
Irving Fryar
1992 • Action Packed
#169

A 1981 Topps football card featuring Matt Cavanaugh of the New England Patriots, card #248 from the iconic Topps set of that era.
1981 • Topps
National Football League • New England Patriots
Near Mint
248
New
Shipping Calculated at Checkout
The 1981 Topps football set represents a pivotal moment in modern sports card collecting, capturing players during the NFL's dynamic early 1980s era. Matt Cavanaugh's card #248 features the quarterback in his Patriots uniform, exemplifying the straightforward photography and clean design that define Topps' football releases from this period. Cavanaugh played a notable role in New England's quarterback rotation during the early 1980s, making his Topps card a relevant piece of Patriots franchise history. The 1981 Topps set is sought after by collectors building vintage football collections, team-specific portfolios, or focusing on 1980s NFL memorabilia. These cards bridge the gap between 1970s vintage and modern graded collectibles, offering accessible entry points for investors and hobbyists interested in classic football cardboard. Whether you're completing a 1981 Topps football set, collecting New England Patriots cards across decades, or assembling a quarterback collection, the Cavanaugh card provides authentic representation of early-1980s Topps production. SuperCatch offers this catalog entry in multiple condition states across our marketplace, allowing collectors to find the right copy for their collecting goals and budget.
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Production details and format-specific attributes.
Material
Card Stock
Language
English
Matt Cavanaugh's 1981 Topps card sits firmly in the budget tier of the era's NFL offerings, consistent with a backup quarterback whose career never reached marquee status. As a supporting player for the New England Patriots during a transitional period for the franchise, this card commands minimal premium over other common base cards from the same set. Condition sensitivity is relatively low given the modest collector demand, though a high-grade PSA or BGS example would still trade above raw copies simply due to the scarcity of well-preserved specimens.
This is a standard base card from the 1981 Topps Football set, carrying no serial numbering, parallel distinction, or short-print designation. The set was produced in large quantities typical of early 1980s Topps runs, meaning raw supply remains abundant across the hobby. Graded population for this card is expectedly thin — not due to scarcity, but because collector interest has historically not justified the cost of professional grading submissions.
Cavanaugh's post-playing career as an NFL offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach adds a niche layer of interest for team-specific collectors, particularly those focused on Patriots or 49ers memorabilia, but this does not translate into meaningful market momentum. The single active listing signals extremely limited transactional volume, making price discovery unreliable and liquidity a real concern for anyone looking to move the card quickly. Long-term appreciation potential is minimal unless a significant coaching milestone or Hall of Fame connection elevates his broader recognition within the hobby.

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