The 1987 Fleer baseball card set was the seventh issued by Fleer and contained a total of 420 cards. Most notable was the inclusion of a career retrospective subset for Hall of Famer Stan Musial who was celebrating his 40th anniversary in Major League Baseball that season. The design was similar to previous Fleer issues with a horizontal card layout featuring the player’s image on a solid color backdrop. Some key details about the 1987 Fleer baseball cards include:
Base Set (Cards 1-420) – The base card checklist was similar to Topps and Donruss in highlighting the biggest stars and regular players from around the majors in 1987. Some of the top rookies included in the set were Mark Salas (Card #361), Jim Abbott (Card #74), and Gregg Olson (Card #375). Hall of Famers included in the base cards were Nolan Ryan (Card #11), Phil Niekro (Card #153), and Tom Seaver (Card #23).
Career Retrospective Subset (Cards 421-426) – For the first time, Fleer paid homage to a veteran player’s storied career with this 6-card subset focused on Stan Musial. Each card highlighted a different decade or aspect of Musial’s career from 1941-1957 with the St. Louis Cardinals. This included stats, accomplishments, and memorable moments to recognize Musial’s remarkable 22-year MLB career.
Traded/Update/Manager/Coach Cards (Cards 427-442) – Similar to other issues, Fleer had trade/update cards to account for players who changed teams after the initial checklist was finalized. These cards saw lower print runs. There were manager and coach cards as well.
Multi-Player/Team Cards (Cards 443-446) – Fleer included 4 special cards showing various players and teams together such as the 1986 World Series Champion New York Mets and All-Star teams.
Errors, Omissions, Variations – As with any large release, there were mistakes and variations. One notable error was #219 Mark Salas being shown in a San Diego Padres uniform despite being drafted and signed with the Minnesota Twins. Other wrong uniforms and statistical errors occurred as was typical for the time.
Checklist Values – Top rookie cards like Jim Abbott and Gregg Olson held strong early value. The Musial subset and Nolan Ryan base card were also highly regarded. Common base cards had only nominal worth initially while short-print updates gained premiums due to rarity. Over time, star and HOF’er cards like Tom Seaver, Tony Gwynn, and Dale Murphy rose in esteem. Condition remaining a key factor in pricing.
Release Highlights – Fleer distributed the 1987 set through traditional retailers like grocery and drug stores. The inserts honoring Stan Musial were lauded by fans and collectors alike. While the design lacked visual pop compared to competitors, strong rookie choices kept the issue appealing both on the field and in the collecting realm. Production numbers were high maintaining general availability and affordability over the long run for most cards in the set. It achieved the dual goals of commemorating baseball history while also spotlighting the current season.
The 1987 Fleer checklist captured the sport’s great past through the Musial career subset along with the rising future stars just starting their journeys. Quality rookie cards plus inclusion of perennial Fan Favorites made for an engaging issue to follow both the players portrayed and the vintage industry itself as the collecting boom began in full force. Those collecting for specific teams or individuals could find myriad options at reasonable costs thanks to Fleer’s distribution reach. It undoubtedly remains one of the more historically relevant and fondly remembered mid-1980s releases to this day.
