The Fleer Action Series was a set of baseball cards released by Fleer in 1990 that stood out from other offerings that year with its innovative card design focusing on action shots of players. At a time when most baseball card sets emphasized static posed portraits of players in uniforms, Fleer aimed to capture the excitement and drama of America’s pastime with dynamic images straight from the field of play.
The 1990 Fleer Action Series was the second installment in the short-lived but impactful Action Series brand, following the successful 1989 debut. Like the prior year, the 1990 set consisted of 363 total cards featuring players and managers from both the American and National Leagues. The cards were packaged in wax packs with 11 cards per pack and 36 packs per box.
A defining characteristic of the Fleer Action Series was its creative layout that broke from tradition. Instead of the standard vertical portrait orientation, the cards were presented in a horizontal landscape format measuring approximately 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches. This allowed for larger action photos that took up more of the card front compared to other brands.
The images showed players swinging, fielding, throwing and more – capturing the split-second moments that make baseball so thrilling to watch. Many cards depicted key plays from the previous season. For example, Ken Griffey Jr.’s rookie card featured him leaping at the outfield wall to rob a home run. This innovative presentation helped the Action Series stand out on store shelves.
In addition to lively photos, the card fronts included basic information like the player’s name, team, and position in a banner at the bottom. Statistics from the prior season, such as batting average and home runs, were listed on the reverse along with a brief career recap. The backs had a solid blue color scheme to let the front-and-center action shots take center stage.
Some of the biggest stars and rookie stars of 1990 were well represented in the set. Series standouts included cards of sluggers like Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Jose Canseco in their prime. Young talents like Griffey, Sandy Alomar Jr., and Chuck Knoblauch also had prominent rookie cards as they began to make their mark in the big leagues.
Managers also received cards for the first time in the Action Series brand. Legends like Tommy Lasorda of the Dodgers and Whitey Herzog of the Cardinals had detailed cards chronicling their careers behind the dugout. These helped add more variety and interest to the overall checklist.
In terms of chase cards, the most coveted by collectors were the autograph cards randomly inserted into packs. These scarce signed versions of stars like Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken Jr., and Ozzie Smith commanded high prices in the collecting community. Parallels and variations were not really a part of sets in 1990, so autographs provided the main chase aspect.
When it came to production quality, the 1990 Fleer Action Series cards had a smooth semi-glossy finish on the fronts and a standard matte finish on the backs. The photos were sharp and colorful, printed on high-quality card stock. The brand maintained its reputation for excellent imaging that brought the action shots to vivid life.
Upon release, the set was another major success that expanded the growing popularity of the Fleer Action Series among collectors. Its innovative presentation continued to attract new fans looking for a refreshing alternative to the static poses of competitors like Topps and Donruss. The lively photos captured the excitement of baseball and kept the on-card experience engaging.
As the 1980s drew to a close, the Fleer Action Series had firmly established itself alongside the sports card giants of the time. The brand would not have longevity. Financial issues caused Fleer to lose its MLB license after 1991, bringing the short but impactful Action Series run to an end after just three years. Still, the 1990 and prior releases left a mark by showing the hobby did not need to be confined by tradition. Today, vintage Fleer Action Series cards remain a highlight for collectors seeking out the best action shots from baseball’s past.
