CSG-graded Jim Brown Football Card Rushes to a Strong Finish at Auction

The 1958 Topps football card set included several big name stars, but none bigger than #62 Jim Brown. An example of the Browns Hall of Famer’s card certified by Certified Sports Guaranty® (CSG®) recently sold in a Hake’s Auction for $1,622 — not a bad return for a card that was part of a 5 cent pack.

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This 1958 Topps #62 Jim Brown received a CSG 4.5 grade. A card with a CSG 4.5 grade may display slight rounding of the corners, with some surface flaws such as scuffing, scratches or one light crease. Some original surface gloss may be visible, while the borders may be off-white. For more information about CSG grades, see the CSG Grading Scale.

On the front of the 1958 Topps card, the renowned fullback is shown running forward in an oval frame with his name — here, “Jimmy” Brown — position and team listed below. The back features a red background with Brown’s stats on the left side and Topps’ “Rub-A-Coin Quiz” on the right. The white square contains a unique question, and the “Magic Answer” is revealed by rubbing the edge of a coin over the blank space.

Importantly for collectors, the back of the CSG-graded card has not been rubbed off over the decades. Now protected in the CSG state-of-the-art holder, the gimmick will be preserved (and who doesn’t know that North Carolina University’s nickname is the Tar Heels?)

Jim Brown’s career with the Cleveland Browns ran from 1957 — when he was drafted in the first round from Syracuse University — to 1965. Despite the fact that he only played for nine seasons, he is considered one of the NFL’s all-time greatest players. After retiring, he went on to star in several movies and became the first Black American to announce a televised boxing match. Brown was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame in 1971.

Other CSG-certified highlights in the Hake’s Auction sale included:

• a 2000 Bowman #236 Tom Brady RC graded CSG 8.5 (lot 737) that realized $1,344
• a 1921 E121 American Caramel “Series of 80” Ty Cobb graded CSG 2 (lot 953) that realized $817
• a 1979-80 Topps #18 Wayne Gretzky RC graded CSG 2.5 (lot 740) that realized $499
• a 1958 Topps #7 Roger Maris RC graded CSG 5.5 (lot 961) that realized $330
• a 1921 E121 American Caramel “Series of 80” Tris Speaker graded CSG 3 (lot 955) that realized $325

All prices realized include buyer’s premium.