Always Be Collecting: 99 Stinking Cents

What, no love for the Fleer?

The Complete "Always Be Collecting" Fleer Tribute

"What do you mean the checklist in 1993 Fleer is weak? It's a good set. We know what it is. It's fine. All I'm saying, you look at the checklist, they threw...wait, wait, wait, Fleer threw the Piazza RC away. All that I'm saying, they wasted their Piazza rookie."

For your convenience and future reference, here's a link to all the A.B.C. Fleer posts.

Pre-1981 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

What Did We Learn Today?

So now that the Stale Gum year-by-year tribute to Fleer Baseball is (mercifully) over, what did you think?

Now that Fleer baseball is gone, what was its legacy to The Hobby?

What was the greatest Fleer/Fleer Tradition baseball card ever?

What was the worst Fleer/Fleer Tradition set ever?

I have my picks, and I'll be revealing them shortly. But for now, I yield the floor to you.

Always Be Collecting: 2007 Fleer

Do you know what it takes to review every single Fleer baseball set ever?

2007 Fleer

Base Set: 430 cards (one series; last 30 cards exclusive to factory set)

• short set: 350 cards
• Rookies: 50 cards (two-per-pack)
• Factory set exclusive Rookies: 30 cards
  

Parallels:

• Minis: 400 cards (1:2)
• Gold Minis: 400 cards (1:576)
• Press Plates: (1:720)
  

Inserts:

• Crowning Achievement: 20 cards (1:5)
• In the Zone: 10 cards (1:10)
• Perfect 10: 20 cards (1:5)
• Rookie Sensations: 25 cards (at least one-per-pack)
• Soaring Stars: 42 cards (1:2 Fat Packs)
  
• Year in Review: 20 cards (1:5)

Autogamers:

• Autographics: 26 cards (1:720)
• Fresh Ink: 24 cards (1:720)
• Genuine Coverage: 40 cards (1:720)

Packaging: 36 pack, 10-card retail waxboxes; 18 pack, 52-card Fat Pack boxes; factory sets.

Notable Cards: Andrew Miller RC, factory set exclusive RCs of Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Lincecum, Hideki Okajima and Alex Gordon.
Other Notes:

• Retail only product.
• Each 10-card pack contained two cards from a 50-card MLBPA "Rookie" subset (cards #321-#370), thereby making the "Rookies" more available than any of the other base set cards.
• Each pack also contained two inserts: one Rookie Sensation and either a second Rookie Sensation or another insert. (A typical 36-pack waxbox yielded 40-45 Rookie Sensations.)
• All the inserts are not sequentially numbered. Instead, as has become custom with autogamers, inserts are "numbered" with the player's initials.
  
• Once again, a factory set was issued at the end of the year. And once again, it contained over 30 additional base set cards. Unlike 2006's factory set, the 2007 version had some actual RCs. (Dice-K, Lincecum, Okajima)
  

Full Set: $50 (NmMT)
Full Set (factory): $60 (NmMT)

Always Be Collecting: 2002 Fleer Tradition

2002 Fleer Tradition

Base Set: 500 cards

• Short Prints: 100 cards (1:2, stealth)
• short set: 400 cards

Parallels: Glossy (numbered to 200)
Inserts:

• Diamond Tributes: 15 cards (1:6 Hobby, 1:10 retail)
• Grass Roots: 10 cards (1:18 Hobby, 1:20 retail)
• Heads Up: 10 cards (1:36 Hobby, 1:40 retail)
• Lumber Company: 30 cards (1:12 Hobby, 1:20 retail)
• This Day in History: 29 cards (1:18 Hobby, 1:24 retail)

Autogamers:

• Grass Patch: 10 cards (limited to 50 copies)
• Lumber Company Bat: 30 cards (1:72)
• This Day in History Autographed: 8 cards (production varies from 50-100 copies)
• This Day in History Game Used: 22 cards (production varies from 50-250 copies)

Packaging: 36 pack, 10-card Hobby waxboxes; 10 pack, 10-card Blasters.
Other Notes:

• Design based on the 1934 Goudey set.
• One year after screwing over set builders with a factory set, collectors take it in door number two again after it is discovered that the first 100 cards in the base set are short-printed. Fleer never mentioned anywhere in run-up to Tradtion's release that there were any SPs.

