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FLEER ALL STAR BASEBALL CARDS

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Fleer was an American manufacturer of sports and entertainment trading cards that saw great success with their production of baseball cards throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Among their most popular and iconic sets released during this time period were their Fleer All Star Baseball cards.

The first Fleer All Star Baseball card set was issued in 1965. Prior to this, Topps Chewing Gum Company had held the monopoly on baseball card production for over a decade. Topps’ dominance of the baseball card market at this time was soon to be disrupted by Fleer’s entrance into the trading card business. Building off the popularity of their Fleer Football cards launched in 1961, Fleer aimed to provide an alternative option for young collectors of baseball memorabilia.

For their maiden baseball card venture in 1965, Fleer produced a 132 card base set as well as additional parallel sets featuring players pictured in action poses or with team logos on their uniforms. While bearing similarities to Topps’ card designs of the mid-1960s, the photography, colors, and production quality of Fleer’s All Star cards were a stark contrast to what collectors had grown accustomed to seeing. This helped them gain notice and customer interest quickly despite competition with the long-established Topps brand.

In the years that followed, Fleer continued annual All Star Baseball card releases that helped solidify their standing in the industry. The 1966 set featured 132 cards with horizontal backs as opposed to the more traditional vertical design. For 1967, Fleer rolled out two separate variations of 165 card sets – one with a red, white and blue border and another utilizing a gray border. This dual release helped collectors build complete flagship sets more easily.

Throughout the 1960s, Fleer experimented with different photo sizes, borders, and card designs to keep their product fresh. This included the use of action shots, team emblems, and statistical callouts on certain cards. The production challenges of getting timely approval of photography rights with multiple MLB teams also impacted Fleer. But they maintained respectable annual release schedules despite such hurdles that Topps did not face as the long-reigning baseball card manufacturer.

As the “Daisy Age” of the late 1960s arrived, Fleer cards began showing psychedelic designs, foil stamping, embossed logos and other aesthetic flourishes. Their 1968 and 1969 sets featured unique color schemes, photography and card layouts. While still containing familiar elements of baseball stats and player information, Fleer branched out creatively to bring a new visual style to the cardboard collectibles. This pushed the artistic boundaries of card design further at the time.

Fleer’s success reached new heights in 1970 with their largest All Star Baseball card set yet comprising 220 total cards. Legal issues arose that threatened their presence in the baseball card market. Due to a restrictive agreement Topps had in place, Fleer and rival manufacturer Topps found themselves embroiled in the “Topps Baseball Card Anti-Trust Lawsuit.” Fleer’s production of baseball cards was halted after their 1971 release until the case was settled in 1981.

When Fleer returned to the baseball card field in 1981, the baseball card collecting culture had evolved along with production methods and card aesthetics. Their comeback sets sported vivid colorization, embossed logos, and boxier graphic designs matching the look of the early 1980s. Subsequent All Star Baseball offerings from 1982-1987 placed Fleer in periodic competition with Topps once more, this time under less exclusive market conditions.

Fleer baseball card sets from the 1960s and 1970s have attained iconic status among collectors today. Featuring classic photography of Hall of Fame players from the peak eras of baseball history, high quality construction and experimental designs, Fleer All Star cards defined an artistic renaissance period in the hobby. Through innovations in cardstock, photos and graphical branding, Fleer distinguished themselves as challengers to Topps’ reign. This paved the way for card manufacturers to push creative boundaries that have enriched the collecting experience ever since.

In summary, Fleer’s All Star Baseball cards delivered top-tier performances on the cardboard diamond from 1965 through their early 1970s dominance. While short-lived due to litigation, Fleer left an indelible mark and inspired new levels of quality, design concepts and collector standards within the sport collecting industry. Their innovative spirit and visual styles still enthrall fans and preserve precious baseball memories from yesterday on card fronts and backs. As such, Fleer All Star sets remain prized possessions in any vintage card collection.

