The 1985 Fleer baseball card set is considered by collectors to be one of the most prominent sets containing production errors in the history of the hobby. While all card manufacturers experience occasional errors in the manufacturing process, the 1985 Fleer set stands out due to both the number and significance of mistakes made. From missing buttons to extra stripes on uniforms, this 136-card flagship Fleer release had its fair share of anomalies – many of which have become quite valuable to error card collectors and enthusiasts over the decades since.
Some key details on the 1985 Fleer baseball card errors include:
Missing Buttons: Perhaps the most famous error from 1985 Fleer involves cards that were missing the buttons on the players’ uniforms that should have been depicted. Cards of players like Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs, and Rich Gedman saw the button missing from their jerseys. These “missing button” errors have become some of the most sought-after and valuable mistakes from the set.
Extra Stripes: A number of cards featured players with extra stripes on their uniforms that should not have been there. Don Mattingly, Dwight Gooden, and Dave Stieb are some examples where an extra stripe was inadvertently added to the stock photo during production.
Wrong Hats: On a small number of cards, the hats depicted did not match the team shown on the front of the card. Jim Rice was pictured wearing a Baltimore Orioles hat instead of his correct Boston Red Sox cap, for instance.
Ink Smears: Some early production runs had issues with smeared ink, causing parts of the image or colors to be blurred or smudged. These are fairly common errors but can still hold value for collectors.
Missing Information: A few cards were missing player stats, positions, or other text that was meant to be included below the image. Error cards have been found with typos in information or uniforms numbers.
Upside Down Images: In at least a handful of cases, the stock photo on the card was accidentally printed upside down, so the player image is inverted compared to the design layout.
Wrong Cards: There are even reports of a small number of cards having entirely the wrong player image or information accidentally used.
In total, it’s estimated that between 50-100 cards out of the 1985 Fleer baseball set feature some kind of notable production error. While difficult to track exact statistics, common consensus places the total number of surviving error cards to be in the low hundreds or fewer for many of the types seen.
Naturally, their scarcity and appeal to error collectors has made 1985 Fleer mistake cards highly coveted items over the decades since the set was produced and shipped. Graded mint condition examples of “missing button” or “extra stripes” variations regularly sell for thousands of dollars today when they surface on the secondary market. Keys like the Don Mattingly extra stripes error or Jim Rice on the Orioles hat mistake would likely fetch five-figure sums or more from dedicated collectors if priced competitively.
Part of what adds to the mystique and popularity of 1985 Fleer errors is the uncertainty around exactly how they occurred. The precise manufacturing mistakes that led to buttons disappearing, ink smearing, or wrong hats being used remain undocumented and open to speculation among traders and enthusiasts. Some believe it was simple human error, while others theorize glitches in Fleer’s assembly line equipment or photo scanning systems contributed. Regardless of the reason, these anomalies have certainly stood the test of time in terms of captivating card collectors.
For advanced sports card investors, high-grade 1985 Fleer error pieces can present an intriguing niche collecting and investing opportunity. Prudent buyers willing to pay top dollar for certified gems upfront have seen remarkable long-term returns, as demand and prices almost always trend upwards for such one-of-a-kind collectibles over decades. Patience is needed, but patience is often rewarded when it comes to holding historic mistake cards as assets.
Of course, not every 1985 Fleer production error card garners big dollars. Most common anomaly variations can still be acquired for a few hundred dollars or less if in well-loved condition due to the somewhat larger surviving populations of ink smears or typos. But for those rare standouts showing all-important missing buttons or extra stripes on star players, a premium will always exist regardless of the intervening years. The 1985 Fleer errors are assured an honored place in the annals of sports memorabilia for the collectible treasures they produced and continue to inspire to this day.