Full Set: $200 (NmMT)


2002 Fleer Tradition Update

Base Set: 400 cards

• Prospects: 100 cards (one-per-pack)
• short set: 300 cards

Parallels: Glossy (numbered to 200)
Inserts:

• Diamond Debuts: 15 cards (1:6)
• Grass Roots: 10 cards (1:18)
• Heads Up: 10 cards (1:36)
• New York's Finest: 15 cards (1:83)
• Plays of the Week: 30 cards (1:12)
• This Day in History: 25 cards (1:12)

Autogamers:

• Grass Patch: 7 cards (numbered to 50)
• Heads Up Game Used Caps: 11 cards (numbered to 150)
• New York's Finest Single Swatch: 20 cards (1:112)
• New York's Finest Double Swatch: 6 cards
• This Day in History Autographs: 6 cards (1:582)
• This Day in History Game Used: 20 cards (1:28)

Packaging: 28 pack, 10-card Hobby boxes; 10 pack, 10-card Blasters
Notable Cards: Oliver Perez RC
Other Notes:

• First Update set released in pack form since 1996.
• Largest Fleer Update set ever.
  
• First 100 cards in set short-printed, but at least Fleer had the courtesy to state that they were SPed.
• Designs and names of most inserts were recycled from the base set.
  

Full Set: $120 (NmMT)


2002 Fleer

Base Set: 540 cards
Parallels:

• Gold Letters (15% of total production run)
• Minis (numbered to 50, retail exclusive)
• Tiffany (numbered to 200, Hobby exclusive)

Inserts:

• Barry Bonds Career Highlights: 10 cards (1:12 Hobby, 1:36 retail)
• Diamond Standouts: 10 cards (serial numbered to 1200)
• Golden Memories: 15 cards (1:24)
• Headliners: 20 cards (1:8 Hobby, 1:12 retail)
• Rookie Flashbacks: 20 cards (1:3, retail exclusive)
• Rookie Sensations: 20 cards (numbered to 1500, Hobby exclusive)
• Then and Now: 10 cards (numbered to 275, Hobby exclusive)

Autogamers:

• Barry Bonds Career Highlights Autographed: 10 cards (numbered to 25 each)
• Classic Cuts Autographs: 9 cards (1:432, Hobby exclusive)
• Classic Cuts Game Used: 94 cards (1:24)
• Classic Cuts Game Used Autographs: 3 cards (limited to 35 or 45 copies)

Packaging: 24 pack, 10-card Hobby packs; 10 pack, 10-card Blasters.

Notable Cards: Classic Cuts
Other Notes:

• A one-off product, 2002 Fleer is not considered to be part of the Fleer/Fleer Tradition "lineage."
• Despite this, many collectors consider this set to be a superior product to 2002 Fleer Tradition.
• Hobby exclusive Rookie Sensations and retail exclusive Rookie Flashbacks have the same 20-card checklist.
• Barry Bonds Career Highlights use the same design as the 1992 Roger Clemens Career Highlights insert.
  

Full Set: $100 (NmMT)

Always Be Collecting: 1997 Fleer

1997 Fleer

Base Set: 761 cards (one series of 500 cards, the other of 261)
Parallels: Tiffany (1:20)
Inserts:

• Golden Memories: 10 cards (1:16, series one)
• Lumber Company: 18 cards (1:12, series one retail exclusive)
• Night and Day: 10 cards (1:240, series one)
• Rookie Sensations: 20 cards (1:6, series one)
• Team Leaders: 28 cards (1:20, series one)
• Zone: 20 cards (1:60, series one Hobby exclusive)
• Bleacher Blasters: 10 cards (1:36, series two retail exclusive)
• Decade of Excellence: 12 cards (1:36, series two Hobby exclusive; Rare Tradition parallel: 1:360, series two Hobby exclusive)
• Diamond Tribute: 12 cards (1:288 series two)
• Goudey Greats: 15 cards (1:8, series two; Foil parallel: 1:800, series two)
• Headliners: 20 cards (1:2, series two)
• Soaring Stars: 12 cards (1:12, series two)

Autogamers: Andruw Jones '97 Circa Autographed (numbered to 200 copies, series two)

Notable Cards: The aforementioned Andruw Jones AU, David "Arias" (Ortiz) RC
Other Notes:

• Fleer Update replaced by a second series. However, the second series has most of '96 Fleer Update's traits, and that none of the packaging on series one boxes or wrappers mention it being part of a "first series."
• At 761 cards, the largest Fleer base set ever produced.
  
• Cards #751-761 were added late in the production run and are noticeably short-printed.
• The return of team checklist cards.
• Decade of Excellence inserts based on the design of 1987 Fleer.
  
