1981 Dallas Cowboys Police Set

In 1981, the Dallas Cowboys appeared in a police card issue for the third year in a row. As a matter of fact, the 'Boys appeared in two police sets in 1981, issued over 1,200 miles apart from one another! 

Police cards were at the peak of their popularity in the early 1980s, and someone came up with the idea of releasing Dallas Cowboys sets in two different regions; one set in the Dallas area, as would be expected, and a second one in Thousand Oaks, California, where the Cowboys held their yearly training camps from 1963 through 1989 (California Lutheran College). The only obvious difference in appearance between the two sets is the sponsor logo found at the lower right of all card fronts; Cards issued in the Dallas area feature the blue and round Kiwanis Club logo, while the cards issued in the Thousand Oaks area feature a design that shows a boy and girl holding hands, with the words "Light Up A Life" appearing above.

One might make the case that both issues could be combined to make one set, as totally different players are featured within each. The set released in the Dallas area seemingly received the short end of the stick, as most of the team's star players are hosted in the Thousand Oaks issue; Hall of Famers Tony Dorsett, Randy White and Tom Landry, along with starting quarterback Danny White, are all found in the elusive California set.

Cowboys fans will still want to grab a copy of the Dallas-area set. Tight end Doug Cosbie and safety Michael Downs make an appearance a year before their Topps rookie cards were issued, and backup quarterback Glenn Carano wasn't featured on a Topps card until the 1984 USFL boxed set was released. Shoring up the set are Cowboys legends Ed "Too Tall" Jones and Butch Johnson, both of whom contributed greatly during the Staubach-era years of the team.

Though the designs found on the card fronts and backs are classic and liked by most oddball collectors, the fact that there were virtually no format changes during the five-set run has been known to cause much confusion... Cowboys Police Sets were released in 1979, 1980, 1981 (x2) and 1983, and they all basically look alike. The year of issue in not noted on the cards.

A complete set of the '81 Dallas set consists of 14 cards. Many of the specimens from this year seem to be "diamond" cut, where the side borders are not cut at a 90 degree angle and don't run parallel to the photo; it's just something to look for when purchasing a set, because this type of defect does hurt the value. While on the subject of value, I'd give the set a current price range of ten to fifteen dollars. 

Random Fact: The most obscure Cowboy to make the set is probably center Robert Shaw. Though he was taken by the Cowboys in the first round of the 1979 draft, the Tennessee alumnus never really had the chance to play as he was stuck behind veteran Tom Rafferty. Starting just six games in three seasons, Shaw was out of the NFL after the 1981 campaign.

We have previously featured the 1979 Cowboys Police Set, 1980 Cowboys Police Set and 1983 Cowboys Police Set. 

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 (18) Glenn Carano, QB

(20) Ron Springs, RB

(23) James Jones, RB

(26) Michael Downs, S

(32) Dennis Thurman, CB

(45) Steve Wilson, CB

(51) Anthony Dickerson, LB

(52) Robert Shaw, C

(58) Mike Hegman, LB

(59) Guy Brown, LB

(61) Jim Cooper, T

(72) Ed Jones, DE

(84) Doug Cosbie, TE

(86) Butch Johnson, WR

 

1983 Minnesota Vikings Police Set

The Minnesota Vikings, in conjunction with several local Twin Cities area law enforcement agencies, released their first "police" card set during the 1983 NFL season. 

Consisting of 17 cards total, the set follows the general format used by other NFL police sets since 1979; e.g., large color action photos on the fronts and a taller card size than the standard national issues. These police cards measure approx. 4 1/8 inches tall by 2 5/8 inches wide, and were printed on soft white cardstock. 

The cards were distributed throughout the '83 football season by local Minnesota police officers and sheriff's deputies. According to the card backs, the set was sponsored by the state Neighborhood Watch (M.C.P.O.A.), Pillsbury and Burger King. Their respective logos are found on the backs, along with player biographies and a crime prevention tip. Each card is also numbered on the back.

