The 1960 Fleer baseball card set was unique in that it focused solely on baseball greats from the past instead of current players. Where other contemporary card issues spotlighted the stars of that respective season, Fleer went in a completely different direction by honoring legends that had made their biggest impacts prior to 1960. The set included 36 cards highlighting many of the most renowned players from baseball’s early decades in the 20th century. By spotlighting these legends of the game, the 1960 Fleer issue helped introduce younger fans to players of eras gone by. The cards in the set paid tribute to greats spanning several generations of Major League Baseball.
Some of the biggest names featured in the 1960 Fleer baseball greats set included Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson, and Cy Young. These were undoubtedly some of the most iconic players in baseball history. Babe Ruth held the single season home run record at the time with 60 in 1927 and was widely considered the game’s first true superstar home run hitter. Ty Cobb was regarded as the best hitter and baserunner of his era, winning the batting title 12 times and stealing over 800 bases in his career. Honus Wagner was a versatile shortstop and one of the game’s first superstars in the early 1900s. Walter Johnson dominated as a power pitcher for over 20 seasons, holding the career record for shutouts. Cy Young notched over 500 career wins, a record that still stands today.
In addition to those true legends, the 1960 Fleer issue also highlighted star players from the early decades of the 1900s and 1910s like Tris Speaker, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Eddie Collins, George Sisler, Nap Lajoie, and Roger Bresnahan. Speaker was a premier five-tool player and center fielder who won seven batting titles. Alexander was one of the era’s hardest throwing pitchers and notched 373 career wins. Collins was a speedy second baseman who hit over .330 eight times and stole over 750 bases. Sisler put together one of the best single seasons in history in 1920 when he hit .407. Lajoie and Bresnahan were also standouts as second basemen and catchers, respectively, in the deadball era.
The set stretched into the 1920s as well by including cards for Home Run Baker, Goose Goslin, and Rabbit Maranville. Baker was a powerful slugging third baseman who led the American League in home runs three times in the 1920s. Goose Goslin put together 19 solid seasons as an outfielder, hitting over .300 ten times. Rabbit Maranville established himself as one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball history across 23 seasons.
The cards reached all the way to the late 1930s by highlighting Mickey Cochrane, Mel Ott, and Dizzy Dean. Cochrane was a premier catcher and manager who led the Detroit Tigers to two pennants. Mel Ott slugged over 500 home runs primarily as a corner outfielder for the New York Giants. Dizzy Dean emerged as one of the National League’s most dominant pitchers in the 1930s, winning 30 games in 1934.
In addition to the player photos and names on the front, each card in the 1960 Fleer baseball greats set included a brief bio on the back detailing the player’s career highlights and accomplishments. This helped provide younger fans with historical context on these legends from eras long before they were born. The cards gave a glimpse at the impressive careers had by the game’s earliest stars.
The 1960 Fleer set helped preserve the legacy of baseball pioneers for future generations. By focusing solely on legends instead of current players, Fleer took a creative approach that introduced collectors and fans to iconic names from the sport’s formative years. Highlighting stars from the Deadball Era through the 1930s, the issue paid tribute to the players who helped grow baseball into America’s pastime. Six decades later, the 1960 Fleer baseball greats cards remain a treasured release for collectors seeking to learn about the pioneering eras of the early MLB seasons. They represent one of the most unique vintage sets ever produced.
The 1960 Fleer baseball greats issue took a novel approach by exclusively featuring legends of the game’s past instead of contemporary players. Spanning eras from the late 19th century through the 1930s, the 36-card set introduced younger fans to iconic stars like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, and more. Each card included a brief bio to provide historical context on these pioneering players. Over 60 years later, the 1960 Fleer baseball greats set remains a one-of-a-kind tribute to the earliest stars who helped grow and popularize America’s national pastime during its formative years.
