Field Goal.
FOIL - A special type of sticker with metallic-looking surface.
FULL-BLEED - A borderless card; a card containing a photo that encompasses the entire card.
FULL SHEET - A complete sheet of cards that has not been cut into individual cards by the manufacturer.  Also called an uncut sheet.
G - Guard.
GLOSS - A card with luster; a shiny finish as in a card with UV coating.
HIGH NUMBER - The cards int the last series of number, in a year in shich such higher-numbered cards were printed or distributed in significantly lesser amount then the lower-numbered cards.  The high-number designation refers to a scarcity of the high-numbered cards.
HL - Highlighted card, for example from the 1978 Topps subset.
HOF - Hall of Fame, or Hall of Famer(also abbreviated HOFer).
HOLOGRAM - A three-dimensional photographic image.
HOR - Horizontal pose on a card as opposed to the standard vertical orientation found on most cards.
IA - In Action card.  A special tyoe of card depicting a player in an action photo, such as the 1982 Topps cards.
IL - Inside linebacker.
INSERT - A card of a different type, e.g., a poster, or any other sports collectible contained and sold int he same package along with a card or cards of a major set.
INTERACTIVE - A concept that involves collector participation.
K - Kicker.
KARAT - A unit of measure for the fineness of gold. i.e., 24K.
KP - Kid Picture card.
LAYERING - The seperation or peeling of one of more layers of the card stock, usually at the corner of the card.
LB - Linebacker.
LID - A circular-shaped card (possibly with tab) that forms the top of the container for the product being promoted.
LL - League Leader card.  A card depicting the leader or leaders in a specific statistical category from the previous season.  Not to be confused with team leader (TL).
LOGO - NFLPA Logo on card.
MAJOR SET - A set produced by a national manufacturer of cards containing a large number of cards.  Usually 100 or more different cards constitute a major set.
MEM - Memorial card.
METALLIC - A glossy design method that enhances card features.
MINI - A small card or stamp (specifically the 1969 Topps Four-in -One football inserts or the 1987 Topps mini football set issued for the United Kingdom).
MVP - Most Valuable Player.
NFLPA - National Football League Players Association.
NO LOGO - No NFLPA logo on card.
NO TR - No trade reference on card.
NPO - No position.
NT - Nose tackle.
OFF -  Officals cards.
O-ROY - Offensive Rookie of the Year.
OT - Offensive tackle.
P - Punter.
P1 - First Printing.
P2 - Second Printing.
PACKS - A means by which cards are issued in terms of pack type (wax, cello, foil,, rack, etc.) and channel of distribution (hobby, retail, etc.).
PANEL - An extended card that is composed of multiple individual cards.
PARALLEL - A card that is similar in design to its counterpart from a basic set but offers a distinguishing quality.
PB - Pro Bowl.
PLATINUM - A metallic element used in the process of creating a glossy card.
POY - Player of the Year.
PREMIUM - A card, sometimes on photographic stock, that is purchased or obtained in conjunction with, or redemption for, another card or product.  The premium is not packaged in the same unit as the primary item.
PREMIUM CARDS - A class of products introduced recently, intended to have higher-quality card stock and photography then regular cards, but with more limited production and higher cost.  Determining what is and isn't a premium card is somewhat subjective.
PRISMATIC/PRISM - A glossy or bright design that refracts or disperses light.
PROMOTIONAL SET - A set, usually containing a small number of cards issued by a national card producer and distributed in limited quantities or to a select group of people, such as major show attendees or dealers with wholesale accounts.  Presumably, the purpose of a promo set is to stir up demand for an upcoming set.  Also called preview, prototype, promo, or test set.
QB - Quarterback.
RARE - A card or series of cards of very limited availability.  Unfortunately, "rare" is a subjective term frequently used indiscriminately to hype value.  "Rare" cards are harder to obtained than "scarce" cards.
RB - Record Breaker or running back.
RC - Rookie card.  A players first appearance on a regular issue card from one of the major card companies.  With a few exceptions, each player has only one RC in any given set.  A Rookie Card typically cannot be an All-Star, Highlight, In Action, leagues leader, Super Action, or team leader card.  It can however, be a coach card or draft pick card.
REDEMPTION - A program established by multiple card manufacturers that allows collectors to mail in a special card (usually a random insert) in return for special cards, sets, or other prizes not available through conventional channels.