• Home to one of only two David Ortiz (a.k.a. David Arias) RCs -- the other being '97 Ultra.

Full Set: $140 (NmMT)

Always Be Collecting: 1996 Fleer

1996 Fleer

Base Set: 600 cards (one series)
Parallels: Tiffany: 600 cards (one-per-pack)
Inserts:

• Checklists: 10 cards (1:6)
• Golden Memories: 10 cards (1:10)
• Lumber Company: 12 cards (1:9, retail exclusive)
• Postseason Glory: 5 cards (1:5)
• Prospects: 10 cards (1:6)
• Road Warriors: 10 cards (1:13)
• Rookie Sensations: 15 cards (1:11)
• Smoke 'n Heat: 10 cards (1:9)
• Team Leaders: 28 cards (1:9, Hobby exclusive)
• Tomorrow's Legends: 10 cards (1:13)
• Zone: 12 cards (1:90)

Notable Cards: Mike Sweeney RC (big frickin' deal)
Other Notes:

• After the visual disaster that was 1995 Fleer, '96 opted for a classic full-bleed look with a unique matte finish.
• Wrappers changed to fin-sealed coated waxpaper.
• First one-per-pack parallels.
  
• Still an insert in each pack, and randomly seeded "Hot Packs."

Packaging: 36 pack, 11-card waxboxes.
Full Set: $80 (NmMT)


1996 Fleer Update

Base Set: 250 cards
Parallels: Tiffany (one-per-pack)
Inserts:

• Diamond Tribute: 10 cards (1:100)
• Headliners: 20 cards (1:20, retail exclusive)
• New Horizons: 20 cards (1:5, Hobby exclusive)
• Smooth Leather: 10 cards (1:5)
• Soaring Stars: 10 cards (1:11)
  

Notable Cards: Tony Batista, Mike Cameron and Chris Singleton RCs were actually worth something.
Other Notes:

• Encore subset consists of non-traded, non-rookie, superstars.
• Diamond Tribute inserts are still worth something.
  

Packaging: 36 pack, 11-card waxboxes.
Full Set: $30 (NmMT)

Always Be Collecting: 1995 Fleer

1995 Fleer

Base Set: 600 cards (one series)
Inserts:

• All Fleer-9: 9 cards (complete set available via a wrapper redemption offer)
• All Rookies: 9 cards (complete set available via a 1:150/pack redemption card)
• All-Stars: 25 cards (1:3)
• Award Winners: 6 cards (1:24)
• League Leaders: 10 cards (1:12)
• Lumber Company: 10 cards (1:24, retail wax exclusive)
• Major League Prospects: 10 cards (1:6)
• Pro-Visions: 6 cards (1:9)
• Rookie Sensations: 20 cards (1:4, jumbo exclusive)
• Team Leaders: 28 cards (1:24, Hobby wax exclusive)
  

Packaging: 36 pack, 12-card waxboxes (Hobby and retail); 24 pack, 18-card jumbo boxes.
Notable Cards: The whole base set is notable for its six different base set designs, all equally ugly.

• In an effort to spur strike-induced flagging card sales, the marketing slogan for 1995 Fleer was "Different by Design."
• Base set featured six different (and distinct) designs, one for each of baseball's six divisions.
• Fronts ranged from mildly nauseating (AL West) to LSD flashback (AL Central) to epileptic seizure inducing (NL West).
  
• Still an insert in every pack, with the debut of "Hot Packs" containing nothing but inserts.

Full Set: $50 (NmMT)


1995 Fleer Update

Base Set: 200 cards (one series)
Inserts:

• Diamond Tribute: 10 cards (1:5)
• Headliners: 20 cards (1:3)
• Rookie Update: 10 cards (1:4)
• Smooth Leather: 10 cards (1:5, jumbo exclusive)
• Soaring Stars: 9 cards (1:36)

Packaging: 36 pack, 12-card waxboxes; 24 pack, 18-card jumbo boxes.
Notable cards: Hideo Nomo RC
Other Notes:

• First Fleer Update set released in pack form.
• Last Fleer jumbo pack product.
  
• One of a bazillion late-1995 sets to feature a Hideo Nomo RC.
  

