The 1985 Fleer baseball card set was the 16th complete printed set issued by the American trading card company Fleer. It was the first year Fleer offered an update series, continuing its rivalry with Topps which had introduced updates the previous year. The base set featured photos of 596 different players and managers from both the American and National Leagues.
Some key details about the 1985 Fleer baseball card set:
Design: The cards featured a photo centered on a white background with blue and gray striping on the borders. Player names and positions were printed in blue and stats like batting average in gray. Fleer logo was in the lower left with the Fleer “F” symbol.
Photography: Like most Fleer sets of the era, photos were high quality action shots rather than posed portraits. Many cards caught players mid-swing or mid-throw, showcasing their athletic skills. Fleer was known for innovative photography compared to rival Topps.
Rookies: Notable rookies included Dwight Gooden, Alvin Davis, Barry Larkin, Walt Weiss, and Bobby Thigpen. Gooden’s rookie card in particular is one of the most coveted and valuable from the 1980s due to his success early in his career.
Short Prints: Fleer issued some players in even shorter print runs than the base cards, making them rarer and more desirable. In 1985, short prints included Ozzie Smith, Rickey Henderson, Wade Boggs, Tim Raines, and Jack Clark.
Variations: A few players like Darrell Porter had minor photograph cropping changes between their cards, adding to the complexity of fully completing the set. Careful examination was needed to acquire all variations.
Update Series: The ’85 Fleer Update series was the first ever issued by the company. It included 60 new player photos to account for trades and call-ups throughout the season. Rosters could be kept more accurate versus waiting for the next full year’s release.
Population: Through the hobby’s tracking services like PSA and BGS, it’s estimated that approximately 10-15 million sets of the 1985 Fleer base cards were printed. This medium print run supported strong demand while preserving the cards’ scarcity value over decades.
Condition Issues: Like most ’80s releases, the thinner paper stock used for Fleer cards tended to show wear faster than the wax wrappers of Topps. Edges often peeled or corners rounded from years of young hands handling them. Near-mint copies became elusive.
Value: The basecards hold modest value today, in the $1-3 range even for commons in played condition. The short prints and rookies like Gooden’s are significantly more expensive, in the $25-200 range depending on grade. High-grade examples can sell for over $1000. The Update series also carries a premium.
Completing a full 1985 Fleer baseball set in pristine condition is no small challenge. It requires obtaining not just the 596 base players but also tracking down all variations, short prints, andUpdate cards. The process demands patience searching card shows, shops, and online auction sites. For dedicated collectors, the reward comes from owning one of the finest Fleer releases and capturing a memorable snapshot of 1980s on-field talent. Thirty-five years later, the ’85 Fleer cards remain a hugely popular subset in the vintage collecting community.
The 1985 Fleer baseball card set broke new ground for the brand with innovations like short prints, variations, and updates. While condition and completeness pose difficulties, the high-quality photography and rookie talent featured make it a truly iconic release. Its place in sports card history is cemented both by the popularity and success of the players depicted, as well as the creative strides taken within the competitive baseball card industry of the 1980s.
