The 1988 Fleer baseball card set was the second season Fleer produced major league baseball cards after acquiring the license from Topps in 1986. The 1988 set marked several notable firsts and showcased many star players from that season.
The 1988 Fleer set totaled 792 cards and was the largest baseball card set produced up to that point. It featured all players from the American and National Leagues along with managers, coaches, and umpires. Selecting the photos and stats for each card required thorough research from Fleer’s team to capture that season.
Beyond sheer size, the 1988 Fleer set was groundbreaking as the first to feature rookie cards for future Hall of Famers like Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and Frank Thomas. Glavine debuted with the Atlanta Braves in 1987 but his rookie card was in the 1988 Fleer set. Maddux and Thomas both made their MLB debuts in 1987 but also had their first cards in the 1988 Fleer release due to Fleer’s later production schedule versus Topps.
Star players in 1988 included returning champions like Ozzie Smith of the St. Louis Cardinals, who was coming off his 1985 Gold Glove award. His defense remained a highlight that season. Another Cardinals star was slugger Jack Clark, who led the National League with 35 home runs in 1988. His booming bat made him one of the most feared sluggers in the game.
Over in the American League, Future Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson solidified his status as arguably the best leadoff hitter and base stealer in MLB history. In 1988 with the Oakland A’s, Henderson dazzled with 66 stolen bases alongside his .275 batting average and 103 runs scored. Another offensive force was Kirby Puckett of the Minnesota Twins. Puckett smashed 27 home runs and drove in 94 RBIs along with batting .333 to finish third in AL MVP voting for 1988.
While stars drove interest on the field, collectors craved chase cards in packs. The 1988 Fleer set included several rare and coveted inserts. One was the red-parallel “Fleer Futures” subset that featured prospects like Bobby Witt and Ken Griffey Jr., preceding their MLB success. Among the rarest and most valuable 1988 Fleer insert cards were the “Educators Award Winners” subset honoring baseball innovators like Branch Rickey and Connie Mack. Only 10 of each card existed, making them true collector “white whales.”
Beyond individual cards, completing a 792-card baseball set in 1988 also carried prestige. The massive total meant finding every card required collecting boxes upon boxes of packs or trading extensively. The average collector focused on their favorite teams and players but achieving 100% completion took dedication. Regional distribution of cards between Fleer’s printing plants added challenge as well. Still, completing a flagship release like the 1988 Fleer set provided satisfaction and bragging rights among the tight-knit baseball card collecting community of that era.
While never achieving the market dominance of Topps, Fleer energized the hobby and attracted new collectors with innovative designs on their 1988 baseball cards. Up close scans show varied borders, action shots, and vibrant colors. The card stock also featured a glossier, shinier finish compared to the cardboard-like feel of Topps at the time. These nuanced differences gave Fleer’s second MLB license year a distinct visual identity. Their massive undertaking to photograph, license, design and distribute 792 unique baseball cards across North America pushed the limits of what was possible.
While not as iconic to collectors as some Topps flagship sets from the late 1980s, the 1988 Fleer baseball card release was truly groundbreaking as the largest and most ambitious baseball card set ever produced at that point. Featuring rookie cards of future stars plus rare inserts, it provided immense appeal for completionists and fuelled the growing hobby. Succeeding where skeptics doubted, Fleer’s second season under the MLB license took the standards of what a modern sports card release could achieve to an unprecedented new level.