Let's compare this police set to the Topps football set released during the same season. In their 1983 football release, which contains a total of 396 cards, The Topps Company featured just 12 Vikings cards within the set. To make matters worse, each of these cards featured the typical 1980s Topps "bench shot" photos that were unappealing to young collectors. An action packed Vikings police set was just what the doctor ordered, and several notable names emerged as an added bonus. Hall of Fame head coach Bud Grant, who had never been featured on a mainstream card, makes an overdue appearance at the end of his career with the club (he would coach the Vikings one final season in 1985). Guard Jim Hough played nine seasons with Minnesota and was never featured on a Topps card.

Topps really dropped the ball with two other Vikings legends. Defensive back Joey Browner was drafted by Minnesota in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft, and went on to play in six Pro Bowls; in addition, he was named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team. While he appears in the '83 Vikings police set (in an early training camp photo), Topps would not issue Browner's true rookie card until the release of their 1986 set. Perhaps even worse was Topps' treatment of linebacker Scott Studwell, who was drafted by the Vikings back in 1977 and became a starter in 1980. Incredibly, Studwell would not be given a Topps rookie card until 1988, his twelfth season in the league! His '83 police card pays him his due respect by showing him in action against Eagles lineman Petey Perot, and even mentions his winning the NFL arm wrestling championship on the back of the card. Both Browner and Studwell are members of the Vikings Ring of Honor, as well as the 50 Greatest Vikings team chosen in 2010.

The club continued to release yearly police sets into the new millennium, though the old method of police officers giving away a couple of cards at a time eventually fell by the wayside. The inaugural 1983 set isn't too awfully hard to find and has a current value in the $7 to $10 range.

For a comparison, here's a peek at how the Dallas Cowboys police card set looked in 1983.

Random Fact: The last card of every Vikings police set released from 1983 through 1989 features an "All Time Great" player. Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton occupies the slot in the 1983 issue, and at the time held the NFL all-time records for attempts, completions, career passing yards and touchdown throws.

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1. Minnesota Vikings Art Card/Checklist

2. Tommy Kramer, QB

3. Ted Brown, RB

4. Joe Senser, TE

5. Sammy White, WR

6. Doug Martin, DE

7. Matt Blair, LB

8. Bud Grant, Head Coach

9. Scott Studwell, LB

10. Greg Coleman, P

11. John Turner, CB

12. Jim Hough, G

13. Joey Browner, DB

14. Dennis Swilley, C

15. Darrin Nelson, RB

16. Mark Mullaney, DE

17. Fran Tarkenton, QB (All Time Great)

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.

Click here to search for Dolphins Police Sets on eBay

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

1981 Pittsburgh Steelers Police Set

When your favorite team played the Steelers in the mid-1970s and early 1980s, the end result probably wasn't a favorable one for the ___________ (insert the name of any team that isn't the Steelers).

Widely considered the greatest dynasty in NFL history, the Steelers of this era showed up on Sundays with the intention of beating all comers. Badly. Just imagine being the defensive coordinator that was tasked with controlling the Steelers offense... Where do you begin? You need to cover a Hall of Fame center (Webster), who's hiking the ball to a Hall of Fame quarterback (Bradshaw), who's handing the ball off to a Hall of Fame running back (Harris), or perhaps throwing the ball to one of his two Hall of Fame wide receivers (Swann and Stallworth).

Whaaaaaat?

Offensive coordinators didn't fare much better against the Steelers defense. Running the ball wasn't easy against a Hall of Fame defensive Tackle (Greene) and a soon-to-be Hall of Fame defensive end (Greenwood).  Two Hall of Fame linebackers (Lambert and Ham) provided an unmatched second line of defense. A Hall of Fame cornerback (Blount) and possible Hall of Fame safety (Shell) were willing and able to handle the best opposing wide receivers.

The 1981 set is the first of a long line of yearly Steelers police sets that changed very little for over a decade... And this first set appeared none too soon, as the Steelers dynasty was coming to a close. Consisting of 16 player cards, every player mentioned above is featured in this remarkable issue. Card fronts feature a Steelers helmet and "stenciled" team name across the top. with a large action photo adorning the middle. Below each photo is the player's name, position, height and weight. Backs have a Coca-Cola and Kiwanis logo at the top, with a "Steeler's Tip" occupying the middle. The set sponsors are listed at the bottom (the local Kiwanis Club, Coca-Cola, the local Police Department and the Pittsburgh Steelers). Cards are not numbered except for uniform numbers on the fronts.

