Fleer baseball cards have a long and storied history in the hobby, being one of the original manufacturers along with Topps. In 2022, Fleer continues its run producing high quality cardboard for collectors.
Fleer was founded in 1891 and got into the baseball card business in 1956. They produced sets alongside Topps for decades in a back and forth competition for licenses. However, Fleer’s parent company lost the MLB license to Panini in 2020. Despite losing official MLB rights, Fleer still produces sets through alternate means such as independent licensing of player images.
Their 2022 flagship release is called Fleer Ultra, continuing a set name inherited from their purchase of Pacific trading cards assets in 2007. The set uses creative photography and design to highlight today’s stars. Rookies like Bobby Witt Jr. and players like Shohei Ohtani receive extra attention in the insert sets. While no longer licensed by MLB, Fleer has worked to secure deals with individual players associations to use likenesses.
Like many modern sets, Fleer Ultra includes parallels and variations to entice collectors. The base cards come in the standard black border. Silver packs contain silvers parallels numbered to 99. Gold parallels are numbered to 25 and come one per box. Green Foil parallels are a super short print numbered to 10. Ultra Premium parallels feature extended black borders and are numbered to 5. The rarest are 1/1 Printing Plates, essentially a blank front card with only the registration mark on the back certifying it as one of the set’s printing plates.
insert sets within Fleer Ultra showcase various players and themes. The franchise favorites set features a player from each team in a special border. Future Five highlights five top rookie prospects. Awards and Achievements honors individual stats and milestones. Flashbacks recreates iconic photos from the past. While no longer holding an MLB license, Fleer continues to work hard to secure individual player rights to maintain authenticity in their sets.
Beyond the flagship, Fleer produces several other 2022 offerings. Fleer Tradition honors the legacy of the brand with vintage-styled designs in a tribute to their 1960s and 70s designs. Fleer District captures the fun and passion fans bring to stadiums through artistic snapshots. Fleer Inception focuses on today’s emerging stars with a sci-fi futuristic theme. Fleer Holiday delivers a Christmas-inspired design for winter release. And Fleer Update provides ongoing rookies and veterans in a traditional Fleer style postseason release.
The company also has a strong international presence with sets featuring stars from other countries and leagues. Fleer Greats USA highlights American players abroad while Fleer Greats International spotlights standouts across global baseball. Fleer also holds trademarks for legendary set names like Score and Donruss, which they may revive as new product lines in future years.
While no longer officially licensed, Fleer continues to forge partnerships that allow their creative vision. Boxes of 2022 Fleer Ultra can still be found at major hobby shops and online retailers. The brand still conjures nostalgia for collectors who grew up with their older 70s and 80s designs. And the quality and attention to parallels/inserts keeps hardened investors engaged as well as casual fans looking for affordable vintage-styled cardboard of today’s players. Whether chasing superstar rookies or parallel short prints, Fleer Ultra and their other 2022 releases provide enjoyable hunts for collectors of all levels. With perseverance and creative licensing, Fleer looks to carry on their rich baseball card tradition for many years to come.
