Fleer is an American trading card company that was founded in 1885 by Frank H. Fleer. The company is best known for producing baseball cards, but it has also produced cards for a variety of other sports and non-sports subjects over the years.
One of the most important Fleer sets of all time is the 1959 Fleer Ted Williams set, which is considered the company's first true baseball card set. The set featured 66 cards, each measuring 2-1/2" by 3-1/2", and included players from all 16 Major League Baseball teams. The cards were sold in packs of 10 for a nickel and were highly sought after by collectors at the time.
In the years that followed, Fleer produced a number of other popular baseball card sets, including the "Fleer World Series" sets, which featured players from the World Series-winning team, and the "Fleer Greats" sets, which featured retired players. In the 1980s, Fleer became one of the leading trading card manufacturers in the industry and produced a number of popular sets, including the "Fleer Update" sets, which featured players who were not included in the original release of the "Fleer Baseball" set, and the "Fleer All-Stars" sets, which featured the top players in the league.
In the 1990s, Fleer continued to produce a wide variety of sports and non-sports card sets, including sets featuring the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and the popular X-Men franchise. In recent years, Fleer has continued to produce popular baseball card sets, including its flagship "Fleer Baseball" set and specialized sets such as "Retro," which features vintage card designs, and "Platinum," which features players who have achieved a certain level of success in their careers.
In addition to its trading card sets, Fleer has also produced a number of other products, including stickers, posters, and other collectibles. Today, the company is still a major player in the trading card industry and its cards are highly sought after by collectors of all ages.
Here are a few examples of some of the most important Fleer cards:
Here is a list of the top 25 most important Fleer trading cards, based on their historical significance, value, and popularity among collectors:
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1959 Fleer Ted Williams: This set is considered the company's first true baseball card set and features cards of many Hall of Famers, including Williams himself.
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1986 Fleer Michael Jordan: This card, which features the future NBA MVP and Hall of Famer in his rookie season, is highly sought after by collectors.
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1981 Fleer Joe Montana: This card, which features the future Hall of Fame quarterback in his rookie season, is highly sought after by collectors.
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1991 Fleer Ultra Shaquille O'Neal: This card, which features O'Neal in his rookie season and is printed on high-quality card stock, is highly sought after by collectors.
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1997 Fleer Ultra Kobe Bryant: This card, which features Bryant in his rookie season and is printed on high-quality card stock, is highly sought after by collectors.
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2002 Fleer Focus Derek Jeter: This card, which features Jeter as a member of the New York Yankees, is highly sought after by collectors.
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2003 Fleer Platinum LeBron James: This card, which features James in his rookie season and is printed on premium card stock, is highly sought after by collectors.
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2004 Fleer Sweet Sigs Barry Bonds: This card, which features Bonds as a member of the San Francisco Giants, is highly sought after by collectors.
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2005 Fleer Throwback Threads Albert Pujols: This card, which features Pujols as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, is highly sought after by collectors.
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2006 Fleer Greats Babe Ruth: This card, which features Ruth as a member of the New York Yankees, is highly sought after by collectors.