Happy Halloween - AFL Style!

In the early years of the AFL, teams were responsible for designing their own game programs which resulted in many unique covers which often used art work showing the home team's mascot taking on the opposition's mascot. These program covers are much more interesting than the league produced programs which followed a few years later in both the AFL as well as the NFL as the leagues tried to standardize the programs across all teams.

The Boston Patriots used the Halloween theme on a few of their programs in the early to mid 60's which seem appropriate to share as we gear up for trick or treat:





Happy Halloween from The Fleer Sticker Project!

Fleer NFL Football Cloth Patch Stickers - Philadelphia Eagles

How's this for timing. The night the Philadelphia Phillies win their first World Series in 28 years, I've got the Philadelphia Eagles next on the list of teams for the Fleer NFL Cloth Patch Sticker review. Congratulations to the Phillies on their World Series victory.

The Philadelphia Eagles have 4 different Fleer cloth patch helmet variations and 1 Hi-Gloss helmet sticker. The single bar facemask variation with the late 60's - early 70's white helmet and green wings was produced in 1972 & 1973 and is shown on the top. The double bar version from 1974 when the helmet changed to the more familiar green is on the middle left, and the 1975 version with the TM is on the middle right:

The 1976 cloth patch and Hi-Gloss sticker are on the bottom row.

There are 3 logo cloth patch variations and 1 Hi-Gloss logo sticker for the Eagles as the same cloth logo patch was issued for 1972 through 1974 as seen on the top left with the 1975 TM version on the top right:

The 1976 cloth patch and Hi-Gloss sticker shown on the bottom row.

Fleer NFL Football Cloth Patch Stickers - Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders have 4 different Fleer cloth patch helmet variations and 1 Hi-Gloss helmet sticker. The single bar facemask variation from 1972 & 1973 is on the top. The double bar version from 1974 is on the middle left, and the 1975 version with the TM is on the middle right:


The 1976 cloth patch and Hi-Gloss sticker are on the bottom row.

There are 3 logo cloth patch variations and 1 Hi-Gloss logo sticker for the Raiders as the same cloth logo patch was issued for 1972 through 1974 as seen on the left with the 1975 TM version on the right:


The 1976 cloth patch and Hi-Gloss sticker shown on the bottom row.

NFL History Lesson: How the Raiders came to Oakland:

Raider Nation has the Minnesota Vikings to thank for Oakland ever having a team. When the American Football League (AFL) was being formed in late 1959 - early 1960, Minnesota was one of the cities ready to join the new league. The AFL was being formed by Lamar Hunt and other investors who had made numerous unsuccessful attempts to get an expansion team from the NFL for their city.

At the time, the NFL owners had no interest in expansion as they liked their little group of 12 teams just fine, and saw no reason to expand the league. Things changed very quickly when they realized the AFL was serious about starting a rival league, so one of the things they did was try to keep the league from ever getting off the ground by snatching one of its investor groups and its cities before the AFL was ready for its first season in an attempt to get the league to fold.

Its amazing what a little competition will do to make you rethink your business strategy.

The NFL awarded the Minnesota group an NFL expansion franchise to begin playing in the 1961 season, which left the AFL with only 7 teams before the start of the 1960 season. Quickly moving to get an 8th team in place so that the league would not have to have one team idle each week, they awarded a team to Oakland.

The city had not asked for a team, there was no ownership group in place and there was no stadium in Oakland suitable for pro football . In addition, there was a successful NFL franchise across the Bay in the San Francisco 49ers. However, the AFL owners selected Oakland after Los Angeles Chargers owner Barron Hilton threatened to forfeit his franchise unless a second team were placed on the West Coast so that there could be a West Coast rival in the league.

A "name the team" contest was held by the local newspaper, and the winning name was the Oakland Señors. However, after realizing that this was not a very good sounding name for a football team, the owners changed the team's name to "Raiders", and the rest as they say, is history.