1990 FLEER ALL STAR TEAM BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1990 Fleer All Star Team baseball card set was issued prior to the 1990 Major League Baseball All-Star Game held in Wrigley Field in Chicago. The set featured current All-Star players from both the American League and National League on special designed cards to commemorate the Midsummer Classic. At 80 total cards, the 1990 Fleer offering was one of the larger All Star Team sets produced at the time and provided a unique snapshot of the brightest MLB stars as the decade came to a close.

With the baseball card industry at the peak of its popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Fleer saw the All Star subsets as a way to cash in on collector interest surrounding the annual exhibition and give fans an updated look at the game’s top talent. In addition to current stars, the 1990 set also paid tribute to legendary players no longer active by including a “Hall of Fame” section highlighting some of the greats enshrined in Cooperstown. Overall design of the rectangles saw a photograph on the front with additional stats and career highlights on the reverse.

Some of the more notable American League players featured in the set included Kirby Puckett, Frank Thomas, Rickey Henderson, Roger Clemens, and Wade Boggs. Puckett, named MVP of the 1985 All-Star Game, was in his prime as the catalyst for the powerhouse Minnesota Twins teams of the era. “The Big Hurt” Frank Thomas was in his third big league season and already showing signs of the monster power numbers to come. Base-stealing king Rickey Henderson continued adding to his legend after moving from Oakland to the New York Yankees. Roger Clemens was in his eighth season and had won the triple crown for MLB pitchers in 1990 while cementing his status as one of the fiercest hurlers around. Wade Boggs, the model of consistency, was on his way to another 200-hit season with Boston.

On the National League side, stars like Barry Bonds, Ozzie Smith, Greg Maddux, and Roberto Alomar made the All Star cut. An up-and-coming Barry Bonds was just hitting his stride in Pittsburgh and beginning his slow transformation into the home run king he would become. Ozzie Smith, a wizard with the glove at shortstop, was a fan favorite as the longest-tenured Cardinal. Greg Maddux, already a four-time All Star at age 23, was making his case as the best pitcher in baseball during his dominant Atlanta Braves years. Second year player Roberto Alomar provided a glimpse of the skills that would make him a future Hall of Famer with San Diego.

Notably absent from the NL portion was Atlanta Braves first baseman Sid Bream, who had been elected as a starter by fans but was unable to participate in the game due to injury. Bream’s regular season card is included but his All Star card was replaced by that of San Diego Padres starter Bruce Hurst, one of the players added to the NL roster as a replacement. The inclusion of Hurst shows how Fleer aimed to provide the most up-to-date All Star rosters possible within production limitations.

The Hall of Fame segment proved a special treat for collectors, preserving in card form legends like Jackie Robinson, Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial, and Hank Aaron. Robinson’s poignant inclusion came just two years after his 1988 passing at age 53. Mantle, Musial, and Aaron remained fan favorites even in retirement for their mammoth career hitting numbers and World Series heroics. These legendary players helped pass the torch to the current stars featured elsewhere in the set.

In terms of scarcity, the 1990 Fleer All Star Team cards can still be obtained at reasonable prices by today’s standards. While stars like Bonds, Maddux, Henderson, and Thomas carrying premium costs, most regular All Star cards trade in the $5-20 range. Short prints exist but are less rare compared to contemporary flagship Fleer series. The complete 80-card team and Hall of Fame checklist also means finding affordable fillers is more feasible for collectors looking to finish the set. Overall condition of the available pop does tend to run on the poorer side after 30 years of circulation and play. But for fans of 1990s baseball or those intrigued by the best players around the sport at a pivotal moment, this Fleer offering provides a fun window to a classic All Star year.

The 1990 Fleer All Star Team baseball card set functioned very well as a special annual commemorative issue highlighting MLB’s midsummer showcase event. Providing updated snapshots of 80 deserving All Stars and Hall of Famers, the set delivered quality cardboard collectibles that baseball fans could enjoy for years to come. While production values may pale compared to today’s sophisticated offerings, sets like this one from Fleer in 1990 succeed admirably in freezing a moment in time to remember great players, performances, and an exciting period in baseball history. For both casual collectors and serious set builders, the 1990 Fleer All Star Team endures as an affordable way to preserve the athletic talents that shone brightest on the diamond during baseball’s “Steak and Beer” era.

