1980 Miami Dolphins Police Set

The modern era of football "police cards" began with sets released by the Cowboys, Chiefs and Seahawks during the 1979 season. These early sets were typically given away by local law enforcement officials, who often released one or two new cards a week. Over time it became clear that this type of distribution wasn't a practical way to get cards into the hands of kids, and by the late 1980s few departments were still releasing cards in this manner (most police sets eventually became stadium giveaways). 

The Miami Dolphins issued their first police set in 1980, and would go on to produce yearly sets through the 1987 season. Looking very similar to the '79 sets from the three teams mentioned above, the cards feature large, color action photos on the fronts. The player's name, uniform number, position,college, height and weight are found across the bottom, as well as a Kiwanis logo at the bottom right. Card backs were printed in two colors (black and aqua blue), and feature a couple of "Miami Dolphins Tips." The sponsors listed on the card backs are the Local Kiwanis Club, Law Enforcement Agency and the Miami Dolphins. Cards are not numbered except for the player's uniform numbers.

A complete '80 Fins set features sixteen cards, the most valuable of which features Hall of Fame lineman Larry Little. Calling it quits after the fifth game of the 1980 season, Little's card was withdrawn from distribution and is considerably harder to find than the rest of the set. Fellow Hall of Famer Bob Greise also has a card in the set, and this would be his lone police card as he retired before the 1981 season began. Miami's best players were included in the set, meaning most of them were well-represented in the yearly Topps football sets of the era. Running back Tony Nathan is featured a year before his Topps rookie card, and legendary coach Don Shula makes his first showing on a card since appearing on the Colts team card in the 1965 Philadelphia football set.

This set provides an interesting blend of the outgoing old guard (Little, Greise and Foley, each a member of the perfect '72 club), as well as several players who would still be around to see Super Bowls at the ends of the 1982 and 1984 seasons. The action photos found on most of the cards were a trademark of police sets, with action (and helmet logos) being conspicuously absent from the Topps sets of the day.

Of the eight Dolphins police sets released during the 1980s, this inaugural issue is by far the hardest to find today; accordingly, it's also the most valuable. A complete sixteen-card set, with the short-printed Little, is currently valued in the $40 to $60 range. A set without the Little card is closer to the $25 to $40 range.

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Random fact: Running back Delvin Williams is the only player pictured in a home aqua blue jersey.

(5) Uwe Von Schamann, K

(10) Don Strock, QB

(12) Bob Greise, QB

(22) Tony Nathan, RB/KR

(24) Delvin Williams, RB

(25) Tim Foley, SS

(50) Larry Gordon, LB

(58) Kim Bokamper, LB

(64) Ed Newman, G

(66) Larry Little, G/T (SP)

(67) Bob Kuechenberg, G/T

(73) Bob Baumhower, DT

(77) A.J. Duhe, LB/DE

(82) Duriel Harris, WR

(89) Nat Moore, WR

Don Shula, Coach

1980 Atlanta Falcons Police Set

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The Atlanta Falcons were a pretty good team in the late 1970s and early 1980s... In fact, the 1980 squad won the NFC West with a twelve and four record, easily making it the best season to date for a Falcons franchise that began play in 1966. Atlanta hosted the hated Cowboys in the divisional playoffs on January 4, 1981, where they wound up losing a heartbreaking come from behind thriller to Dallas, 27 to 30.

The timing was perfect for the release of the 1980 Falcons police set, which was sponsored by The Atlanta Police Athletic League, Northside Atlanta Jaycees and Coca-Cola. The set features 30 player cards, and showcases several Falcons who had been ignored by the too-small, yearly Topps football sets. Defensive backs Tom Pridemore and Kenny Johnson wouldn't get Topps cards until the 1982 season, while their backfield compadre, Rick Byas, would never get a Topps card at all (he joined the Falcons back in 1974). Longtime starting linebacker Buddy Curry would have just one Topps card issued, in 1983, even though he played for the Falcons from 1980 through 1987. Legendary offensive tackle Mike Kenn would get lots of Topps cardboard representation from 1981 through his retirement after the 1994 season, but this '80 police issue managed to sneak Kenn in a year earlier than his Topps rookie card.