Full Set: $15 (NmMT)

Always Be Collecting: 1994 Fleer

1994 Fleer

Base Set: 720 (one series)
Inserts:

• All-Rookies: 9 cards (complete set available via a 1:200/pack redemption card)
• All-Stars: 50 cards (1:2, wax exclusive)
• Award Winners: 6 cards (1:37)
• Golden Memories: 10 cards (one-per-"Blue" pack; jumbo version numbered to 10,000)
• League Leaders: 12 cards (1:17)
• Lumber Company: 10 cards (1:5, jumbo exclusive)
• Major League Prospects: 35 cards (1:6)
• Pro-Visions: 9 cards (1:12)
• Rookie Sensations: 20 cards (1:4, jumbo exclusive)
• Tim Salmon: 15 cards (cards #1-12: 1:30; cards #13-15 available via a wrapper redemption offer)
• Smoke 'n Heat: 12 cards (1:30)
• Team Leaders: 28 cards (1:6)

Autogamers: Tim Salmon Autographed (total of 2500 cards)

Packaging: 36 pack, 15-card waxboxes; 24 pack, 21-card jumbo boxes; 24 pack, 23-card Wal-Mart exclusive "Blue" packs.
Notable Cards: Nolan Ryan Smoke 'n Heat, Pro-Visions set.
Other Notes:

• Hands down, the greatest Fleer baseball set ever.
  
• The Gold Standard of what a base-level baseball card product should be.
• Classy and clean white-bordered set.
  
• First year of UV coating on both sides of the card, and gold foil stamping on each card.
  
• Over 200 inserts, each seeded at the rate of one-per-pack.
• Complete Pro-Visions set forms a nine-card mosaic.
  
• Debut of fin-sealed foil packaging.
  

Full Set: $50 (NmMT)


1994 Fleer Update

Base Set: 200 cards
Inserts:

• Diamond Tribute: 10 cards

Notable Cards: Alex Rodriguez's second best RC (enough said).
Other Notes:

• Last Fleer Update factory set for four years.

Full Set (factory): $50 (NmMT)

Always be Collecting: 1993 Fleer

1993 Fleer

Base Set: 720 cards (two series of 360 each)
Inserts:

• Tom Glavine Career Highlights: 15 cards (cards 1-12 exclusive to all pack types, cards 13-15 available via a wrapper redemption offer)
• All-Stars: 24 cards (12 National Leaguers exclusive to series one wax, 12 American Leaguers in series two wax)
• Golden Moments: 6 cards (3 in series one wax, 3 in series two wax)
• Major League Prospects: 36 cards (18 in series one wax, 18 in series two wax)
• Pro-Visions: 6 cards (3 in series one wax, 3 in series two wax)
• Rookie Sensations: 20 cards (10 cards in series one jumbos, 10 in series two jumbos)
• Team Leaders: 20 cards (10 American Leaguers exclusive to series one racks, 10 National Leaguers exclusive to series two racks)

Autogamers: Tom Glavine Career Highlights Autographs

Packaging: 36 pack, 15-card waxboxes; 24 pack, 29-card jumbo boxes; 24 pack, 18-card retail-only rack boxes.
Notable Cards: Tom Glavine Career Highlights Autograph, Team Leader inserts
Other Notes:

• First Fleer set released in multiple series.
• First Fleer set with UV coating (on obverse).
  
• Simple, silver-bordered design.
• "Round Tripper" and "League Leader" subsets.
  
• Last year for rack packs.
• Speaking of which, here's a challenge: find an opened 1993 Fleer rack box. Go ahead, I dare you.

Full Set: $40 (NmMT)


1993 Fleer Final Edition

Base Set: 300 cards
Inserts:

• Diamond Tribute: 10 cards

Notable Cards: Jim Edmonds RC, lots and lots of Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies.
Other Notes:

• Renamed "Final Edition" for one year.
  
• Largest Update/Final Edition set to date.
• Features the complete Opening Day rosters of the Marlins and Rockies.
• Card #F131 of Ozzie Smith who was curiously excluded from both series of '93 Fleer.
  

Full Set (factory): $10 (NmMT)

Always Be Collecting: 1992 Fleer

1992 Fleer

Base Set: 720 cards (one series)

Inserts:

• Roger Clemens Career Highlights: 15 cards (cards 1-12 exclusive to packs and Hobby factory sets, cards 13-15 available via a wrapper redemption offer)
• All-Stars: 24 cards (wax exclusive)
• Rookie Sensations: 20 cards (jumbo exclusive)
• Team Leaders: 20 cards (rack exclusive)
• Lumber Company: 9 cards (Hobby factory set exclusive)
• Smoke 'n Heat: 12 cards (retail factory set exclusive)

Autogamers:

• Roger Clemens Career Highlights Autographs
  

Packaging: 36 pack, 17-card waxboxes; 24 pack, 35-card jumbo boxes; 24 pack, 42-card rack boxes; Hobby and retail factory sets.
Notable Cards: Roger Clemens Autograph, Frank Thomas Rookie Sensation
Other Notes:

• In an effort to "keep up with the Joneses," Fleer dramatically improved the quality of the cards using metallic inks on both sides of the card and a smoother card stock.
• Design a reminder of pro sport's early-90s "teal craze."
  
• Waxpaper wraps were replaced with poly-plastic.
  
• Pack price increased to $1/waxpack.
• Base sort arranged alphabetically by team with American League teams followed by the National League.
  
• First autographed inserts.
• First foil-stamped inserts.
  
• Final year for factory sets.
• Pro-Visions moved to the base set.
• Jumbo exclusive Rookie Sensations kicked off the "insert mania" of the early-90s.

Full Set (factory): $20 (NmMT)


1992 Fleer Update

Base Set: 132 cards
Inserts:

• '92 Headliners: 4 cards

Packaging: Hobby exclusive factory set.
Notable Cards: Mike Piazza and Jeff Kent RCs
Other Notes:

• After years of overproduction and slow sales, '92 Fleer Update was printed to order.
• Production estimated to be equal to that of the 1984 Fleer Update set (about 12,000 sets).
  
• Iconic Mike Piazza RC.
• Addition of the '92 Headliners "insert."

Full Set (factory): $60 (NmMT)

Always Be Collecting: 1991 Fleer

1991 Fleer

Base Set: 720 cards (one series)
Inserts:

• Pro-Visions: 16 cards (12 "blacks" exclusive to wax and racks, four "whites" exclusive to factory sets)
• All-Stars: 10 cards (exclusive to jumbos)
• Box Bottoms: 9 cards
• World Series: 8 cards (exclusive to factory sets)

Packaging: 36 pack, 15-card waxboxes; 24 pack, 30-card jumbo boxes; 24 pack, 53-card jumbo boxes; 24 pack, 42-card rack boxes; factory sets
Notable cards: Pro-Visions inserts.
Other notes:

• Responsible for the "Great Yellow Printer Ink Shortage of '91."
• Largest Fleer base set ever.
• Full-color backs for the first time.
• All-Star inserts are a dead ringer for the '71 Topps Greatest Moments set.
• Pro-Visions are, and continue to be, "The Shit."
  

Full Set (factory): $10 (NmMT)


1991 Fleer Update

Base Set: 132 cards
Packaging: Hobby-exclusive factory set
Notable Cards: Jeff Bagwell and Ivan Rodriguez RCs

Full Set (factory): $5 (NmMT)

Always Be Collecting: 1990 Fleer

1990 Fleer

Base Set: 660 cards (one series)
Inserts:

• All-Stars: 12 cards (wax and cello exclusive)
• Soaring Stars: 12 cards (jumbo exclusive)
• League Leaders: 6 cards (rack exclusive)
• Box Bottoms: 28 cards
• World Series: 12 cards (factory set exclusive)

Packaging: 36 pack, 15-card waxboxes; 24 pack, 33-card cello packs; 24 pack, 45-card rack boxes; 24 pack, 43-card jumbo boxes; factory sets
Notable cards: Sammy Sosa, Larry Walker, Juan Gonzalez and David Justice RCs, Decade Greats subset errors.
Other Notes:

• One of the most (if not the most) overproduced baseball card sets ever.
• Design recycled for the 2004 Fleer Tradition set.
• First year for separate Hobby/retail factory sets.
• Last year for cellophane-wrapped "cello" packs.
• Debut of poly-wrapped "jumbo" packs.
  
• Rare bilingual version sold in Canada.

Full Set (factory): $15 (NmMT)


1990 Fleer Update

Base Set: 132 cards
Packaging: Hobby exclusive factory set
Notable Cards: Frank Thomas and John Olerud RCs
Other Notes:

• Unopened factory sets make a fine paperweight or door stop.
  

Full Set (factory): $4 (NmMT)

Always Be Collecting: 1989 Fleer

1989 Fleer

Base Set: 660 cards (one series)
Inserts:

• All-Stars: 12 cards (wax and cello exclusive)
• For the Record: 6 cards (rack exclusive)
• Box Bottoms: 28 cards
  
• World Series: 12 cards (factory set exclusive)

Packaging: 36 pack, 15-card waxboxes; 24 pack, 36-card cello packs; 24 pack, 42-card rack boxes; factory set; Glossy Tin factory sets
Notable Cards: Ken Griffey, Jr. RC, Randy Johnson "Marlboro" RC, and of course, Billy Ripken "Fuck Face" ERR.
Other Notes:

• The most infamous card of our time: The Billy Ripken "Fuck Face" card (and it's many variations).
• Randy Johnson "Marlboro" variation not discovered for ten years.
• Approximately 30,000 Glossy Tin sets produced.
• Final year for Glossy Tin sets.

Full Set (factory): $15 (NmMT)
Full Glossy Set: $100 (NmMT)


1989 Fleer Update

Base Set: 132 cards
Packaging: Hobby exclusive factory set
Notable Cards: Nolan Ryan 5000 Strikeout and Mike Schmidt retirement cards, Joey (Albert) Belle and Deion Sanders RCs
Other Notes:

• No Glossy Tin set produced.
• Lackluster rookie card selection.
  

Full Set (factory): $5 (NmMT)

Always Be Collecting: 1988 Fleer

1988 Fleer

Base Set: 660 cards (one series)
Inserts:

• All-Stars: 12 cards (wax and cello exclusive)
• Headliners: 6 cards (rack exclusive)
• Box Bottoms: 16 cards
• World Series: 12 cards (factory set exclusive)

Packaging: 36 pack, 15-card waxboxes; 24 pack, 28-card cello boxes; 24 pack, 45-card rack boxes; factory sets; glossy factory sets
Notable Cards: Tom Glavine, Edgar Martinez, Matt Williams and Mark Grace RCs, Tim Flannery with his surfboard.
Other Notes:

• First Fleer set of the overproduction era.
• Second-tier RCs of Ron Gant, Jack McDowell, Ellis Burks and Ken Caminiti.
• Approximately 40,000-60,000 Glossy Tin sets produced.

Full Set (factory): $15 (NmMT)
Full Glossy Set: $25

1988 Fleer Update

Base Set: 132 cards
Packaging: Hobby exclusive factory and Glossy Tin factory sets.
Notable Cards: Roberto Alomar, Craig Biggio and John Smoltz XRCs
Other Notes:

• Checklist arranged alphabetically by team.
• Last year for Update Glossy Tin set.
• Approximately 40,000-60,000 Glossy Tin sets produced.
  

Full Set (factory): $10 (NmMT)
Full Glossy Set: $25 (NmMT)

Always Be Collecting: 1987 Fleer

1987 Fleer

Base Set: 660 cards (one series)
Inserts:

• All-Stars: 12 cards (wax and cello exclusive)
• Headliners: 6 cards (rack exclusive)
• Box Bottoms: 16 cards
  
• World Series: 12 cards (factory set exclusive)

Packaging: 36 pack, 17-card waxboxes; 24 pack, 31-card cello boxes; 24 pack, 51-card rack boxes; factory sets; glossy factory sets
Notable Cards: Barry Bonds, Barry Larkin, and Bo Jackson RCs
Other Notes:

• Arguably the best Fleer set of the 80s.
  
• First factory-exclusive inserts.
• First Glossy "Tin" factory set. In fact, your humble correspondent's father set the type for the 1987 Glossy Tin box.
• Approximately 75,000-100,000 Glossy sets were produced.
  

Full Set (factory): $40 (NmMT)
Full Glossy Set: $80 (NmMT)

1987 Fleer Update
Base Set: 132 cards
Packaging: Hobby-exclusive factory set, and Glossy "Tin" set
Notable Cards: Mark McGwire, Greg Maddux XRC
Other Notes:

• Approximately 75,000-100,000 Glossy Update sets were produced.
  

Full Set (factory): $12 (NmMT)
Full Glossy Set: $15 (NmMT)

Always Be Collecting: 1986 Fleer

1986 Fleer

Base Set: 660 cards (one series)
Inserts:

• All-Stars: 12 cards (wax and cello exclusive)
  
• Then & Now: six cards (rack exclusive)
• Box Bottoms: eight cards
  

Packaging: 36 pack, 15-card waxboxes; 24 pack, 27-card cello boxes; 24 pack, 42-card rack packs; 660 card factory sets
Notable Cards: Jose Canseco RC, Don Baylor "Ouch"
Other Notes:

• First year for factory sets.
• First insert sets as we know them.