Fleer NFL Football Cloth Patch Stickers - New York Jets

The New York Jets have 4 different Fleer cloth patch helmet variations and 1 Hi-Gloss helmet sticker. The single bar facemask variation from 1972 & 1973 is on the top. The double bar version from 1974 is on the middle left, and the 1975 version with the TM is on the middle right:



The 1976 cloth patch and Hi-Gloss sticker are on the bottom row.

There are 3 logo cloth patch variations and 1 Hi-Gloss logo sticker for the Jets as the same cloth logo patch was issued for 1972 through 1974 as seen on the left with the 1975 TM version on the right:


Thanks to Craig for sharing a picture of the 1976 cloth logo patch:


and finally, here is the 1976 Hi-Gloss sticker:

Fleer NFL Football Cloth Patch Stickers - New York Giants

The New York Giants have 4 different Fleer cloth patch helmet variations and 1 Hi-Gloss helmet sticker. Unlike most of the teams we're reviewing, the Giants helmet underwent a few changes during this time period which are reflected in changes seen in the Fleer helmet patches. The single bar variation from 1972 & 1973 is on the top while the double bar version from 1974 is on the bottom:


In 1975 the helmet design changed to a stylized "NY":


and in 1976 the helmet design changed again to read "GIANTS":


Thanks to Craig, I can also show the 1976 Hi-Gloss Sticker:


The Fleer Sticker project ran into a little technical difficulty yesterday when I discovered that the Giants Hi-Gloss Helmet Sticker in my collection was a doctored forgery. Someone had replaced the Raiders sticker with a Redskins sticker which I had never caught until I started scanning the stickers last night. Upon closer inspection, it was clear the sticker had been doctored as the Redskins sticker was sticking up just a little bit over the sticker backing, indicating that someone tried to make the sticker look complete by adding on another team name.

The emergency call went out to Craig, who promptly responded with the scan pictured above. Thanks for coming through in the clutch Craig! Craig was also kind enough to share the 1975 helmet patch shown above.

The Giants logo patches underwent similar changes as we saw with the helmets. Making things even more interesting is that for a few years, Fleer printed 2 versions of the logo patch - one with a red background and one with a blue background:


As seen in the picture on the top left, the Giants logo with the red background is paired with the Falcons name sticker while the Giants logo on the top right is paired with the Bengals name sticker.

I have been able to confirm that both versions appeared in 1972 and 1973, but I have not been able to confirm whether or not the red background patch appeared in the 1974 packs as well. To date, all I have found in 1974 packs is the blue background patch, so the jury is still out on whether the red background was produced in 1974.

My experience which Craig also has noticed is that the red background patch is less common than the blue background patch, leading me to believe that it was not available in 1974. I'm not ready to say definitively that it was not produced in 1974, but I would lean towards saying it wasn't. Until we get an uncut sheet, or someone is willing to bust a few unopened boxes, we really won't know for sure.

The patch in the middle is from 1975 with the revised "NY" logo, and the 2 patches on the bottom are the 1976 cloth patch and Hi-Gloss Sticker reflecting the change to "GIANTS".

Fleer NFL Football Cloth Patch Stickers - New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints have 4 different Fleer cloth patch helmet variations and 1 Hi-Gloss helmet sticker. The single bar variation from 1972 & 1973 is on the top. The double bar version from 1974 is on the middle left, and the 1975 version with the TM is on the middle right:


The 1976 cloth patch and Hi-Gloss sticker are on the bottom row.

There are 3 logo cloth patch variations and 1 Hi-Gloss logo sticker for the Saints as the same cloth logo patch was issued for 1972 through 1974 as seen on the top left with the 1975 TM version on the top right:


The 1976 cloth patch and Hi-Gloss sticker shown on the bottom row.

Its too bad Fleer never produced a patch with the infamous Saints Black Helmet as that would be an interesting variation to have:



Since they only wore these in a 1969 Preseason game (details here courtesy of Helmet Hut), Fleer would have never had a chance to produce a sticker with this helmet, but it would make for a fun "lost cloth patch" or "the cloth patch that never was".

