Explore the 1991 Upper Deck football card featuring Howard Ballard, card number 506. This rookie card is a significant piece for collectors of Buffalo Bills history and vintage NFL sports cards.
Estimated delivery October 1, 2026 - October 3, 2026
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Market & Price History
No condition-by-condition breakdown has been recorded for this card yet.
Product Overview
Description
The 1991 Upper Deck football card featuring Howard Ballard, numbered 506, represents a specific moment in the history of the Buffalo Bills. As a rookie card, this release marks the beginning of Ballard's career in the NFL, making it a point of interest for collectors who focus on team origins and player debuts. Upper Deck entered the sports trading card market in 1991, introducing a new era of production that has since influenced how vintage football cards are collected and valued. For investors and hobbyists alike, 1991 Upper Deck cards hold a distinct place in the market. This period is often studied for its transition in card design and manufacturing techniques. Collectors who build sets from this era appreciate the challenge of completing the full run, which includes hundreds of players from various teams. Howard Ballard’s presence in this set offers a tangible connection to the roster dynamics of the early 1990s, a time when the Bills were a dominant force in professional football. Whether you are looking to complete a Buffalo Bills collection or add a vintage rookie to your portfolio, this card provides a solid foundation. The 1991 Upper Deck brand is recognized for its consistent quality and historical significance. By acquiring this card number, you are securing a piece of sports history that reflects the player's entry into the league. This card serves as a reminder of the depth and breadth of the NFL during this pivotal decade, offering both nostalgia and historical record for dedicated enthusiasts.
Last Listing Activity
9/18/26
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Product Specs
Card Details
The catalog profile below summarizes the card identity, featured subject, and notable collectible traits.
Estimated delivery October 1, 2026 - October 3, 2026
Collector Ownership
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SuperCatch Expert Analysis
Market Value Insight
Howard Ballard's 1991 Upper Deck rookie card occupies the lower tier of early-90s NFL offensive lineman issues, a segment that rarely commands significant premiums outside of championship-era nostalgia collectors. As a key member of the Buffalo Bills' back-to-back Super Bowl rosters, Ballard benefits from peripheral demand tied to that dynasty's broader collectibility, though his individual card values remain modest compared to skill-position teammates. With only one active listing currently available, the market is effectively illiquid, making price discovery difficult and any transaction an outlier rather than a benchmark.
Rarity Breakdown
The 1991 Upper Deck football base set was produced in large quantities during the overproduction era, meaning this card carries no meaningful scarcity from a print-run perspective. As a standard base rookie card with no serial numbering, parallel designation, or short-print status, raw copies are abundant and graded population reports on platforms like PSA and BGS reflect high submission volumes with little grade-scarcity premium even at PSA 10. The absence of insert or parallel variants for this card further limits the rarity narrative for advanced collectors.
Investment Outlook
Ballard is a retired player with no Hall of Fame candidacy driving speculative buying, which suppresses long-term appreciation potential for this issue. The early-90s overproduction era continues to face headwinds in the graded card market, as high PSA 10 populations keep even gem-mint copies from trading above market on most comparable offensive linemen from this set. Collector interest is largely nostalgia-driven among Bills fans, making this a sentimental hold rather than a card with strong momentum or grading submission incentive.