Because of the high-profile status of these players, most were well-represented in the yearly Topps football sets. One exception is legendary wide receiver Lynn Swann, who decided not to sign with Topps after the 1977 season (he is found in Topps sets from 1975-1977). He makes a welcome appearance in the Steeler's first police set four years later, and makes his final appearance in the second police set released by the team a year later in 1982.

I would challenge anyone to find a team set containing at least 16 cards where over half of the players are in the Hall of Fame. It's a fool's errand. For this reason alone, you need to own this set (you'll be a huge hit with the ladies at your next party when you whip out this baby.... women love winners!) The cards aren't impossible to find, but these '81s are probably a touch scarcer than the police sets the Steelers would release in the years following. Expect to pay around $15 for a set that's in nice shape.

Random Fact: Larry Brown was converted from tight end to offensive tackle before the 1977 season began, but is mistakenly listed as a tight end in this set.

Click here to find Steelers Police Sets on eBay

(9) Matt Bahr, K

(12) Terry Bradshaw, QB

(31) Donnie Shell, DB

(32) Franco Harris, RB

(47) Mel Blount, CB

(52) Mike Webster, C

(57) Sam Davis, G

(58) Jack Lambert, LB

(59) Jack Ham, LB

(64) Steve Furness, DT

(68) L.C. Greenwood, DE

(75) Joe Greene, DT

(76) John Banaszak, DE

(79) Larry Brown, TE

(82) John Stallworth, WR

(88) Lynn Swann, WR

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.

Click here to find Falcons Police Cards on eBay

(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

1981 Chicago Bears Police Set

The Chicago Bears were woefully underrepresented in the 1980s oddball set world. During the decade, the team would be the subject of a mere two police sets -- a remarkable, action-packed set released in 1981, and a set in 1986 that featured both Bears and Patriots players, in honor of their meeting in Super Bowl XX. This post will focus on the 1981 release.

Modern-day football police sets were first released during the 1979 NFL season, with the Cowboys, Chiefs and Seahawks issuing small sets in their respective home areas. A few more teams followed suit in 1980, with Chicago hopping on board the safety card bus in 1981. Considered a mid-sized police set at 24 cards, fronts feature game-day action shots taken by team photographer Bill Smith, who continues to retain his legendary Bears pic-takin' position to this very day. The cards are not numbered except for player uniform numbers on the fronts, found at the bottom with player names, a small Bears helmet, and Kiwanis Club logo.

The Bears weren't a great team in 1981, finishing at the bottom of the NFC Central Division with a 6 and 10 record. Regardless of their pesky win-loss totals, the club (and this set) featured many names that are still beloved by Bears fans. While it's tempting to do a write-up for each and every player, here are five notable guys who make this police issue a must-have for any football collector:

Quarterback Vince Evans - Pictured the same year as his Topps rookie card, Evans was originally drafted by the Bears in the sixth round of the 1977 NFL Draft. An exciting player to watch, Evans managed to play NFL football through the end of the 1995 season (with two years away to play USFL ball in 1984 and 1985). 

Running Back Walter Payton - Precious few oddball cards were created for Payton during his playing career, and this ranks as one of the nicer ones. A struggling offensive line hampered Payton's performance in 1981, and though he gained an impressive 1,222 yards rushing that season, he averaged only 3.6 yards per carry.

Strong Safety Gary Fencik - Decorated defensive back Fencik was a mainstay with Chicago from 1976 through 1987, and was the team's starting free safety throughout the 1985 playoffs and Super Bowl XX. A huge fan-favorite and Chicago native.

Defensive Tackle Alan Page - One of the greatest defensive linemen ever to play professionally, Page played his first eleven and a half pro seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. He finished his career with the Bears, where he played another three and a half years. I believe this '81 Bears police card is the final issue printed during his active playing career.

Defensive End Dan Hampton - Chicago's first-round pick in the 1979 NFL Draft, Hampton is represented during his Topps rookie card year. A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, "Danimal" was a fixture on the Bears defensive line from 1979 through 1990.

These sets aren't everywhere, but I wouldn't consider them scarce either. A nicely centered, NRMT set is worth in the neighborhood of $20 to $25. Anyone who collects oddball football sets should have this one in their sights.

