If you collect vintage football cards, then the 1976 Topps Walter Payton rookie card is an absolute must-have.

The design is simple but this card is as sweet as "Sweetness" himself.

My favorite part is how calm he looks.

Because if you ever saw Payton play, you would know he was anything but that...

The guy was a relentless and intimidating runner who would punish defenders who tried to stop him.

I remember my grandpa had one of those old NFL Films specials on VHS that you used to get with a Sports Illustrated subscription that featured Payton.

In that film, they mentioned how grueling his offseason training was and how he never ran out of bounds but would instead meet any would-be tackler head on.

I was never a Bears fan but from that point on I was a Walter Payton fan.

Today, I'm a huge fan of his rookie card, especially since it ranks as one of the most valuable football cards in the hobby.

And in this guide, I go over the key things you should know before you buy or sell one.

The 1972 Topps Julius Erving rookie card is one of my most favorite basketball cards ever made.

The design is pretty straightforward and not nearly as flashy as "Dr. J" was himself.

But the colors are vibrant and the card really pops.

Would the card be better if it displayed an image soaring through the air during one of his highlight dunks?

Maybe.

But who cares--the card is still awesome!

These days, his rookie card is extremely popular and has grown to be one of the most valuable basketball cards in the hobby.

And in this guide, I go over the key things you should know before you buy.

The 1967 Topps Tom Seaver rookie card is one of the most recognizable and sought after cards of the 1960's.

Its dual-panel design meant that Seaver had to share his rookie card with teammate Bill Denehy but collectors still love this card...

The young Seaver doesn't look too intimidating even though he'd go down as one of the game's most feared pitchers of all-time.

I've had the opportunity to buy and sell a few of these over the years and it's always been a personal favorite of mine.

In this guide we'll discuss everything you need to know about collecting Tom Seaver rookie cards.