The 1985 Fleer baseball card set was one of the most iconic releases from the company in the 1980s. It marked several firsts and showcased some of the biggest stars in the game at the time. With 396 total cards in the base set, collectors had plenty to hunt for in packs and at card shows. Let’s take a closer look at what made the 1985 Fleer set so memorable.
Fleer had been in the baseball card business for over a decade by 1985 but had not yet made their mark like Topps. This release helped put them on the map. For the first time, Fleer split their cards into series rather than having one large release all at once. Series 1 and Series 2 each contained 198 cards and were released months apart. This helped extend the collectibility of the set throughout the entire baseball season.
Another major first was the inclusion of logos on the cards. Prior Fleer releases and Topps at the time did not include team logo artwork. But in 1985, each card featured the logo of the player’s current team proudly displayed on the front. This added a new element for collectors and fans. Real team allegiances could really be seen in the cardboard.
Top stars of the day like Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Rickey Henderson, and George Brett were all prominent in the set. Clemens’ distinctive windup was captured on his card near the beginning of his pitching prime with the Boston Red Sox. Boggs, the hitter extraordinaire, was well represented as always by Fleer. Rickey Henderson’s elite speed jumped off his card as the leadoff catalyst for the AL West champion Oakland A’s. And George Brett, the hit machine, anchored the set from Kansas City.
Rookies also had a strong presence. Future Hall of Famer Barry Larkin had his rookie card, showing his talents before they would fully bloom in Cincinnati. Other notable rookies included Mark McGwire,Willie McGee,Jeffrey Leonard, and Lance Parrish. Fleer did a great job highlighting up-and-coming young talent fans wanted to follow.
The design aesthetic of the 1985 set helped emphasize these players even more. A simple white border drew the eye to the colorful action photography within. Bold fonts and logos popped on each card. The back provided stats and a career recap that added value and information for collectors. Overall it had an extremely clean and classic look that has held up extremely well over time.
In terms of chase cards, the Hank Aaron parallel subset stood out. Patterned after his original Topps card from 1954, it paid homage to the home run king who was still actively playing and appeared on the Milwaukee Braves card #1. Only one Aaron parallel card per wax box added to its allure. Other notables included the Kris Krivda error card which was missing the “a” in his last name.
The reception to Series 1 was so strong that Fleer upped production for Series 2. Still, with growing collector demand, mint sets are much harder to come by today in high grade. Single cards, especially of star players, rookies, and variations, can get pricey in top condition as well. Few other 1980s sets command the same consistent prices as 1985 Fleer in the hobby.
In the end, the 1985 Fleer baseball card set truly cemented the company as a major player thanks to superior photography, design, and highlighting of the game’s brightest stars both established and rising. Injecting team logos and a parallel insert set also took collecting to another level. The hype created by splitting it into series further enhanced its appeal. Over 35 years later, it remains one of the most iconic Fleer releases that still captivates collectors today.