Fleer NFL Football Cloth Patch Stickers - New England Patriots

The New England Patriots have 4 different Fleer cloth patch helmet variations and 1 Hi-Gloss helmet sticker. The single bar variation from 1972 & 1973 is on the top. The double bar version from 1974 is on the middle left, and the 1975 version with the TM is on the middle right:


The 1976 cloth patch and Hi-Gloss sticker are on the bottom row.

According to the Beckett Guide, there is another variation of the Patriots helmet patch which has the Falcons on the smaller team name patch instead of the Vikings (patch # 27 on the checklist). However, no collector I've spoken with has ever seen this patch.

I don't think the Patriots Helmet / Falcons Name patch was ever produced. I could be wrong, but given the variations I have researched and the input I've gotten from other Fleer collectors, the fact that nobody seems to have come across this patch out of a pack seems to indicate that it may not exist.

The thing that makes me skeptical about this patch (besides the fact that nobody seems to have one!) is the fact that when you look at the entire set, the team name patches range from appearing once in the set to 3 times in the set. If there really is a Patriots Helmet /Falcons Name patch, that would mean the Falcons name was used 4 times. I don't think Fleer would have used the Falcons name on 4 separate patches when many other teams were only being used once or twice, and a few teams were used 3 times.

My theory is that the Falcons Helmet/Patriots Name patch was mistakenly mislabeled on a set list at some point with the positions reversed. I think its too much of a coincidence that the one patch that nobody seems to have just happens to be the opposite of a patch that does exist:

The most reasonable explanation seems to be that at some point when the set list was being compiled that this sticker was correctly listed as Falcons Helmet / Patriots Name (#41) but then mistakenly listed again incorrectly as Falcons Name / Patriots Helmet (#27). Since there was nochecklist produced for the set, its likely that notes about the variations may have gotten the designations mixed up.

If anyone has a Patriots Helmet / Falcons Name patch that is completely in tact and still on the original backing, please let me know as I don't want to dismiss this variation if it really exists.

Turning to the logo patches, we have Pat Patriot on the 1972-1974 version of the patch on the top


and the 1975 TM version on the bottom.

Here is the 1976 cloth patch, courtesy of Craig:


and finally, the Hi-Gloss 1976 sticker:


Just for fun, here's a look at Pat's original rendering from the AFL days when the team was known as the Boston Patriots:

Fleer NFL Football Cloth Patch Stickers - Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings have a a variation in the helmet patch between 1972 and 1973 thanks to the Miami Dolphins which share the patch with the Vikings. As we saw when we looked at the Dolphins helmet and logo patches, they made a change in the lettering in their team name, going from an upper case print style in 1972 (top left) to a lower case script style in 1973 (top right):


In 1974 the facemask changed to a double bar (bottom left) and the patch added TMs in 1975 (bottom right).

Thanks to Craig sending me the picture, I can show the 1976 cloth patch which dropped the 1972 copyright and added a yellow border around the patch:


and finally rounding out the helmet stickers is the 1976 Hi-Gloss Vikings helmet sticker:


For the Vikings logo patches, they were also paired up with a team that underwent a lettering change in their team name - the Steelers. Just like we saw with the Green Bay Packers whose helmet patches were paired with the Steelers, the 1972 Vikings logo patch (top) has "STEELERS" in all caps while the 1973 patch (middle left) has "Steelers" in a lower case stencil font.


The 1973 and 1974 logo patches are identical, so the patch on the middle left is the same for both years. The 1975 patch is shown on the middle right with the TMs added, amd the 1976 cloth patch is shown on the bottom left with the 1976 Hi-Gloss sticker shown on the bottom right.

New NFL Football Fashions - 1960 Style

Its time to put the cloth patches aside for a moment to climb in the Way-Back machine to check out the latest fall fashions for the 1960 NFL season:

I'd like to find a nice example of the Thermos Stadium kit pictured in the lower right hand corner with all the team logos.

