1986-87 Fleer Basketball Cards

By Patrick Mondout

For the first time in 25 years, Fleer produced a set of basketball cards. And for the first time in years, basketball card collectors could buy actual wax packs of new cards from a "real" manufacturer. That didn't stop these from being a failure - at least commercially. These cards did not sell out despite what is now seen as a small print run and they could be had by the case for far less than their retail value well into 1987. 

That all eventually changed quite dramatically. If you had shelled out a $1K on such cases in late 1987, you'd have several hundred thousand dollars worth of cards to show for it now. This is a very desirable and very valuable set. Do be careful regarding counterfeit Jordan's and other high-priced cards in this set - they are out there.

Wax packs contained 11 cards, one of 11 All-Star stickers, and a stick of gum. While it may not be as distinctive as say, the '75 Topps Baseball set, its scarcity and value make it a set that can truly be called a classic and the red, white, and blue border has its appeal. The card backs are also red, white and blue and feature stats but unfortunately no biography. The cards are numbered in alphabetical order with the checklist last.

The Jordan is one of the great rookie cards of all-time - not just because of its great value, but when did any other rookie card so completely convey the excitement and flair the player brought to the sport? The image of that card is as indelible in the memory of a basketball card collector as is a 1985 Topps Mark McGwire, a '79-80 Wayne Gretzky, or a 1984 Dan Marino is to card collectors of other sports.

With so many in the collector community not considering the Star Company issues of 1983-1985 as legitimate issues (since they were printed in small numbers and not distributed in the usual way (wax packs)), this set has an unusually high number of "rookie" cards (including James Worthy, Akeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley, Isiah Thomas, Patrick Ewing, Dominique Wilkins and of course Jordan). In reality they are simply the first cards printed by a major manufacturer, but that hasn't stopped them from attracting lofty prices. "Real" rookie cards include Karl Malone, Charles Oakley, Joe Dumars, and Chris Mullin.

1986-87 Fleer at a Glance Back Traded Checklist Akeem Sticker Inserts Isiah Spud Webb Dumars Rookie Manute Bol

Here's a checklist: 

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