Each card front contains a large color photo portrait of a player, along with the player's name, uniform number, position, height, weight and college. A one-bar Falcons helmet is found at the top left of each card front. Backs feature  "Tips from The Falcons," as well as three red logos for the sponsors (Atlanta PAL, Northside Atlanta Jaycees and Coke). The cards are not numbered except for the player's uniform numbers.

The Falcons issued a second 30-card police set in 1981, but player studio portraits were replaced with game-day field shots. It should also be noted that the 1980 Falcons police set is considerably scarcer than the '81.

A near mint set is valued in the $25 to $35 range today. 

Random Thought: Three of the four players with retired Falcons uniform numbers can be found in the set (quarterback Steve Bartkowski, running back William Andrews and center Jeff Van Note). The fourth player, linebacker Tommy Nobis, retired after the 1976 season. Offensive tackle Mike Kenn's number 78, though not officially retired, has not been worn by a Falcons player since Kenn retired over 20 years ago.

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(4) Tim Mazzetti, K

(6) John James, P

(10) Steve Bartkowski, QB

(16) Reggie Smith, WR

(21) Lynn Cain, RB

(22) Rolland Lawrence, CB

(27) Tom Pridemore, S

(28) Frank Reed, CB

(31) William Andrews, RB

(37) Kenny Johnson, S

(38) Rick Byas, DB

(44) Bubba Bean, RB

(50) Buddy Curry, LB

(52) Dewey McClain, LB

(54) Fulton Kuykendall, LB

(56) Al Richardson, LB

(57) Jeff Van Note, C

(58) Joel Williams, LB

(65) Don Smith, DE

(66) Warren Bryant, T

(68) R.C. Thielemann, G

(70) Dave Scott, G

(75) Jeff Merrow, DE

(77) Edgar Fields, DT

(78) Mike Kenn, T

(79) Jeff Yeates, DT

(80) Junior Miller, TE

(84) Alfred Jenkins, WR

(85) Alfred Jackson, WR

(89) Wallace Francis, WR

1980 Los Angeles Rams Police

Southern California was the place to be in the early 1980s... Be it the emerging metal music scene on the Sunset strip, or Ponch and Jon roaming the streets to save us from outlaw motorcycle gangs and similar ilk, excitement was always on the radar in the Greater Los Angeles area. Football was another ingredient that could be found in the local bowl of thrills of the day, with the Rams representing the NFL in L.A. from 1946 through 1994.

The Rams were an early adopter of the modern-day police set, as they released their 14-card set during the 1980 football season (the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks each released sets the season prior, and are considered to be the first three modern football police sets). Featuring thirteen players and head coach Ray Malavasi, the nucleus of the Rams' 1979 NFC Champions team are found here in glorious living color. Cards were printed on soft white cardstock with semi-gloss fronts. A large action photo dominates the front of each card, while the backs feature a football and safety tip that relate to each other. Cards are not numbered except for player uniform numbers found on the lower left fronts. The set was sponsored by the local Kiwanis Club, Law Enforcement Agencies and the Rams.

The club fielded a solid offense, lead by quarterbacks Pat Haden and Vince Ferragamo -- both of whom are featured in the set. Slashing rusher Wendell Tyler, who led the team in rushing during the '79 campaign, is also represented. L.A.'s defense fared even better, with Hall of Fame defensive end Jack Youngblood and crew wreaking havoc on any and all comers. The squad was responsible for snagging three Terry Bradshaw interceptions during Super Bowl XIV, and would put up a heck of a fight until the fourth quarter. In the end, the Rams would succumb to the mighty Steelers, whose late-1970s roster is widely considered the best in NFL history. 