It looks like with the start of the AFL in 1960 the NFL got their marketing program in full gear to really promote the league. The two page spread below shows the MacGregor uniforms for kids as well as team logo apparel for men and women:


And just to make it clear that the NFL was a hi-class league, what fan wouldn't want a club jacket with their favorite NFL team logo? Turn up the Hi-Fi and listen the latest LP from the NFL: "The National Football League Marching Songs". Now the party is really swinging! Look at those nodding head dolls up on the shelf go! I think I will have another drink in my NFL martini glass.

Here is a better picture of the LP pictured in the ad and a link to WFMU's blog which has the complete National Football League Marching Songs for your listening pleasure:

As for the guys playing football in their boxers with the other guy in the pajamas giving an approving smile and a thumbs up, I'll let you make up your own comments.

I came across this series of ads for NFL Merchandise in the Sports Illustrated 1960 Football Preview issue dated September 29, 1960:


Also in this issue, there was a separate MacGregor ad elsewhere in the magazine:


If you'd like to see other great vintage NFL merchandise from the late 60's through the late 70's, please read my post from earlier this year on the NFL items that were sold through Sears and JC Penney's Christmas Catalogs.

If you haven't checked out Sports Illustrated's online magazine archive, I highly recommend it. You can either view specific articles or see the entire magazine. Although be warned, you may end up spending a lot of time there if you enjoy sports history. Spending some time in the SI Vault is like taking a trip back in time.

Fleer NFL Football Cloth Patch Stickers - Miami Dolphins

Taking a look at the Miami Dolphins, we find another example of a variation in the helmet patch between 1972 and 1973. For most teams, there is no difference between the 1972 and 1973 helmet patches as both have the single bar face mask. However, the Dolphins made a change in the lettering in the team name, going from an upper case print style (left) to a lower case script style in 1973 (right):


In 1974 the face mask changed to a double bar:


and in 1975 TMs were added:


Thanks to Craig for the patch pictured above as well as the patch below showing the 1976 Dolphins helmet cloth patch:


Rounding out the helmet stickers is the 1976 Hi-Gloss Dolphins helmet sticker:


Just as we saw with the helmet patches, the Dolphins logo patch also had the upper case print style in 1972 (top):



which changed to the lower case script style for the 1973 & 1974 logo patch (middle left). The 1975 patch is identical to the 1973/1974 patch except for the addition of TMs (middle right), and 1976 saw a green border added around both the cloth patch (bottom left) and the Hi-Gloss sticker (bottom right).

Fleer NFL Football Cloth Patch Stickers - Los Angeles Rams

Someone working at Fleer must have been a Rams fan as the Rams helmet patches were double printed the first 2 years with variations in the smaller team name patches. The 1972 Rams helmet patches can be identified by the white horns on the helmet (top left & right) with either a Steelers or Chiefs team name patch:


Its also interesting to note for some reason the Rams/Chiefs 1972 patch has a gray background while the other patch has a white background. For 1973, Fleer once again issued 2 Rams patches, this time with yellow horns (as the team changed from white to yellow that year), again with either a Steelers or Chiefs patch.

Note that the lettting for the Steelers changed from all caps in 1972 to the stenciled lowercase font in 1973, just as we saw with the Packers helmet patches.

In 1974 the helmet patch changed to a double bar facemask (top left) with the 1975 version (top right) adding a TM:


The 1976 cloth patch and Hi-Gloss sticker are shown on the bottom.

As for the logo patch, it also underwent a color change just like the helmet patches. In 1972 the logo patch had a white background, which later changed to yellow in either 1973 or 1974. I haven't opened any 1973 packs so I can't verify if the patch changed to the yellow background in 1973, but given the change in the color of the horns on the helmet in 1973, I would assume the background color on the patch changed that year as well, and was the same in 1974:


In 1975, the TM was added:


The 1976 cloth patch removed the 1972 copyright and added a green border:


with the 1976 Hi-Gloss sticker being an almost identical match: