By Darin Hayes
Back in 1974, the football world was buzzing. The World Football League (WFL) was making headlines, luring established stars like Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick, and Paul Warfield away from the NFL. To match the hype, Sports Illustrated dropped a nugget of news that thrilled gridiron fans and collectors alike: Topps was preparing to release a dedicated WFL trading card set.
It was poised to be a massive piece of sports memorabilia. There was just one glaring problem—the set was never produced. For decades, that missing cardboard left a huge void in American football history.
But what happens when die-hard fans decide to right a historical wrong?
A Nostalgic Spark
During a recent visit to the “Pig Pen,” I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Bill Jones, Richie Franklin, and Greg Allred. These three gentlemen share a deep-rooted passion for the WFL and the USFL, born from their childhood memories.
- Bill Jones grew up in Southern California, captivated by the family-friendly atmosphere, vibrant colors, and unique logos of the WFL when the Southern California Sun came to town.
- Richie Franklin was a 12-year-old Green Bay Packers fan looking for excitement when the WFL burst onto the scene, bringing superstar talent and a unique football design with it.
- Greg Allred witnessed professional football come to Alabama for the first time with the Birmingham Americans, cementing his lifelong allegiance to the league.
Their shared passion eventually led them to a Yahoo group called the WFL Club. It was there that Richie, who had been purchasing original WFL photo negatives from the Topps archives, sparked an idea: Why don’t we just make the cards ourselves?
Crafting Classic Gridiron Lore
Today, these three historians are the masterminds behind the incredible custom sets found at WFLFootballCards.com and USFLFootballCards.com. Since 2013, they have meticulously designed and printed over 35 distinct trading card sets that celebrate the unsung heroes and legendary franchises of the WFL and USFL.
The process is a true labor of love. It requires hunting down unpublished photos from private collections and piecing together accurate historical data. Bill, the team’s resident “template king,” expertly designs the cards to mirror the look and feel of the eras they represent.
“We try to find things from our childhood that resonated with us, that we think will resonate with collectors and historians…” — Bill Jones
Whether it is a set mimicking the classic 1970s Topps design, a layout resembling old Fleer cards, or specialty subsets inspired by the Kellogg’s or Hostess cards once hidden inside grocery items, the nostalgia is palpable. They even created a “TV Set” honoring the specific broadcast games from the 1974 WFL season!
Giving Players Their Due
Perhaps the most heartwarming aspect of this project is the reaction from the players themselves. For many athletes, their time in the WFL or USFL was the pinnacle of their professional careers. Because those leagues lacked official trading cards at the time, many never got to see their own faces on a standard piece of cardboard.
Richie took the initiative to send these custom cards to former players, and the response has been extraordinary. Over 45 former WFL players—including legends like Jim Kiick and even former commissioner Gary Davidson—have proudly posed for photos holding their very own rookie cards. Families have even reached out to order stacks of cards to share with children and grandchildren, proving that preserving this history goes far beyond mere collecting.
Preserving Positive Football History
The WFL and USFL were vital chapters in the grand story of professional football. They challenged the status quo, introduced innovative concepts, and gave fans in non-NFL markets a chance to cheer for a hometown team.
Bill, Richie, and Greg have done something incredibly special. By transforming their childhood fandom into tangible pieces of art, they are keeping the legacy of these upstart leagues alive for future generations of gridiron enthusiasts.
If you want to hold a piece of this recovered history in your hands, head over to their websites. It might not come with a stick of stale, cardboard-flavored pink gum, but the memories are just as sweet.
đź”— Important Links:
- WFL Trading Cards: www.wflfootballcards.com
- USFL Trading Cards: www.usflfootballcards.com
- Facebook: Search “WFL Football Cards” and “USFL Football Cards”
- More Football History: pigskindispatch.com