Police sets from the 1980s rank highly among my personal favorites, and this gem of a set certainly qualifies as a must-have. Though the cards were originally handed out by police officers on a one-player-a-week basis, complete sets in nice condition can be found with a little bit of looking. A fair current value for a NRMT complete set is in the $15 range.

Random Fact: Malavasi would go on to coach briefly in the rival USFL with the Oakland Invaders and Los Angeles Express in 1984.

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(11) Pat Haden, QB

(15) Vince Ferragamo, QB

(21) Nolan Cromwell, S

(26) Wendell Tyler, RB

(32) Cullen Bryant, RB

(53) Jim Youngblood, LB

(59) Bob Brudzinski, LB

(61) Rich Saul, C

(77) Doug France, OT

(82) Willie Miller, WR

(85) Jack Youngblood, DE

(88) Preston Dennard, WR

(90) Larry Brooks, DT

(NNO) Ray Malavasi, HC

1980 Los Angeles Dodgers Police Set

 

After a couple years of writing this blog, it finally occurred to me that an L.A. Dodgers set has not been the subject of a post... An oversight that will change today.

What better way to kick off some Dodger love than to feature their first police set, which was issued back in 1980 -- an era of blue Lasorda baseball that ranks among L.A.'s best and most exciting. The club would win 92 games that season behind the efforts of a talented blend of veterans and youngsters. Seasoned pros Steve Garvey, Don Sutton, Ron Cey, Charlie Hough, Bill Russell, Jerry Reuss and Dusty Baker shared the field with up-and-comers Pedro Guerrero, Mike Scioscia and Bob Welch. Unfortunately, Steve Howe (the 1980 NL Rookie of the Year) was not included in the set; nor was fellow pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, who managed to sneak into ten games during the 1980 campaign.

As for the '80 police set, it is complete at 30 cards (29 players and a team photo). Printed on soft, white card stock, the fronts have a semi-gloss coating that give the large action photos a nifty look. Basic player info is printed along the bottoms of the fronts. Backs are printed in blue and feature a large LAPD badge in the background, but the cards are not numbered except for uniform numbers. Each card back also features a baseball term and a helpful tip for California's youth ("Boost your grades at school and hit .300 with your chores at home." In other words, kids were only expected to do 30% of their schoolwork and chores correctly...) The cards are larger than the typical Topps size, measuring 2 13/16" by 4 1/8".

Speaking of Topps, their nationally-distributed baseball cards were still the only game in town back in 1980. Hungry collectors were eager to snap up anything they could find in those simpler times, especially with stacked clubs like the Dodgers. Like all true police sets these cards were a regionally-distributed issue, so hobby publications and sports magazines of the day featured advertisements that offered to sell a set to anyone willing to part with a ten dollar bill. 

The Dodgers would be featured on yearly police issues through the end of the century, with the one exception being the 1985 season (and we're not sure why). Regarding scarcity, none of the Dodgers police issues from the 1980s or early 1990s are difficult to find; sets from the mid to late 1990s are a bit harder to track down, but they're out there too.

These days, a complete set in NRMT or better condition is valued at the same ten dollar bill that folks paid 35 years ago... Not the best investment a collector will ever make, but definitely one of the coolest sets a collector can own!

Uninteresting Fact: Light-hitting infielder Teddy Martinez was demoted to AAA ball before the 1980 season began, never again to make it back to the Majors. His inclusion in the set, and the omission of Steve Howe, leads us to believe that these cards were created very early in the season.