Click here to find Bears Police Cards on eBay

(8) Vince Evans, QB

(34) Walter Payton, RB

(35) Roland Harper, RB

(44) Terry Schmidt, CB

(45) Gary Fencik, SS

(46) Doug Plank, FS

(48) Allan Ellis, CB

(52) Dan Neal, C

(54) Tom Hicks, LB

(58) Jerry Muckensturm, LB

(59) Gary Campbell, LB

(64) Ted Albrecht, T

(65) Noah Jackson, G

(68) Jim Osborne, DT

(69) Revie Sorey, G

(70) Dennis Lick, T

(73) Mike Hartenstine, DE

(80) Rickey Watts, WR

(81) Robin Earl, TE (Pictured wearing #39)

(82) Alan Page, DT

(84) Brian Baschnagel, WR

(89) James Scott, WR

(99) Dan Hampton, DE

Head Coach Neill Armstrong

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.

Click here to find Rams Police Cards on eBay

(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

1989 Phoenix Cardinals Police Set

The Oddball Card Collector never stops scouring the web in search of police cards. On any given evening, I'll have one eye on Master Chef and the other eye on eBay... Or maybe one eye on a Love Boat re-run and the other eye on eBay... And if I've ever learned anything from Chef Gordon Ramsay and head purser Gopher Smith, it is this: the 1989 Phoenix Cardinals Police Set is pretty tough to find.

The era of the modern-day police set was turning twelve years old in 1989 (if you consider the 1977/78 Trailblazers set the first), and many card collectors were already beginning to lose interest in this type of card. Add to that the addition of two new nationally-distributed football card sets being released in 1989 -- Pro Set and Score -- along with a bevy of good but not great players on the Phoenix roster, and this nifty Cardinals set was all but guaranteed to be a cold release.

A release that continues to be cold to this very day.

A complete set features twelve player cards, which are not numbered except for uniform numbers. Slightly larger than the standard card size, each features a beautiful on-field color photo and short player bio. The historic year of 1989 was when Pro Set and Score blew the football "action shot" doors off the hinges, whereas police sets like this were once the best way to find such photos (especially for linemen). The '89 Cardinals set holds it's own here in all the classic police card aspects, including the expected action photography. The typical childhood safety tip is found on the back of each card.

The card featuring Derek Kennard was short printed, having been recalled from the set after his arrest for drunk driving. (You'll never guess the safety tip printed on the back of his card... "Don't ride in a car if you think the driver has had too much to drink. Call someone you trust for a ride.) In the world of scarce, short printed police cards, my guess is that Kennard ranks  somewhere in the middle. It's probably worth just as much, and probably more, than all the other cards in the set combined. Tight end Jay Novacek is represented during his rookie card year, and would go on the win three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys. Roy Green, a true Cardinals legend, is also found in the set. (Green played everything from defensive back to wide receiver, to kick returner, to punt returner, to rusher.)

According to published sources, a total of 100,000 sets were printed. My question is simply, "Where are they?" I consistently see other sets, printed in much smaller quantities, showing up on the web much more often than this. At the time of this writing, eBay has less than ten singles available, and not even one complete set. As elusive as these cards may be, a complete set including Kennard is valued in the ten to fifteen dollar range. A set minus the Kennard short print would probably set you back about five bucks.

Click here to find Cardinals Police Cards on eBay

(5) Gary Hogeboom, QB

(24) Ron Wolfey, FB

(30) Stump Mitchell, RB

(31) Earl Ferrell, FB

(36) Via Sikahema, RB/KR

(43) Lonnie Young, FS

(46) Tim McDonald, SS

(65) David Galloway, DE

(67) Luis Sharpe, OT

(70) Derek Kennard, C (SP)

(79) Bob Clasby, DT

(80) Rob Awalt, TE

(81) Roy Green, WR

(84) J.T. Smith, WR

(85) Jay Novacek, TE

2014 Green Bay Packers Police

The Oddball Card Collector loves the 1970s and 1980s... Good times were had by all -- well, maybe not by New Orleans Saints fans, but these times were otherwise fun enough.

