The Fleer 02 baseball card set was released in 2002 as part of Fleer’s long running baseball card line. The set featured cards of players from both the American and National Leagues and included many rookie cards and stars from the previous season. Some key things to know about the Fleer 02 set include:
The set featured 660 total cards and included base cards as well as insert cards. The base set included cards numbered from 1 to 660 featuring players, managers, and umpires from both leagues. The set also included several insert sets that were inserted randomly in packs. Some of the notable insert sets included Fleer Greats, which featured retired stars, and Fleer Futures, highlighting top prospects.
In terms of rookie cards, some of the top names included in the Fleer 02 set were: Carlos Zambrano, Freddy Sanchez, Jason Bay, Jeff Francis, Jason Jennings, and Khalil Greene. All of these players went on to have solid MLB careers of varying lengths. Zambrano in particular had a very good career as a starter for the Cubs. His Fleer 02 rookie card remains one of the more sought after and valuable from the set today.
The set also included stars from the previous 2001 season like Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Ichiro Suzuki, Randy Johnson, and Pedro Martinez. Bonds in particular was coming off an epic 73 home run season in 2001 and his card remains one of the most recognizable from the set. A-Rod was also in the midst of his record contract with the Rangers and among the game’s elite players.
In terms of design, the Fleer 02 cards featured a clean look with mostly white borders and team logo in the foreground. Player photos took up much of the card front with statistics and identifiers along the bottom. The backs provided career stats and a brief player bio. The design was an evolution from previous Fleer sets but maintained the classic Fleer look fans had come to expect.
When it was released in 2002, the Fleer 02 set had an MSRP of about $1.50 per pack with approximately 10-12 cards per pack. Hobby boxes could be found for around $80-100. Today, unopened boxes in good condition can fetch several hundred dollars on the secondary market. Individual cards also vary greatly in price depending on the player and condition. Rookies and stars tend to be the most valuable cards to collect from the set.
In terms of production, the Fleer 02 set was one of the larger baseball releases that year along with Topps and Upper Deck. It was also one of the final larger baseball sets issued by Fleer before losing the MLB license to Topps starting in 2003. Subsequent Fleer baseball sets were much smaller in size as a result. For collectors at the time, Fleer 02 represented one of the brand’s premier mainstream releases of the early 2000s.
When originally released, the Fleer 02 set was generally well received by collectors. It provided a large base set capturing the current MLB season along with popular insert sets at an affordable price point. While not quite as iconic as some other vintage releases, Fleer 02 remains a solid set from the early 2000s era that is still collected today. Keys cards like the rookies of Zambrano, Bay, and Greene along with stars of the day like Bonds and A-Rod ensure the set maintains relevance in the hobby. For both vintage Fleer collectors and those focusing on the rookies, the 2002 release remains an important set nearly 20 years later.
The Fleer 02 baseball card set was one of the major releases from the brand during its tenure as an MLB license holder. It successfully captured the 2001 season and included many rookie cards and stars that remain collectible today. While not as valuable as some older Fleer issues, the 2002 set endures as an important snapshot from the early 2000s era that introduced collectors to future Hall of Famers as well as short-term MLB players. Its classic Fleer design and large base roster keep the set relevant for both casual and avid collectors.