TOPPS 1986 ALL STAR BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1986 Topps All-Star Baseball card set was a high point for baseball card designs and featured some of the biggest stars in the game at the height of their popularity. Issued during the middle of baseball’s “Steroid Era”, the set showcased many sluggers that would go on to break home run records in the coming years. With 792 total cards and checklists included, the 1986 Topps set highlighted the mid-1980s All-Star teams and continues to be a nostalgic reminder of that classic baseball era for many collectors and fans.

Following the immense success of 1985 Topps, the designers aimed to make the 1986 set even more visually appealing with bright, vibrant colors and dynamic pose shots of legendary players. The base cards featured a yellow and red color scheme with each player photographed from the waist up in full or partial baseball uniform against a solid color backdrop. Topps’ photo selection staff scoured hundreds of images from the previous season looking for the most eye-catching action shots to represent each ballplayer. The resulting collection perfectly captured the pure athleticism and competitive fire that defined 1980s MLB.

Some of the biggest stars featured prominently in the set include sluggers Mike Schmidt, Eddie Murray, Gary Carter and Don Mattingly on the National League side as well as Rickey Henderson, Wade Boggs, Rod Carew and Kirby Puckett representing the American League. But it was the era’s true heavy hitters that received star treatment with special oversized cards for sluggers like Reggie Jackson, George Brett and Dave Winfield. At the height of the “Steroid Era”, the towering physiques of burgeoning stars like Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire were also prominently displayed.

To highlight the 1986 midsummer classics, Topps included full team roster cards for both the American and National League All-Star squads. These larger 61⁄2″ by 31⁄2″ cards featured photos of each player along with their team and position. With the All-Star games being such a major exhibition event in the summers of the mid-80s, these roster cards added prestige and excitement to the experience of collecting the entire set. Additional All-Star subsets included individual write-up cards for the starters and special embossed foil cards recognizing Jerry Reuss, Gary Carter and Tim Raines as the NL and AL All-Star Game MVPs that year.

Beyond the main All-Star highlights, Topps added entertainment value by sprinkling in various inserts focused on fun achievements and records from 1985. These included homage cards to Pete Rose for breaking Ty Cobb’s all-time hits record, Don Sutton for his 300th career victory and Wade Boggs/George Brett for breaking the single season batting average mark. Exciting rookie debuts from Will Clark, Barry Larkin and Bret Saberhagen were also honored. The set also included short print variations that are highly coveted by today’s collectors, making unearthings such rare variants quite thrilling for those who buy or open packs of 1986 Topps.

While sportscard giant Topps produced baseball cards exclusively for over 50 years, competitors like Fleer and Donruss began chipping away at their monopoly in the mid-1980s. This new competition drove Topps’ designers and photographers to create their most visually stunning and star-studded designs to date with the 1986 set in an effort to maintain their market dominance. The end result was a true collector’s piece that captured the best of 1980s baseball through creative card concepts and iconic player imagery. Even 35 years later, 1986 Topps All-Star cards remain a nostalgic favorite that commemorates a golden era of the national pastime.

The booming collectibles market of the mid-1980s saw 1986 Topps cards fly off shelves as kids traded and accumulated player collections with classmates and little league teammates. While not quite as scarce or expensive as the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie that can fetch millions, key 1986 Topps cards of Hall of Famers, MVPs and career record setters still command premium prices today. Graded mint condition examples of Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, Nolan Ryan, Kirby Puckett and others can sell for hundreds to even thousands depending on the player and grade. Unopened wax factory sets in pristine condition have been known to exchange hands for over $10,000 as well.

For passionate baseball memorabilia historians and those who grew up with 1986 Topps as their childhood set, few modern issues can compare to the artistic design, photographic excellence and star power captured during that exciting MLB season. After over three decades, the pop of bright primary colors and athletic poses still evoke vivid memories of summertime games in the bleachers. Collectors continue peeling back wrappers or sorting through long forgotten boxes hoping to rediscover a childhood favorite starring player from that truly memorable 1986 campaign. The influence and nostalgic appeal of 1986 Topps All-Star cards ensures they will remain a cherished part of baseball heritage and collecting for generations to come.