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Team Photo
(5) Johnny Oates, C

(6) Steve Garvey, INF

(7) Steve Yeager, C

(8) Reggie Smith, OF

(9) Gary Thomasson, OF

(10) Ron Cey, INF

(12) Dusty Baker, OF

(13) Joe Ferguson, C

(15) Davey Lopes, INF

(16) Rick Monday, OF

(18) Bill Russell, INF

(20) Don Sutton, P

(21) Jay Johnstone, OF

(23) Teddy Martinez, INF

(27) Joe Beckwith, P

(28) Pedro Guerrero, OF

(29) Don Stanhouse, P

(30) Derrel Thomas, OF

(31) Doug Rau, P

(34) Ken Brett, P

(35) Bob Welch, P

(37) Robert Castillo, P

(38) Dave Goltz, P

(41) Jerry Reuss, P

(43) Rick Sutcliffe, P

(44) Mickey Hatcher, INF

(46) Burt Hooton, P

(49) Charlie Hough, P

(51) Terry Forster, P

1980 Dallas Cowboys Police Set

The cards pictured above are from the 1980 Dallas Cowboys Police set, which was distributed by local DFW area law enforcement agencies during the '80 NFL season (If these don't look like the cards you're searching for, we've also blogged on the 1979 set, 1981 set and 1983 set). A complete set consists of fourteen player cards. None of the subjects featured in the inaugural 1979 set are included here, so adding both sets to your collection will net 28 different players, plus Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry ('79) for good measure.

Football collectors will remember that the Topps Company produced the only nationally-distributed yearly football card set until 1989, so many deserving players were denied spots in the too-small Topps football sets of the day... Enter the likes of the 1980 Cowboys Police set, where several of these under-appreciated soldiers were able to gain a bit of recognition.

Running back Scott Laidlaw played six seasons in the NFL (1975-80), but was represented in a Topps set only once, in 1977. Hall of Fame tackle Rayfield Wright labored for Dallas from 1967 through 1979, but only appeared in five Topps sets during that time (1972-76). Defensive tackle Larry Cole is perhaps the poster child of the "Topps snub," appearing in just two Topps sets (1975 and '76) during a thirteen-year career with the Cowboys that lasted from 1968 to 1980.

The fourteen Cowboys here are represented with beautiful action pics provided by photographer Steve Harris... Incidentally, another complaint often heard from football collectors was the lack of action photos found within the Topps sets -- bench and sideline shots were found on the majority of Topps football cards in the 1970s and 1980s.

Card backs feature a large rectangle with a "Cowboys Tip" across the body, along with a list of sponsors across the bottom (Kiwanis Club, Area Law Enforcement Agency and Dallas Cowboys Weekly). The cards are unnumbered with the exception of the players' uniform numbers.

Regarding scarcity, these cards were produced in modest quantities. While certainly not considered a rare set, today's market isn't flooded with an excess of 1980 Cowboys Police cards. A reasonable value for the set is in the $12 to $15 range.

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(1) Rafael Septien, Kicker

(11) Danny White, Quarterback/Punter

(25) Aaron Kyle, Cornerback

(26) Preston Pearson, Running Back

(31) Benny Barnes, Cornerback

(35) Scott Laidlaw, Running Back

(42) Randy Hughes, Safety

(62) John Fitzgerald, Center

(63) Larry Cole, Defensive Tackle

(64) Tom Rafferty, Guard

(68) Herb Scott, Guard

(70) Rayfield Wright, Tackle

(78) John Dutton, Defensive End

(87) Jay Saldi, Tight End

1980 81 82 Tampa Rowdies Police Sets - How to Tell the Difference

The Tampa Rowdies soccer club was the subject of three police sets in the early 1980s. All three sets utilized a design format that was typical for safety sets of the time, with the fronts of all three being exactly the same. Here's a look at a card front from each:

I don't know about you, but I can't see much of a difference on the fronts. The key to discovering the year of issue lies on the backs of the cards, as there are subtle but unmistakeable differences. Each of the three years features a different set of sponsors listed on the back bottoms of the cards. Here they are:

You'll immediately notice that the 1980 set features two logos near the bottom, with the circular logo representing the Exchange Club of Tampa. This is the only year that the Exchange Club was a sponsor. In 1981, the two sponsors listed were the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and Law Enforcement Council. Luckily, between the printings of the 1981 and 1982 sets, the Law Enforcement Council changed their name to the Community Security Council, with the 1982 set reflecting the name change accordingly.

