October 29, 2004

New England Patriots 

The New England Patriots started out as the Boston Patriots in 1960.  A team with out a home, they played in five different locations before ending up at Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts and went from being the Boston Patriots (yes they did play a home game in Birmingham, Alabama) to the New England Patriots.  Collectors who follow the Patriots are passionate about their team and will collect virtually anything related to the team.

The Patriots, in my opinion, are the hottest team in the NFL at this time.  They are winning (21 in a row) and are playing like a throwback to the 1960’s type football. 

Patriots’ team collectors are enjoying this period of success after many years of troubles and low standings.  This year will the overwhelming amount of new football cards in the market, I am sure these collectors are having problems keeping up with it all.

Many Patriots team collectors are putting together runs of game programs that are in some cases difficult to find, (like the early 1960’s AFL programs) and relatively plentiful 1971 to current (as the team was not doing that well, except for a handful of seasons, there seems to many 70’s and 80’s programs in the marketplace).  I still have my game program from an exhibition game that I attended in 1976 in which the Eagles played the Patriots.  I still enjoy from time to time rereading that program and enjoy the historical perspective I gain from it.

I do know of several collectors who are trying to put together a run of all the game programs of the Patriots.  These dedicated collectors have seen many programs come out into the marketplace since the Internet and online auctions like eBay.  Obviously the most difficult programs to collect are from 1960 to 1967, when the Boston Patriots played at different home sites and were playing in the true American Football League.  1960 game programs will command the highest prices with their first program 9/9/1960 against the Denver Broncos which they lost 13 to 10.  This program I have seen sell as high as $450.  It is truly a rare piece of Patriots history.

The Patriots Championship games of 1963 in which they beat Buffalo 26-8 on 12/28/63 and lost to San Diego 51-10 on 1/5/64 are tough programs to collect.  The Buffalo program ranges from $200 to $300, while the San Diego Championship program ranges from $300 to $400.  Again, I have seen some of these programs start to emerge in the marketplace and collectors grabbing them up.

The 1970’s Patriots programs seem readily available and range from $35 to $10, some more and some less.  Like wise the 1980’s, a tough decade for Patriots fans coming in second place a lot and a tough Super Bowl XX loss.  These programs can be found with a range of prices from $25 to $5. 

Patriots’ program collectors can find the programs they need with some searching and luck.  A run is still doable and affordable depending upon the year you start.  Until next time, good luck with your collections.

Bob Swick has been collecting football cards since 1965.  He also collects programs, yearbooks, media guides, ticket stubs, pocket schedules, and team photos of the Green Bay Packers, of which he is a shareholder.  He is a contributing writer to “Gridiron Greats” magazine.  He is also a member of The Professional Football Researchers Association