1988 DONRUSS ALL STAR BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1988 Donruss baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the late 1980s. Issued during the height of the baseball card boom, the 1988 Donruss set is notable for featuring special All Star cards showing players in their All Star uniforms from the 1988 MLB All Star Game held at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati.

The 1988 MLB All Star Game took place on July 12, 1988. The American League defeated the National League 2-1 in what was a pitching duel. Orel Hershiser of the Los Angeles Dodgers got the win for the National League while Rick Reuschel of the San Francisco Giants took the loss. Dennis Eckersley of the Oakland A’s earned the save.

Donruss seized the opportunity to capitalize on the All Star Game by issuing special parallel cards showcasing many of the players who participated. The All Star parallel set within the larger 1988 Donruss base set featured 84 cards showing stars from both leagues wearing their 1988 All Star uniforms. Some of the biggest names included were Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs, Rickey Henderson, Tony Gwynn, Roger Clemens, Jose Canseco, and Kirby Puckett.

The All Star cards possess exciting photo variations that really pop compared to the standard team uniform shots found in the base 1988 Donruss set. Many photo variations show action shots of players batting, pitching or fielding. The All Star uniforms truly stand out with their classic white and gray designs featuring bright red piping and lettering. The red All Star logo stamped on the jersey really makes the parallel cards visually enticing.

In addition to exciting photo variants, the All Star cards within the 1988 Donruss set are distinguished by their unique serial numbering format. Where the base cards used the standard four digit numbering from 1-630, the All Star subset utilized code “A” prefixes ranging from A1 to A84 to denote their parallel status. This unique identification made the All Star cards very collectible and easy to chase as a subset.

Beyond their serial number prefixes, the All Star parallel cards possess the same design elements as the base 1988 Donruss issue. The iconic borderless photograph style and player silhouette/bio backs featuring offensive and pitching stats meshed the subset nicely into the overall aesthetic of the flagship release. This maintained set continuity while still highlighting the special All Star parallel status.

Grading and preservation has always been emphasized for the premium 1988 Donruss All Star subset due its bright white card fronts which show whisps and toning more readily than other sets. High graded examples frequently trade hands for hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on player, condition and scarcity. Raw near mint to mint specimens also still demand substantial premiums in the marketplace thirty plus years later.

The inherent scarcity of the 1988 Donruss All Star subset due to its limited parallel printing also contributes tremendously to its enduring popularity. With only 84 cards issued total across both the American and National League rosters, finding conditioned examples of some players can prove quite difficult. Copies of major stars like Barry Bonds, Wade Boggs and Ozzie Smith routinely sell for multiple thousands in high grades.

Beyond their immediate allure in the late 1980s, the 1988 Donruss All Star subset has maintained cachet because it commemorates a truly special season in Major League Baseball during the height of player salaries and offensive output. The 1988 campaign saw the single season home run record get eclipsed not once but twice as Kirk Gibson and Mark McGwire launched epic blast campaigns. Individual and team offensive exploits lit up scoreboards that summer. Nostalgia for this high flying “Steroid Era” period of the late 1980s continues to spur collector demand for related memorabilia like the iconic 1988 Donruss All Stars.

Three decades on, the 1988 Donruss All Star parallel set remains a singularly great vintage issue that nicely captures a pivotal moment in baseball history. With only a limited run of 84 cards showcasing the sports’ biggest stars in their annual Midsummer Classic uniforms, scarcity and historical significance underpin the value of these special cards. Grading services continue attributing strong grades to examples that present well, ensuring this premium subset maintains strong collector appeal for enthusiasts of 1980s sports and pop culture memorabilia. The exciting photography, serial numbering and nostalgia for a bygone period of MLB excellence make the 1988 Donruss All Stars perennially desirable trophies for the sets’ and players’ biggest fans.