We will spend more time detailing these sets in the future. These really are some great oddball cards that feature cards for players, cheerleaders (Wowdies), the band (Loudies), the stadium, and even mascot "Krazy George."

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1980-81 Arizona Wildcats Basketball

The Wildcats basketball team were featured on their first police card issue during the 1980/81 season. A large color, borderless, posed photo dominates the front of each card, with a white stripe across the bottom stating the player's uniform number and name. Card backs feature a short player bio, a basketball term and safety tip. Sponsors are listed at the bottom: Golden Eagle Distributors, Mr. Bill Clements President and the Tucson Police Department. Cards are not numbered, with the exception of player uniform numbers.

Ten-year Wildcats head coach Fred Snowden is probably the best-known name in the set. Two cards (Greg Cook and David Mosebar) were pulled before distribution and are extremely scarce -- fortunately, we somehow grabbed examples of both for our collection, and I'll try to add scans of them when I dig them out. Because the two "short prints" were never officially distributed, many collectors consider the set complete at 17 cards.

The cards are not easy to find. A lack of big names keeps the value modest, probably in the $25 to $30 range for a set without the two short prints. A set with the short prints (19 cards) might sell in the $100 range, in the unlikely event that one comes up for sale.

It is interesting to note that the design of the Arizona sets (basketball, football and baseball) changed very little during their run of ten-plus years. To make matters worse, the first two basketball sets were printed without any mention of the year of issue. One way to distinguish the two years is by looking at the player's uniform number and name across the front bottom of the card. The 1981/82 set features a black circle between the number and name, while the inaugural 1980/81 set features nothing but a space. In addition, the backs of the 1981/82 set give the Golden Eagle business address at the bottom (705 E. Ajo Way).

Click here to find Wildcats Police Cards on eBay

(10) Russell Brown, G

(12) Ricky Walker, G

(14) John Smith, G

(15) Ron Davis, F

(21) Robbie Dosty, F

(24) Jeff Collins, G

(31) Frank Smith, F

(34) Harvey Thompson, G

(35) Donald Mellon, F

(41) Jack Magno, F

(52) Charles Miller, F

(55) John Belobraydic, F

Greg Cook (Short Print)

David Mosebar (Short Print)

Mike Frink, Asst. Coach

Len Gordy, Asst. Coach

Mike Green, Asst. Coach

Fred Snowden, Head Coach

Ernie Valenzuela, Equip. Mgr.

1980 Houston Oilers Police

The Houston Oilers were the subject of just one police set, released in 1980 by several Houston-area police departments. New Oilers quarterback Ken Stabler is the key card here, and this is his only appearance in a police safety set. Linebacking great and snubbed Hall of Famer Robert Brazile can be found on one of several cards with outstanding action photos. Yet another card worth mentioning in this gem of a regional set is of legendary defensive lineman Curley Culp, whose last Topps card was issued in 1978 (making this 1980 specimen the last card issued during his playing career). Head Coach "Bum" Phillips appears on his only card as Head Coach of the Oilers. The set features action photos on the fronts, with the exception of Stabler and Phillips. A complete set consists of 14 cards, and the cards were sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, the Oilers and local law enforcement agencies.

While the set is somewhat hard to find, the absence of Hall of Fame running back Earl Campbell has kept prices quite reasonable (I'm not sure why Campbell wasn't featured, but I'm guessing its probably a reason similar to why he wasn't on any Topps cards after 1979). 

When found online, a set will usually run in the $6 to $10 range.

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(00) Ken Burrough, WR

(12) Ken Stabler, QB

(14) Gifford Nielsen, QB

(18) Cliff Parsley, P

(26) Rob Carpenter, RB

(36) Carter Hartwig, DB

(47) Ronnie Coleman, RB

(52) Robert Brazile, LB

(54) Gregg Bingham, LB

(55) Carl Mauck, C

(78) Curley Culp, MG

(82) Mike Renfro, WR

(84) Billy Johnson, WR

Bum Phillips, Head Coach

1980 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Police

If these don't seem to be the cards you're searching for, check out our post on the 1984 Buccaneers Police Set. The 1984 cards do NOT have Coca-Cola or Paradyne logos on the backs.