But what about the countless oddball sets that have been released in the new millennium? Surely there have been sets created these past few years that deserve a mention?

Of course there are. Actually, all of them deserve a mention on this humble blog... So many cards, so little time... With that in mind, it was time to find something produced since the birth of the smartphone. A reach into the shoebox yielded this random set from 2014 -- a nifty Green Bay Packers Police set.

These Packers Police sets have basically been produced yearly since 1983, and have been sponsored by an endless variety of Wisconsin police departments. Any given year, up to a dozen or so variations may be created as the various law enforcement agencies are listed somewhere on their cards. Some versions are scarcer than others, depending on the number of cards ordered by each agency. Other than the small area on the card listing the sponsoring agencies, everything else on the cards are otherwise the same (the rosters, photos and designs are all the same). Only the most serious of collectors attempt to track down the innumerable police department variations produced for the Packers sets these past thirty-plus years, and for the most part there seems to be no premium value attached to the various departments.

The 2014 version of the set consists of 20 cards, and as the back of this card shows, the set in our collection comes from the Town of Brookfield Police Department (we're not sure which other agencies distributed the cards, but we'd be interested in getting a hold of those, too). Fronts feature a unique brushed metal look to them, though these cards are made of simple cardboard and ink. Each is numbered "Card XX of 20."

The nucleus of an awesome Green Bay club is represented in this set, and boy, what a powerhouse of an NFL team these guys are. You might need to go all the way back to the 1981 Steelers Police set to find such an impressive roster of "kick yo' ass-edness." Quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Terry Bradshaw... Running backs Eddie Lacy and Franco Harris... Wideouts Jordy Nelson and Lynn Swann... Linebackers Jack Lambert and A.J. Hawk... Seeing both teams play head-to-head would surely be a game to remember.

I'm pretty sure that the old way of distributing police cards are long gone (find a cop, get a couple of cards), and at this point you'll typically find mint complete sets as opposed to random singles. The quality control of this set rates very close to a "10", and our set is free of printing defects, centering issues or bad corners/edges. If you're going to add a set to your collection, make sure your cards are uncirculated and mint!

I'd give the set a value of $5. These cards are easily available on eBay as of this writing, and the low value is due more to lack of demand than gazillions of cards being printed. I'm sure these sets were printed in reasonable quantities, especially for the smaller police agencies.

Whichever agencies those may be.

Click here to find Packers Police Sets on eBay

1. Ted Thompson, GM

2. Mike McCarthy, HC

3. Aaron Rodgers, QB

4. Jordy Nelson, WR

5. Randall Cobb, WR

6. T.J. Lang, G

7. Josh Sitton, G

8. David Bakhtiari, T

9. Eddie Lacy, RB

10. John Kuhn, FB

11. B.J. Raji, DT

12. Mike Daniels, DT

13. A.J. Hawk, LB

14. Clay Matthews, LB

15. Tramon Williams, CB

16. Morgan Burnett, S

17. Sam Shields, CB

18. Julius Peppers, LB/DE

19. Mason Crosby, K

20. Tim Masthay, P

1984 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Police

If these cards aren't the ones you're looking for, take a peek at the 1980 Buccaneers Police Set. The easiest way to tell the difference between the two sets is to look at the backs. The 1980 cards will have either a Coca-Cola or Paradyne logo, while the 1984 cards have neither.

The Tampa Bay Bucs, in conjunction with local area law enforcement agencies, released a second local "police" set in 1984 (the first one was the '80 set linked above). Both sets are complete at a whopping 56 cards each, which allowed a buttload of players the chance to make their lone card appearance as a professional NFL player.

Police sets from the late 70's to mid 80's had a general format for both the card fronts and backs, and this set followed the said formula faithfully. Fronts feature a large photo and basic biographical information for the pictured player. A small Bucs helmet with an old-school two-bar facemask is also featured on card fronts. Card backs feature a football definition and a safety tip that warns kids not to be kids ("When you fly a kite, stay away from overhead wires!") The three sponsors listed across the bottom are The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Community Security Council and Your Local Law Enforcement Agencies. The cards are not numbered.

