Needing help locating cards distributed in Charlotte in 1980

[RITM]

Greetings folks, hope all is well. In the summer of 1980 the Charlotte Police Department sponsored a baseball card set featuring the Charlotte O's. The cards had baseball and police tips on the backs of the cards with contact information for the Police Department. I have been working on the set for quite awhile and stalled out needing three for what I believe would be a complete set. Earlier this week a collector generously gave me one of the three cards I need. The following images are the two cards that I am in need of to complete my set. Any help in locating and acquiring these cards would be greatly appreciated.

 

[RITM]

End of the weekend bump. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[leatherman]

Sounds like someone needs to drive to Charlotte and offer to clean some of the old storage rooms in the police stations.



Good luck. I'll keep an eye out. I mean, how could you forget the Pepper Girls?

d

 

[RITM]

Sounds like someone needs to drive to Charlotte and offer to clean some of the old storage rooms in the police stations.



Good luck. I'll keep an eye out. I mean, how could you forget the Pepper Girls?

d

Thank you so much for the help. The fun thing is that the Human Resources team at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department are working with me to try to find information for an article celebrating the 30th anniversary of the set. It has now been over 3 years since any single from the set appeared at public auction. Considering the way they were distributed and the flimsy stock of the cards this is quite the challenge. In addition it's been speculated for years that there may have only been 100 of each card produced. I have chatted with some of the guys in the set and they did not know the set existed until a few years ago. I will pay a decent premium for these in any condition!

 

[nurvanna]

The fun thing is that the Human Resources team at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department are working with me to try to find information for an article celebrating the 30th anniversary of the set. It has now been over 3 years since any single from the set appeared at public auction. Considering the way they were distributed and the flimsy stock of the cards this is quite the challenge. In addition it's been speculated for years that there may have only been 100 of each card produced. I have chatted with some of the guys in the set and they did not know the set existed until a few years ago. I will pay a decent premium for these in any condition!

i'm sure it's probably already been done, however have any of the pepper girls been contacted? maybe 1 or a few of them were able to get a card for themself? aside from becoming a private detective, maybe finding an old girlfriend or a family member of dave huppert that may have gotten 1? as odd as it may seem, sometimes these things just really do slip under the radar even when many people advertise looking for said items for quite a few years. you know there's probably a few tucked away amongst this that and whatever in someone's passed down posessions unbeknownst to them. the more you keep on getting the word out, the easier it will be for that person that may come forward with it/them to know what to do with it/them( *person finds old cards* "i wonder if these cards are worth anything - i'll check online..." ). good luck with your quest - you're bound to find these or more information sooner or later.

 

[RITM]

I recently contacted one of the former Pepper Girls who would know all about the cards. However, the inquiry was more to find out information about the cards than to ask how I could get one. From everything I have been told the players had absolutely no knowledge that the cards were printed. A blue bordered set was given out at the park in 1980 that was sponsored by WBTV in Charlotte. Apparently the Charlotte Police Department thought it would be a good idea to print up some baseball cards and give them out. However, rather than stats the cards had baseball and police tips with a reminder to dial 911 in an emergency. With all of that said I wonder if Huppert or the Pepper Girls ever knew they existed. I would love chatting with the former owner about how and why the set was produced. Maybe one day. The other thing that makes this tough is that there is nothing to distinguish the year of the card in the event that someone does find one. Someone will have to either do their research or put the cards in the hands of someone that knows what they are doing. A dealer outside Charlotte was commissioned to sell around 40 or so singles from the set. The person with the singles also had 5 copies of the Ripken. They sold three, one copy after another. Apparently the owner did not like the final Ripken sell so they kept the other 2. This same dealer knows I am in the hunt for them. Hopefully he'll remember me if/when he finds them.

 

[tramers]

i'll be looking for those also for you , just picked up 50,000 recent not far from there . will check some of my old misc boxes

 

[RITM]

i'll be looking for those also for you , just picked up 50,000 recent not far from there . will check some of my old misc boxes

Thank you so much. When you boil it down there are really only three ways I have a shot at getting these cards:

1. online auctions
2. Someone contacting me who has them
3. Offering a cash reward and someone looking

I think the third is probably my best option. At this point if someone could find them I'd pay the premium just to be able to finish it.

 

[RITM]

Here is a scan of the back of one of the cards for those of you looking. I love this one because the kid signed her name on the back. The seller who sold them on consignment told me that this young person grew up in a house with older brothers. She wrote her name on the back to make sure nobody tried to say it was their copy. ha ha

Each card has a different baseball and crime prevention tip.

 

[RITM]

Figured I'd give this a bump for the new year in the hopes of finally landing these cards. Over the past year a police single of John Shelby cleared $20. It was the first orange police single of any kind I have seen at public auction since 2006. I know the probability of landing these cards is but anything is possible. Thanks in advance for any help in landing these!

 

[DaClyde]

I assume you've already checked with Dave Weber at minorleaguesingles.com?

 

[RITM]

I assume you've already checked with Dave Weber at minorleaguesingles.com?

I have but it has been awhile. I probably need to check back with him. Thanks!

 

[minors4me]

have you tried calling card shops in the charlotte area, or thought about posting a listing on craigslist in the charlotte area? you might be surprised what's out there.

 

[RITM]

A dealer in a suburb of Charlotte is looking on my behalf. I have posted on some of the Charlotte forums. Never thought about craigslist.

 

[RITM]

I had a totally unexpected shock in the mail today. Not long ago I received a message asking for my address. Included was this card:

I do not expect a lot of people to understand how much this meant in that this is a card that would get skipped in a bargain box 100 out of 100 times. However, having this puts me within 1 card of completing the set! Some great people in the hobby!

 

[George_Calfas]

I had a totally unexpected shock in the mail today. Not long ago I received a message asking for my address. Included was this card:

I do not expect a lot of people to understand how much this meant in that this is a card that would get skipped in a bargain box 100 out of 100 times. However, having this puts me within 1 card of completing the set! Some great people in the hobby!

Great gesture from someone!

 

[minors4me]

I had a totally unexpected shock in the mail today. Not long ago I received a message asking for my address. Included was this card:

I do not expect a lot of people to understand how much this meant in that this is a card that would get skipped in a bargain box 100 out of 100 times. However, having this puts me within 1 card of completing the set! Some great people in the hobby!

congrats on the rare find, it looks to be in really nice shape as well. i don't think it would get skipped 100 out of 100 times maybe 99/100, i know at least two people who would pick it up

 

[Fandruw25]

Congrats on the pickup and it was a great gesture by someone! Can't wait to see your post with the entire set in hand...Good luck!

 

[RITM]

Thanks folks. I'm still stunned by it. I do not know this for sure but I would wager this person is working on the same set.

congrats on the rare find, it looks to be in really nice shape as well. i don't think it would get skipped 100 out of 100 times maybe 99/100, i know at least two people who would pick it up

The card is in fantastic shape. Of all of the ones I have handled I would say it is in the best condition of any of them. Of course you have to take in consideration how they were distributed so finding any of them in any condition is tough enough. I thought I had closed in on the Pepper Girls card in early 2010 but unfortunately it was the 1981 team issued variation. Getting this card has motivated me to send e-mails to my contacts asking for their help once again. I do have a few extras to trade and would gladly give multiples just to complete the set if necessary.

 

[RITM]

Sorry for the bump but I would appreciate any help in landing the final card needed to complete this set. I am in need of the card of the Pepper Girls pictured in the opening post. I will pay a big finder's fee. Thanks in advance!