The 1980 Bucs police set was released in two versions -- one has Coke advertising on the back, while the other has an ad from the Paradyne Corporation. Both versions are complete at 56 cards, and the card fronts are similar for both. This set is considered to be the scarcest NFL police issue of the decade (regardless of the sponsor), but since the "Paradyne" version is much scarcer than the "Coke" one, the 1980 Bucs Paradyne police set is without a doubt the toughest football safety set of the 1980s to find. There are 44 players represented in the set, as well as several cheerleaders (Swash-Buc-Lers), the head coach, owner and mascot. Card backs feature "Tips from the Buccaneers" and list the sponsors; Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Law Enforcement Council, local law enforcement agencies, and either Coca-Cola or Paradyne. Many players in the set are featured on their only NFL card, including USFL standouts Mike Hawkins (Gamblers) and Chuck Fusina (Stars).

A complete set of Coke backs should be worth no less than $50, while the Paradyne backs should be worth at least $100 to the right buyer.

In the "Coke" version of the 1980 Bucs police set, 28 cards have the "Enjoy Coca-Cola" logo on the backs, while the other 28 have the "Have a Coke and a smile." campaign. Card backs are printed in red.

The "Paradyne" version of the 1980 Bucs police set is the scarcest NFL police issue of the decade. Backs were printed in a maroon hue, whereas the "Coke" version was printed in red. It is estimated that only 20% to 30% of the 1908 Bucs police cards were printed with the Paradyne backs.

(1) Ricky Bell, RB

(2) Rick Berns, RB

(3) Tom Blanchard, P

(4) Scott Brantley, LB

(5) Aaron Brown, LB

(6) Cedric Brown, DB

(7) Mark Cotney, DB

(8) Randy Crowder, DL

(9) Gary Davis, RB

(10) Johnny Davis, RB

(11) Tony Davis, RB

(12) Jerry Eckwood, RB

(13) Chuck Fusina, QB

(14) Jimmie Giles, TE

(15) Isaac Hagins, WR

(16) Charley Hannah, OT

(17) Andy Hawkins, LB

(18) Kevin House, WR

(19) Cecil Johnson, LB

(20) Gordon Jones, WR

(21) Curtis Jordan, DB

(22) Bill Kollar, DL

(23) Jim Leonard, C

(24) David Lewis, LB

(25) Reggie Lewis, DL

(26) David Logan, DL

(27) Larry Mucker, WR

(28) Jim O'Bradovich, TE

(29) Mike Rae, QB

(30) Dave Reavis, OT

(31) Danny Reece, DB

(32) Greg Roberts, OG

(33) Gene Sanders, OL

(34) Dewey Selmon, LB

(35) Lee Roy Selmon, DE

(36) Ray Snell, OG

(37) Dave Stalls, DE

(38) Norris Thomas, DB

(39) Mike Washington, DB

(40) Doug Williams, QB

(41) Steve Wilson, C

(42) Richard Wood, LB

(43) George Yarno, OG

(44) Garo Yepremian, PK

(45) 1980 T.B. Buccaneers (Team Photo)

(46) T.B. Buccaneers Logo Card

(47) Hugh Culverhouse, Owner

(48) John McKay, Head Coach

(49) Captain Crush, Mascot

(50) Swash-Buc-Lers (Group Photo)

(51) Swash-Buc-Ler (Buzz)

(52) Swash-Buc-Ler (Check with me)

(53) Swash-Buc-Ler (Gap-2)

(54) Swash-Buc-Ler (Gas)

(55) Swash-Buc-Ler (Pass Protection)

(56) Swash-Buc-Ler (Post Pattern)