Clothing
+ Fashion
Jewelry +
Watches
Home +
Furniture
 Pottery 
+ Glass
Art +
 Photos 
Paper +
  Books  
Music +
Movies
Toys +
Games
Sports +
Outdoors
Ads +
  Signs  
Eras +
Themes

Thirteen seasons with the Chicago Bears brought good luck to running back Walter “Sweetness” Payton. Drafted fourth overall in 1975, the stutter-stepping All-American from Jackson State University broke Jim Brown’s career rushing record in 1984, and ended his career as the NFL’s leader in rushing yards—Emmitt Smith subsequently broke Payton’s record in 2002.

After retiring at the end of the 1987 season, Payton was inducted into the Pro Football Ha...

In his honor, the city of Chicago added organ-donor information to its vehicle registration mailings, a cause that Payton had championed in the last months of his brief but brilliant life.

Payton’s 1976 Topps rookie card is one of the most collectible football cards of the postwar era. Also highly prized is the Payton card from a 33-card set that Topps produced for Holsum Bread. In 1977, Payton and Buffalo Bills running back O.J. Simpson appeared on a card together, and in 1979 Payton was paired with Houston Oilers running back Earl Campbell.

Because Payton missed the rapid rise in autographed merchandise in the 21st century, signed Payton collectibles are relatively rare, causing the prices for his signed number-34 jerseys and both his Riddell team and commemorative Hall of Fame helmets to be somewhat higher than those of his peers.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Show & Tell - Share Your Stuff!

» See all Walter Payton Show & Tells

Interviews & Articles

Going Deep for Football Cards

I collected football cards when I was a kid, back in the late ’60s, early ’70s. Then I set them in the closet for about 15 to 20 y… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Vintage Football Card Gallery

Vintage Football Card Gallery

This great database of pro and collegiate football cards from the 1950s and 1960s offers scanned images of cards fo… [read review or visit site]

U. Michigan Football Ticket Museum

U. Michigan Football Ticket Museum

Brian Powers' excellent gallery of over a century of Wolverines ticket stubs (1900 to 2005), not to mention a lot o… [read review or visit site]



Other Great Reference Sites: Football

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 94 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Walter Payton 1976 Topps Rookie Psa 9 Mint2010 National Treasures Walter Payton Cut Auto /61 $300bvWalter Payton Autographed Goralski Framed Lithograph Steiner Coa1976 Topps Walter Payton #148 Nm-mt Psa 8 HofUpper Deck Hero's Walter Payton Autograph Checklist Card 1976 Topps Walter Payton Rookie Card #148 *near Mint*Walter Payton Leaf Limited Cuts Auto Cut Autgraph SignatureLot Of 3 Chicago Bears Silver Rounds Mike Ditka, Walter Payton, & 70th Season 07 Walter Payton Playoff National Treasures Superbowl Auto 15/34 Lqqk08 Walter Payton Donruss Classics Auto Classic Cuts 25/34... Lqqk1976 Topps Walter Payton - #148 - Hof - Rookie - Psa 71976 Topps Walter Payton Rookie Card Psa 7 NmintWalter Payton 1976 Topps #148 Nfl Rookie Rc Psa 8 High End Bears HofWalter Payton 1976 Topps Rookie Graded Psa 8 Hof1976 Topps Football # 148 Walter Payton Rookie Psa 7 Nm Card1976 Topps Walter Payton Rc #148, Beckett 8, Card Graded Value At $300Walter Payton Emmitt Smith $250+ Topps Jersey Patch Sp 2003 Record Breaker Hof1976 Topps Walter Payton Rc Card #148 NiceWalter Payton 1976 Topps Football # 148 Very Nice Nrmt Card1976 Walter Payton Chicago Bear Rookie Mint Perfect1976 Topps Football # 148 Walter Payton Rookie Psa 6 Ex-mt CardWalter Payton Steiner Chicago Bears 1985 Super Bowl Champs Phone Collection Auto1976 Topps Walter Payton Rookie & 1989 Barry Sanders Score Rc Lot Hof1976 Topps Football # 148 Walter Payton Rookie Psa 5.5 Bears1976 Topps Football # 148 Walter Payton Rookie Psa 5 Ex CardChicago Bears 1976 Topps Walter Payton Rookie Card Graded Psa Ex 5Walter Payton Auto Autograph Signed 8x10 Photo Photograph Psa Dna SweetnessChicago Bears Jersey #34 Walter Payton (stitched/sewn) Size(48-m) White ThrowbacAutographed 1982 Topps In Action Nfl Walter Payton Card #303 D.19991976 Walter Payton Rookie Card Misprint Error1976 Topps Football # 148 Walter Payton Rookie Psa 6.5 Ex-mt+ CardChicago Bears #34 Walter Payton W/2patches Sewn White Jersey 52 New W/tags1976 Topps #148 Walter Payton Rookie Card - Chicago Bears1976 Topps Walter Payton Rc Psa 4 Great Centering New Walter Payton Reebok Jersey Womens Chicago Bears Large Sewn On1988 The Walter Payton Commemorative Factory Sealed Card Set MintWalter Payton Rookie Card Walter Payton Fabric Of The Game 16 Of 25!! Leaf Certified Materials Two-tone!!!Orange Reebok Chicago Bears Walter Payton Jersey Size 50 Great Condition Mcfarlane Nfl 12 In. Figures Walter PaytonChicago Bears Replica Walter Payton Jersey Adult (2xl)1976 Unopened Topps Football Pack - Walter Payton.s Rookie Year!!2007 Dunruss Threads Walter Payton Jersey #54/200..$301987 Jim Mcmahon Walter Payton Chicago Vice Costacos Brothers 24” X 36” Poster1986 Super Bowl Super Stars Complete Set W/ Walter Payton, Dent, Fridge, HannahLot Of 3 Authentic Walter Payton-earl Campbell Rookie & Rushing Leaders Cards1979 Topps Walter Payton Bvg 8.5 (#480/chicago Bears/not Psa/bgs)Chicago Bears Walter Payton Legends Series 2Walter Payton 2000 00 Fleer Greats Of The Game Bears JerseyWalter Payton Topps Lot 1977 1978 1979 (9) Cards1979 Topps #3 Walter Payton-earl Campbell Psa 91978 Topps Football 500 Card Lot Tony Dorsett Rc Walter Payton Roger Staubach ExWalter Payton 2004 Leaf Limited Legends Bears Jersey 14/50Chicago Bears "walter Payton" Bobble Head Nrfb - Sweetness!!!!!!1979 Topps Football 450 Card Lot Walter Payton Doug Williams Rc Earl Campbell Ex(13) Card Lot Walter Payton 1977 Topps 1978 X2 1979 X2 + Chicago Bears1976 Crane Disc Football Set ((walter Payton Rookie)) ***32 Years Old***2008 Dunruss Classics Timeless Tributes Gold Walter Payton **rare**1976 Topps Walter Payton Rookie $300!! Bears Chicago1992 Upper Deck Walter Payton Autograph Graded Scg 88 Nm/mt With Upper Deck Coa
»» Get our weekly Walter Payton Memorabilia email
Right now on eBay