Full Set (factory): $40

1986 Fleer Update

Base Set: 132 cards
Packaging: Hobby-exclusive factory set
Notable Cards: Barry Bonds, Will Clark and John Kruk XRCs

Full Set (factory): $30

Always Be Collecting: 1985 Fleer

1985 Fleer

Base Set: 660 cards (one series)
Packaging: 36 pack, 15-card waxboxes; 24 pack, 28 card cello boxes; 24 pack, 42 card rack packs; 500 card vending boxes.
Notable Cards: Roger Clemens RC, Kirby Puckett RC
Other Notes:

• Debut of dual-player "Major League Prospect" cards.
• Decent second-tier RC class (Eric Davis, Orel Hershiser, Bret Saberhagen).
  
• For the first time since 1982, colored-coded borders.

Full Set: $60 (NmMT)

1985 Fleer Update

Base Set: 132 cards
Packaging: Hobby-exclusive factory set
Notable Cards: Darren Daulton XRC, Vince Coleman XRC, Ozzie Guillen XRC
Other Notes:

• What more needs to be said about a set whose "best" XRC is of Darren Daulton?
• Fleer should have saved those second-tier RCs for this set.
  

Full Set (Factory): $8 (NmMT)

Always Be Collecting: 1984 Fleer

1984 Fleer

Base Set: 660 cards (one series)
Packaging: 36 pack, 15-card waxboxes; 28 card, 24 pack cello boxes; 24 pack "triple wax" rack packs; 500 card vending boxes.
Notable Cards: Don Mattingly RC, Darryl Strawberry RC, Glenn Hubbard with his "special friend"
Other Notes:

• Another classic design.
• Lots and lots of wacky photos (e.g. Glenn Hubbard, Jay Johnstone, and Larry McWilliams).
  
• Waxboxes back down to 36 packs.
• First "World Series" subset.
• Checklists had photos of team managers.
• Design of 2004 Fleer Platinum loosely based on '84 Fleer.
  

Full Set: $50 (NmMT)

1984 Fleer Update

Base Set: 132 cards
Packaging: Hobby-exclusive factory set
Notable Cards: Roger Clemens XRC, Kirby Puckett XRC, Dwight Gooden XRC, Pete Rose pictured as a Montreal Expo.
Other Notes:

• One of the true "landmark" sets of the 80s.
  
• Fleer's first Update set.
• First Fleer factory set of any type.
• First Fleer Hobby only product.
• Printed-to-order. (Approximately 12,000 sets made.)
  

Full Set (factory): $300 (NmMT)

Always Be Collecting: 1983 Fleer

1983 Fleer

Base Set: 660 cards (one series)
Packaging: 38 pack, 15-card waxboxes; 24 pack, 28-card cello boxes; 24 pack "triple cello" rack boxes; 500-card vending boxes
Notable Cards: Wade Boggs, Tony Gwynn and Ryne Sandberg RCs
Other Notes:

• After the disaster of 1982, Fleer got their shit together for '83.
  
• An increase in quality control, and a classic beige design.
• Debut of the "Super Star Specials" subset.
• Return of the 38-pack waxbox.
  
• Debut of rack packs.
• "Holy Trinity" of '83 rookies: Boggs, Sandberg and Gwynn.

Full Set: $60 (NmMT)

Always Be Collecting: 1982 Fleer

1982 Fleer

Base Set: 660 cards (one series)
Packaging: 36 pack, 15-card waxboxes; 24 pack, 28-card celloboxes; 500-count vending boxes
Notable Cards: Cal Ripken, Jr. RC, John Littlefield ERR, "All" Hrabosky ERR
Other Notes:

• Arguably the worst Fleer baseball set of the 80s.
• Just as many error cards as 1981, but with a dreadful design.
• First card set with full-color backs -- beating Score by six years.
  
• Debut of cello packs.
• Waxboxes back down to 36 packs.
• Team logo sticker replaced stick of gum.
• Oh yeah, there's a Cal Ripken, Jr. rookie card.

Full Set: $50 (NmMT)

Always Be Collecting: 1981 Fleer

1981 Fleer

Set Size: 660 cards (one series)
Packaging: 38-pack, 17-card waxboxes; 500-card vending boxes
Notable Cards: "Fernand" Valenzuela RC, Harold Baines RC, "Craig" Nettles ERR
Other Notes:

• First effort in 18 years.
• Riddled with errors (corrected and otherwise).
• Cards were grouped by team in the order of their final 1980 record, with the World Series Champion Phillies first. Each Fleer baseball set from 1981-1991 would be arranged this way.
  
