The 1995 post collector series baseball cards marked a transition period in the baseball card industry as licensing deals changed hands and new manufacturers entered the market. released by Fleer and Studio after Upper Deck signed an exclusive NFL contract, the 1995 post collector series cards featured some of the games biggest stars but have received a more mixed reception from collectors compared to some other sets from the 1990s. Let’s take a deeper look at the 1995 post collector series cards, their designs, key players featured, and overall value twenty five years later.
After losing the MLB license to Upper Deck in 1992, Fleer continued producing baseball cards through 1993 and 1994 under the name Fleer Ultra. In 1995, Fleer lost the MLB license entirely and was forced to create a set without team or league approval dubbed the Fleer Tradition baseball card set. Meanwhile, Studio entered the baseball card market for the first time in 1995 with their Studio brand. Both sets featured current major leaguers but were considered “unofficial” by the sports leagues.
Design-wise, the 1995 Fleer Tradition and Studio cards had simple yet effective layouts. Fleer Tradition cards featured a headshot of the player on the left with their career statistics listed straightforwardly on the right. Colors were basic and the fonts were nothing too flashy. Studio cards took a similar headshot approach but framed the image with boxes and included the team logo at the bottom right. Again, colors and design elements were understated and focused more on clearly presenting the player image and stats.
In terms of the players and talent featured, both 1995 Fleer Tradition and Studio featured the who’s who of baseball at the time including superstars like Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, Sammy Sosa, Cal Ripken Jr., Tony Gwynn, Greg Maddux, and more. Rosters were essentially the full MLB at the time meaning you could follow all your favorite teams through these unofficial sets. Short prints and serially numbered parallels were included as well to add some chase and excitement for collectors.
Monetarily speaking, the 1995 Studio cards have held their value the best over the long run. Griffey Jr. and Thomas rookies in Studio have been steady sellers in the $10-15 raw range. Serial numbered versions can push $50-100. Ripken and Maddux rookies from Studio sell in the $5-10 range. Common base cards are around $1-2 with stars like Sosa and Gwynn a bit higher. The 1995 Fleer Tradition cards have declined more significantly, with even stars priced under $1 for common versions. Rookie cards hold a similar $5-10 range as Studio. Autographs and serial numbered parallels from either set can sell hundreds to thousands depending on the player and specs.
As for the longevity and perception of the 1995 Fleer Tradition and Studio sets, collectors have a more mixed view compared to “official” offerings from Upper Deck and Topps finest in the 90s. Being unofficial releases, they never achieved the same lofty status as the true “flagship” sets with league logos and approvals. They still preserved star players and teams from that era in card form for collectors prior to Fleer regaining the MLB license in 1996. The artistic designs were clean and stats presented clearly without unnecessary frills.
In the end, while not the most heralded sets, the 1995 Fleer Tradition and Studio post collector series baseball cards still hold relevance and value for collectors passionate about that particular MLB season. Key rookies and stars continue to attract buyers despite being unlicensed releases. They also represent an intriguing period of transition as the baseball card industry landscape changed around them in the mid 1990s. When appraising 1990s sets as whole, the 1995 Fleer Tradition and Studio collections deserve recognition for continuing to deliver baseball cards during a unique time.