REFRACTORS - A card that features a design element that enhances (distorts) its color/appearance through deflecting light.
REPLICA - An identical copy or reproduction.
RET - Retired.
REV NEG - Reversed of flopped photo side of the card.  This is a major type of error card, but only some are corrected.
ROY - Rookie of the Year.
S - Safety.
SB - Super Bowl.
SCARCE -A card or series of cards of limited availability.  This subjective term is sometimes used indiscriminately to hype value.  "Scarce" cards are not as difficult to obtain as "rare" cards.
SEMI-HIGH - A card from the next-to-last series of a sequentially issued set.  It has more value than an average card and generally less value than a high-number.  A card is not called a semi-high unless the next-to-last series in which it exists has an additional premium attached to it.
SERIES - The entire set of cards issued by a particular producer in a particular year; e.g., the 1978 Topps series.  Also, within a particular set, series can refer to a group of (consecutively numbered) cards printed at the same time, e.g., the first series of the 1948 Leaf set(#1 through #49).
SET - One each of the entire run of cards of the same type produced by a particular manufacturer during a single year.  In other words, if you have a complete set of 1975 Topps football cards, then you have every card from #1 up to and including #528; i.e., all the different cards that were produced.
SHEEN - Brightness or luster emitted by a card.
SKIP-NUMBERED - A set that has many unissued card numbers between the lowest number in the set and the highest number in the set, e.g., the 1949 Leaf football set contains 49 cards skip-numbered from #1 to #144.  A major set in which a few numbers were not printed is not considered to be a skip-numbered.
SP - Single or Short Print.  A card which was printed in a lesser quantity compared to the other cards in the same series (also see Double Print, DP).  This term can be used only in a relative sense and in reference to one particular set.  For instance, the 1989 Pro Set Pete Rozelle SP is less common than the common the other cards in that set, but it isn't necessarily scarcer than regular cards of any other set.
SPECIAL CARD - A card that portrays something other than a single player or team; for example, the 1990 Fleer Joe Montana/Jerry Rice Super Bowl MVPs card #397.
SR - Super Rookie.
STAMP - Adhesive-backed papers depicting a player.  The stamp may be individual or in a sheet of many stamps.  Moisture must be applied to the adhesive in order for the stamp to be attached to another surface.
STAR CARD - A card that portrays a player of some repute, usually determined by his ability; but sometimes referring to sheer popularity.
STICKER - A card-like item with a removable layer that can be affixed to another surface.  Example: 1987-88 through 1989-90 Fleer bonus cards.
STOCK - The cardboard or paper on which the cardis printed.
SUPERIMPOSED - To be affixed on top of something; i.e., a player photo over a solid background.
SUPERSTAR CARD - A card that portrays a superstar, e.g., a Hall of Famer or player with strong Hall of Fame potential.
TAB - A card portion set off from the rest of the card, usually with perforations that may be removed without damaging the central character or event depicted by the card.
TC - Team card or team checklist card.
TEAM CARD - A card that depicts an entire team.
THREE-DIMENSIONAL (3D) - A visual image that provides an illusion of depth and perspective.
TL - Team leader card or Top Loader.
TOPICAL - A subset or group of cards that have a common theme, i.e., MVP award winners.
TR - Trade reference on card.
TRANSPARENT - Clear, see-through.
TRIMMED - A card cut down from its original size.  Trimmed cards are undesirable to most collectors, and are therefore less valuable than otherwise identical, untrimmed cards.
UER - Uncorrected error card.
USFL - United States Football League.
UV - Ultraviolet, a glossy coating used in producing cards.
VAR - Variation card.  One of two or more cards from the same series with the same number (or player with identical pose if the series is unnumbered) differing from one another by some aspects, the different feature stemming from the printing stock of the card.  This can be caused when the manufacturer of the cards notices an error in one or more of the cards, makes the changes, and then resumes the print run.  In the case there will be two versions or variations of the same card.  Sometimes one of the variations is relatively scarce.
VERT - Vertical pose on a card.
WFL - World Football card.
WLAF - World League of American Football.
WR - Wide receiver.
XRC - Extended Rookie Card.  A player's first appearance on a card, but issued in a set that was not distributed nationally or in packs.  In football sets, this term refers only to the 1984 and 1985 Topps USFL sets.

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