1986-87 Fleer

This 132-card standard-size set marks Fleer's return to the basketball card industry after a 25-year hiatus. It also marks what is considered to be the beginning of the modern era of basketball cards. The cards were issued in 12-card wax packs (11 cards plus a sticker) that retailed for 50 cents. Wax boxes consisted of 36 packs. A stick of gum was also included in each pack. The set is checklisted alphabetically by the player's last name. Since only t… [Read More]

This 132-card standard-size set marks Fleer's return to the basketball card industry after a 25-year hiatus. It also marks what is considered to be the beginning of the modern era of basketball cards. The cards were issued in 12-card wax packs (11 cards plus a sticker) that retailed for 50 cents. Wax boxes consisted of 36 packs. A stick of gum was also included in each pack. The set is checklisted alphabetically by the player's last name. Since only the Star Company had been issuing basketball cards nationally since 1983, most of the players in this Fleer set already had cards which are considered Extended Rookie Cards. However, since this Fleer set was the first nationally distributed through wax packs since the 1981-82 Topps issue, most of the players in the set are considered Rookie Cards including Michael Jordan. Other Rookie Cards, of those that had Star Company cards include Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, Isiah Thomas and Dominique Wilkins. Rookie Cards of those that did not previously appear in a set include Joe Dumars, Karl Malone, Chris Mullin and Charles Oakley. Red, white and blue borders surround a color photo that contains a Fleer "Premier" logo in an upper corner. The card backs are printed in red and blue on white card stock. Several cards have "Traded" notations on them if the player was traded subsequent to the photo selection process. It's important to note that some of the more expensive cards in this set (especially Michael Jordan) have been counterfeited in the past few years. Checking key detailed printing areas such as the "Fleer Premier" logo on the front and the players' association logo on the back under eight or ten power magnification usually detects the legitimate from the counterfeits. The cards are condition sensitive due to dark borders and centering problems. [Collapse]