One opportunity we feel this set missed was the chance to show the players in all of their Sunday glory on the playing field -- every player card except for one features a boring studio closeup shot, and the players are shown wearing either a blank orange jersey, or a shirt that has a number that isn't theirs. The lone exception on a player card is that of linebacker Danny Spradlin, who may or may not have existed, and who is pictured on his card in full pads and helmet. To the credit of the set, extra action cards of running back James Wilder, defensive end Lee Roy Selmon, linebacker Hugh Green, and the overall defense were added to the set to spice things up a bit. Cards were also made for the Shwash-Buc-Lers cheerleading squad, head coach John McKay and team owner Hugh Culverhouse.

Any Bucs fan, police set collector or obscure player enthusiast should seriously consider grabbing these cards. With larger, more inclusive nationally-released football sets still being a good five years away, many players made their lone cardboard appearance in this '84 gem of an oddball set. Kicker Obed Ariri, offensive tackle Ken Kaplan, running back Melvin Carver, our friendly linebacker Danny Spradlin... The list seemingly goes on and on. Add to that the large number of veterans pictured for the first (or only) time with the Bucs, and now you're really talkin' football. One example is offensive guard Steve Courson, who snagged two Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1978 and 1979, and played for Tampa during the '84 and '85 seasons. Courson was never pictured on a Topps card, but did manage to make the 1983 Steelers Police Set. Offensive tackle Ron Heller is pictured here as a Buc during his rookie season, and would not receive a Topps card until their 1989 Traded Set was issued five years later (when he was pictured as a Philadelphia Eagle).

This set is probably easier to find than it's older 1980 brother, but you still won't see these all too often. After being released in modest quantities over thirty years ago, the supply has seemingly dried up, and to our knowledge no large hoards of these have ever been dumped on the market. Random singles can be found here and there, but complete sets seem to be fairly elusive. Regarding value, the lack of superstar players keeps the set price reasonable. Hall of Fame defensive end Lee Roy Selmon is the biggest name to be found, with a trail of respectable players following somewhere behind (quarterback Steve DeBerg, coach John McKay, running back James Wilder, linebacker Hugh Green). 

We'd estimate this set to be somewhere in the $50 range, give or take a few bucks to the right buyer. How do you go about finding a set if you'd like to add one to your collection? Well, the answer is simple...

Start Spradlin' the news.

Click here to find Bucs Police Cards on eBay

(1) Buccaneers Artwork Card

(2) John McKay, Head Coach

(3) Fred Acorn, DB

(4) Obed Ariri, K

(5) Adger Armstrong, RB

(6) Jerry Bell, TE

(7) Theo Bell, WR

(8) Byron Braggs, DE

(9) Scot Brantley, LB

(10) Cedric Brown, DB

(11) Keith Browner, LB

(12) John Cannon, DE

(13) Jay Carroll, TE

(14) Gerald Carter, WR

(15) Melvin Carver, RB

(16) Jeremiah Castille, DB

(17) Mark Cotney, DB

(18) Steve Courson, OG

(19) Jeff Davis, LB

(20) Steve DeBerg, QB

(21) Sean Farrell, OL

(22) Frank Garcia, P

(23) Jimmie Giles, TE

(24) Hugh Green, LB

(25) Hugh Green Action

(26) Randy Grimes, OL

(27) Ron Heller, OT

(28) John Holt, DB

(29) Kevin House, WR

(30) Noah Jackson, OG

(31) Cecil Johnson, LB

(32)  Ken Kaplan, OT

(33) Blair Kiel, QB

(34) David Logan, DT

(35) Brison Manor, DE

(36) Michael Morton, KR

(37) James Owens, RB

(38) Beasley Reece, DB

(39) Gene Sanders, OT

(40) Lee Roy Selmon, DE

(41) Lee Roy Selmon Action

(42) Danny Spradlin, LB

(43) Kelly Thomas, OT

(44) Norris Thomas, DB

(45) Jack Thompson, QB

(46) Perry Tuttle, WR

(47) Chris Washington, LB

(48) Mike Washington, DB

(49) James Wilder, RB

(50) James Wilder Action

(51) Steve Wilson, C

(52) Mark White, TE

(53) Richard Wood, LB

(54) Defensive Action

(55) Hugh Culverhouse, Owner

(56) Swash-Buc-Lers, Cheerleaders