The Definitive History of Marketcom Mini-NFL Posters (1980–1983)

One of the greatest football collectibles of the 1980s isn't a trading card. It's not a Starting Lineup figure. It isn't even a full-size poster. It's the Marketcom Mini-NFL Poster—a forgotten piece of football history that deserves far more recognition than it receives today.

Editor's Note: This is a living collector's guide. Because so little official documentation about Marketcom survives, portions of the company's history remain incomplete. This article is based on surviving posters, collector research, hobby publications, advertisements, and firsthand examination of known examples. As new information is discovered, this guide will continue to evolve.

A Forgotten Gem of the 1980s

Walk into any card shop in the early 1980s and you'd find packs of Topps football cards, team pennants, stickers, magazines, and posters competing for a young collector's attention.

Hidden among them was something different.

The Marketcom Mini-NFL Poster.

Measuring approximately 5½" × 8½", these colorful mini-posters weren't trading cards, yet they weren't full-sized posters either. They occupied a unique place in the hobby, featuring outstanding action photography of the NFL's biggest stars in a format that was perfect for displaying.

More than forty years later, they remain one of football collecting's best-kept secrets.

The Company Behind the Posters

Marketcom Inc. was a St. Louis, Missouri-based poster and sports memorabilia company that operated from the late 1970s until 1993.

The company became widely known for producing its large, white-bordered sports posters featuring stars from the NFL, Major League Baseball, and the NBA. Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, collectors regularly found Marketcom advertisements in Sports Illustrated, where they could order posters by selecting a player's code from an extensive mail-order checklist.

For many sports fans, flipping through Sports Illustrated wasn't just about reading the latest stories. It was also about browsing the Marketcom advertisement and imagining which athlete would soon be hanging on their bedroom wall.

While those oversized posters became the company's signature product, Marketcom also ventured into smaller collectible formats—including what many football collectors now consider one of the company's finest creations: the Mini-NFL Poster series.

Although Marketcom ceased operations in 1993, its posters continue to enjoy a loyal following among collectors who appreciate their photography, nostalgia, and display appeal.

1980: The Beginning

The first known Marketcom Mini-NFL Poster release appeared in 1980.

Printed on heavy stock and measuring approximately 5½" × 8½", the posters showcased colorful action photography of many of the league's biggest stars.

Unlike later releases, the 1980 posters do not include player statistics or biographies on the reverse, making them easy to distinguish from subsequent years.

Modern hobby references recognize 51 known posters from the 1980 issue, although one poster—Rocky Bleier—is considerably more elusive than the others and continues to generate discussion among longtime collectors.

Even today, assembling the complete 1980 set remains a rewarding challenge.

1981: Building on a Good Idea

Marketcom returned in 1981 with another impressive NFL release.

This time, the company added player biographies and career statistics to the backs of the posters, giving collectors something to enjoy beyond the photography.

The known checklist contains 50 posters and features many of football's biggest names during one of the NFL's greatest eras.

One of the characteristics that makes Marketcom so enjoyable is the photography.

Rather than simply recycling previous images, many returning players received entirely new action shots, giving each annual release its own identity.

1982: The Final League-Wide Set

The final known league-wide Marketcom Mini-NFL Poster release arrived in 1982.

Containing 48 posters, the series continued the format introduced the previous year with player information on the reverse while once again featuring outstanding game-action photography.

By this point, Marketcom had firmly established the look collectors still recognize today.

For many hobbyists, completing the 1980, 1981, and 1982 sets represents the foundation of a Marketcom collection.

The Mystery of the Test Posters

No discussion of Marketcom would be complete without mentioning the test posters.

Collectors have identified examples that appear to differ from the standard production issues and are commonly referred to as "test posters." Unfortunately, almost no official documentation has surfaced to explain exactly what they are.

Were they printer's proofs?

Sales samples?

Pre-production samples?

Promotional pieces?

At this point, nobody knows for certain.

Until company records, original employees, or additional documentation emerge, the test posters remain one of football collecting's mysteries.

Sometimes the unanswered questions are what make collecting so much fun.

The Players Who Received Multiple Posters

One of Marketcom's greatest strengths was its photography.

Many star players appeared in multiple annual releases, but Marketcom often selected entirely different game-action images rather than reusing the same photograph year after year.

That means collectors can enjoy multiple posters of their favorite players while still feeling like each piece is unique.

One of my long-term goals is to document every player who appeared across multiple Marketcom releases and compare those photographs side-by-side. It's a project that deserves to be preserved for future collectors.

1983: The Dallas Cowboys Take Center Stage

Then something unexpected happened.

Instead of producing another league-wide NFL release, Marketcom issued a special 10-poster Dallas Cowboys series.

Why Dallas?

That's one of the biggest unanswered questions in Marketcom history.

Was it because the Cowboys were America's Team?

A licensing agreement?

A regional promotion?

A special project sold around Texas Stadium?

The truth is, we simply don't know.

What we do know is that the 1983 Cowboys series has become one of the most desirable Marketcom releases ever produced.

For Cowboys fans, it's a remarkable snapshot of one of the NFL's most iconic franchises during one of its most memorable eras.

The 1983 Checklist

As this article is published, the complete checklist continues to be verified through surviving posters, original packaging, and collector research.

Rather than repeating unverified lists found elsewhere on the internet, Foam Finger Nation is committed to documenting only posters that can be confirmed through reliable evidence.

As additional examples are verified, this guide will be updated to include the complete checklist, player images, and any known variations.

There are 10 confirmed mini-posters including: Bob Breunig, Pat Donovan, Tony Dorsett, Michael Downs, Butch Johnson, Harvey Martin, Timmy Newsome, Drew Pearson, Danny White, and Randy White.

Why Aren't These More Popular?

That's a question I've asked myself many times.

Marketcom posters feature incredible photography.

They spotlight players that made the NFL what it is today.

They're visually striking.

They're affordable compared to many vintage football collectibles.

Yet they've never received the same recognition as Topps cards, Starting Lineups, or Sports Illustrated covers.

Perhaps that's exactly what makes them special.

They're one of those collectibles that still feels like a discovery.

Built to Be Displayed

Unlike trading cards that often disappeared into binders and storage boxes, Marketcom posters were made to be enjoyed.

Many spent years hanging on bedroom walls.

Others decorated lockers, rec rooms, and garages.

Some still bear tiny tack holes from the kids who proudly displayed them.

Those imperfections aren't flaws.

They're part of the story.

Every faded corner or pinhole reminds us that these weren't collectibles locked away for investment purposes.

They were cherished by football fans who simply loved the game.

The Hunt Continues

One of the reasons I enjoy collecting Marketcom posters so much is that there is still work to be done.

The company's history remains incomplete.

The test posters deserve additional research.

The 1983 Dallas Cowboys release still holds unanswered questions.

Photo variations need to be documented.

Original advertisements and dealer materials continue to surface.

In an age when nearly every trading card has been cataloged down to the smallest printing variation, it's refreshing to discover a collectible that still has secrets waiting to be uncovered.

Help Preserve Marketcom History

Foam Finger Nation is committed to building the internet's most complete archive of Marketcom Mini-NFL Posters.

If you own original posters, dealer sell sheets, advertisements, mail-order forms, unopened packs, or any information about Marketcom itself, I'd love to hear from you.

Every new discovery helps preserve a forgotten chapter of football collecting history.

Because sometimes the most rewarding part of collecting isn't finding something rare.

It's making sure its story is never forgotten.