Recent News: Walter Payton Memorabilia

Source: Google News

Peyton on Eli's rings: "There is no envy whatsoever"
NBCSports.com, February 8th

Just like Ahmad Bradshaw is a better running back than Walter Payton because he has two titles to Payton's one. “Eli and I don't play that game,” Peyton Manning told Mike Chappel of the Indianapolis Star. “The relationship of Eli, Cooper and I is not...Read more

Earl Watson: The Jazz Bulldog
KSL-TV, February 8th

Walter Payton had those attributes. The late Hall of Famer refused to run out of bounds and always delivered the punishment, leaving a lasting impression on his opponents and gaining a deep respect from football fans even to this day...Read more

Philip Rivers still believes in miracles
U-T San Diego, February 8th

Chargers QB Philip Rivers didn't win the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award during Super Bowl weekend. But as one of three finalists, he did pick up $6000 for his Rivers of Hope Foundation for orphaned children. Rivers, who obviously cares about...Read more

Matt Birk, Baltimore Ravens Center, Named Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year
Huffington Post, February 5th

Baltimore Ravens' Matt Birk was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Saturday for his commitment to improving literacy among at-risk youth. The Ravens' center was up against Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers and Charles Tillman of the...Read more

Birk named Walter Payton Man of the Year
ESPN (blog), February 4th

But the achievement that epitomizes Birk as a person was given to him tonight -- the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. It recognizes his work on and off the field. Birk has represented reliability among NFL linemen, starting 96 consecutive games...Read more

Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton
Christian Science Monitor, February 3rd

By Ross Atkin, Staff Writer / February 3, 2012 One of the most telling anecdotes in Super Bowl history involves Walter Payton, who was the heart and soul of the Chicago Bears for many years. After 10 mostly futile seasons toiling for the franchise,...Read more

Don Cornelius' connection with Walter Payton
Los Angeles Times, February 1st

The passing of legendary "Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius brings to mind one notable athlete who was discovered on the show: the great Walter Payton. Before Payton became one of the best running backs in NFL history, he appeared as a dancer on "Soul...Read more

Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year to be announced Feb. 4
NFL News, January 22nd

By National Football League By National Football League Three community-minded NFL players will be recognized during Super Bowl week as finalists for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, it was announced Sunday. Matt Birk of the Baltimore...Read more