• Two different Rickey Henderson cards.
• Waxboxes contained 38 (as opposed to 36) packs.
• 500-card vending boxes were numbered (1, 2, 3, or 4) and collated in a way so that if one of each box were opened, it would yield three full 660-card sets. Fleer would continue to produce vending boxes until 1985.
  
• Only post-'63 Fleer baseball set packaged with gum.
  
• Design recycled for the 2001 Fleer Platinum set.
  

Full Set: $40 (NmMT)

Always Be Collecting: 1959-1963 Fleer

Bloggers Note: This is the first installment of a 27-part year-by-year tribute to Fleer baseball. Today, we start at the beginning with Fleer's pre-1981 baseball efforts.

1959 Fleer Ted Williams

Set Size: 80-cards (one series)
Notable Cards: "Ted Signs for 1959" (SP)
Other Notes:

• ACC Designation: R418-1
• In an effort to muscle it's way past the Topps monopoly, Philadelphia based chewing gum manufacturer Fleer signed Ted Williams to an exclusive contract.
• Entire 80-card "hero worship" set -- released three decades before Upper Deck's Baseball Heroes.
• "Ted Signs for 1959" card was withdrawn from production as it featured Sox GM Bucky Harris who still was under contract to Topps. Was one of The Hobby's first counterfeited cards.

Full Set: $1800 (NrMT)

1960 Fleer Baseball Greats

Set Size: 79 cards (one series)
Notable Cards: Three different variations of card #80
Other Notes:

• ACC designation: R418-2
• Four decades before Greats of the Game, Fleer released this set -- consisting of Ted Williams and 78 retired players.
• Cheap vintage cards of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Ty Cobb.
• 17 cards were double-printed
• Pepper Martin's card (#80) was pulled due to contract issues. However, a number of Martin cards did make their way into packs. According to PSA, three different versions of Martin's card exist:

1. One with Eddie Collins' (card #20) picture on the front and Martin's stats on the back.
2. One with Lefty Grove (#60) on the front and Martin's stats on the back.
3. Martin on the front and Joe Tinker's (#40) stats on the back.

Full Set (w/o #80): $600 (NmMT)

1961 Fleer Baseball Greats

Set Size: 154 cards (two series)
Notable Cards: Same as 1960
Other Notes:

• ACC designation: F418-3
• First multi-series set. (First 88 cards were part of the first series, cards #89-154 in series two)
  
• Last set under the "Baseball Greats" format.
• Like the previous year's set, lots of affordable cards of Hall of Famers.
  
• Each series one pack contained a team logo sticker.
• Design recycled for a one-per-pack Hobby insert in 1999 Fleer Tradition.

Full Set: $1200 (NmMT)

1963 Fleer

Set Size: 67 cards (one series)
Notable Cards: Maury Wills RC, Joe Adcock and checklist SPs
Other Notes:

• Fleer's first venture into active-player cards.
• Featured cards of established stars like Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax, Roberto Clemente and Carl Yastrzemski.
  
• To get around Topps' "bubblegum" clause, each pack contained a cherry-flavored "cookie." According to Pete Williams' 1995 book Card Sharks, the cookie was so devoid of sugar -- to get around the restriction -- that it "tasted like a dog biscuit."
• Snubbed by Topps as a minor leaguer, 1962 NL MVP Maury Wills' rookie card appears in the set. It would be another five years before Topps would issue their first Wills card.
  
• Wills and Jimmy Piersall both served as agents on Fleer's behalf.
• Plans were afoot to release as many as five series, but was stopped at only one after Topps sued Fleer immediately after the first series' release.
• Card #46 (Joe Adcock) was pulled midway through the production run and replaced by a checklist.
• Design was recycled for the 1998 and 2003 Fleer Tradition sets.
  

Full Set (w/ Adcock and checklist): $1500 (NmMT)

Fleer Baseball: 1981-2007

It's official. After 26 years, Upper Deck has killed Fleer baseball.

Upper Deck has confirmed to Stale Gum that 2008 Fleer baseball was canceled. No word on the status of other Fleer brands (i.e. Ultra, Tradition, et al).

1st Impressions: 2008 Fleer

According to Upper Deck's Fleer website, 2008 Fleer baseball will go live this week.

Ordinarily, when I do one of these product previews, I show some promos and give some details about the set's composition and inserts. But I can't. There's nothing on the Fleer website stating when exactly is in 2008 Fleer baseball.

No pictures.

No checklists.

Just a date, and a name.

(If anybody has any info on this product, I'd greatly appreciate it.)