• Home
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Get Sports Collectors Daily via EMail
    • Advertise with SC Daily
    • Write for Sports Collectors Daily
    • Write About Your Sports Collection
    • Where Can I Sell My Baseball Cards?
  • Hot on Ebay
    • Most Watched Baseball Cards
      • Bowman Chrome Cards
      • Mike Trout Cards
      • Fernando Tatis Jr. Rookie Cards
      • Babe Ruth Cards
      • Hank Aaron Cards
      • Jackie Robinson Cards:
      • Mickey Mantle Cards
      • Willie Mays Cards
      • Vintage Baseball Card Sets
      • T206 Cards
      • Hottest Baseball Hobby Boxes
    • Most Watched Basketball
      • Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2020-21 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2019-20 NBA Rookie Cards
        • Zion Williamson Rookie Cards
        • Ja Morant Rookie Cards
      • Prizm Basketball Cards
      • Luka Doncic Rookie Cards
      • LeBron James Rookie Cards
      • Michael Jordan Cards
      • Kobe Bryant Cards
      • NBA Top Shot
      • Panini National Treasures
    • Most Watched Football Cards
      • Most Watched NFL Rookie Cards
      • 2020 NFL Rookie Cards
      • Tom Brady Cards
      • Patrick Mahomes Rookie Cards
    • Most Watched Hockey Cards
      • Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2020-21 Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2019-20 Rookie Cards
      • Connor McDavid Cards
      • Wayne Gretzky Cards
      • Bobby Orr Cards
    • Most Watched Soccer Cards
    • Most Watched UFC Cards
    • Most Watched Golf Cards
    • Most Watched Graded Rookies
    • Most Watched PSA 10 Cards
    • Most Watched 1 of 1 Cards
    • Most Watched Memorabilia
    • Most Watched Racing Cards
    • Most Watched Autographs
  • Ending Soon on Ebay
    • Baseball Cards
    • Basketball Cards
    • Football Cards
    • Hockey Cards
    • Golf Cards
    • Vintage Sports Memorabilia
  • Lelands

Sports Collectors Daily

Sports collecting news - Sports cards and sports memorabilia industry news.

Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, we may receive a commission.  It helps keep us afloat!

  • Sports Memorabilia News
    • Barnebys Sports Auction Highlights
  • Sports Card News
    • Modern Sports Card News
      • New Sports Card Release Calendar
      • Shop Talk
    • Vintage Sports Card News
      • Affordable Vintage Cards, Collectibles
      • Old Baseball Card Sets
      • Old Basketball Card Sets
      • Old Football Card Sets
      • Old Hockey Card Sets
      • Vintage Pack Facts
  • Business/Industry News
    • Sports Memorabilia Business News
    • Sports Memorabilia Industry News
    • Hobby Shops Selling, Breaking Online During COVID-19
  • Around The Hobby
    • Editor’s Blog
    • David Cycleback’s Identification and Authentication Advice
  • Popular Stories
  • Sell Your Cards
You are here: Home / Sports Card News / Modern Sports Card News / The Iconic 1986-87 Fleer Basketball Set Turns 30
Mile High Card Co.

The Iconic 1986-87 Fleer Basketball Set Turns 30

September 30, 2016 By Anson Whaley

It’s difficult to imagine that company executives could have envisioned what they were creating with the release of the 1986-87 Fleer basketball set. It was the company’s first foray into the basketball card world and despite a less than enthusiastic initial reaction, it ultimately became a heck of a debut. Thirty years later, the issue stands near the top of the list of all-time great basketball card sets.

1986-87 Fleer Basketball Basicsewingbackewing

The 1986-87 Fleer basketball cards are standard trading card size at 2 1/2″ wide x 3 1/2″ tall. The design includes a unique red, white, and blue border around the entire card with a photo in the middle. At the bottom in white lettering against a blue background, collectors will find the player’s name, team, and position.

The red, white, and blue theme is carried over onto the back. Text and logos were printed in blue against a red and white background. Included on the backs are team logos and statistical information for the player in question.

In all, a total of 132 cards and 11 stickers (one per pack) make up the set.

A Rookie Collector’s Dreamola

1986 Fleer Michael Jordan PSA 10 rookie cardIf ever there was such a thing as a loaded rookie lineup, this is it. Now, it’s not as if the 1986 NBA Draft was the primary factor for that. While there were some good players in that group, in actuality, they had nothing to do with the strong rookie lineup. Topps was previously the sole printer of mainstream basketball cards but after their 1981-82 issue, they took a hiatus lasting until 1992-93. Star Company snapped up the NBA license but distributed them in bagged team sets as opposed to unopened product and weren’t generally seen as one of the mainstream card companies with their low production quantities.

Topps’ exit left a massive four-year window where there were no packs of major-label basketball product. For that reason, players in the NBA Draft from 1982 to 1986 were being placed on their ‘rookie’ cards, even though many had been in thebarkley league for a few years. As a result, the set contains numerous first-year cards for big name players such as Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, Clyde Drexler, Isaiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins, Chris Mullin, James Worthy, and more.

In all, nearly half of the entire set is composed of rookie cards.

Rookies Left Outrodman

Ironically, Fleer’s inaugural set could have been even more jam-packed with rookie cards. Interestingly enough, players in the 1986 NBA Draft weren’t included in this set and in some cases, didn’t surface for a few years.

Brad Daugherty, the top overall player taken, didn’t show up until the 1987-88 Fleer set. Others, such as Dennis Rodman and Mark Price, weren’t included until two years later in 1988-89. Point guard Scott Skiles, who had a solid career, didn’t debut until the 1989-90 set. Fleer’s limited checklist often pushed younger players to the side for more established veterans.

And sadly, Len Bias was never included. The No. 2 pick in the 1986 NBA Draft overdosed on cocaine and tragically passed away shortly after the draft.

magicdrj1986-87 Fleer Veterans

The 1986-87 Fleer set isn’t only about rookies, though. There were plenty of big name stars happy to land on their first cards in many years.

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were two such players, who had only two previous major cards (1980-81 Topps and 1981-82 Topps) before the Fleebirdr set. There are older guys such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Julius Erving. And appearing on their final big name trading cards during their playing careers, there are Hall of Famers Bill Walton and George Gervin.

The toughest card to find in high grade, however, has proven to be a player who most fans have forgotten.  Card number 78, Johnny Moore, sells for several thousand dollars in a ’10’ grade and several hundred in a 9.

Don’t Forget The Insertserving-stickermjsticker

The 1986-87 Fleer set doesn’t end with just the base cards. In each pack, Fleer included a special sticker card featuring a total of 11 players. These differ from the regular base cards in that they have a white border and completely different design.

The highlight of the 11 card-issue is a second Michael Jordan rookie. Four other ‘rookies’ include Hall of Famers Patrick Ewing, Isaiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins, and Hakeem Olajuwon. The remainder of the checklist includes Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving, Alex English, and Adrian Dantley.

1986-87 Fleer Prices

While high-grade rookies in the set are all the rage, the set isn’t too expensive given the amount of star power that’s included. Commons are plentiful on eBay in the $1-$2 range. Stars, such as Magic and Bird aren’t difficult to find for $15-$20. Even the bigger name rookies such as Barkley, Malone, or Olajuwon are easy to spot for under $50.

The big fish, of course, is Jordan. The Jordan card has been heavily counterfeited due to its value so buying a graded example will help your chances of securing the real deal. A decent Jordan rookie in mid-grade condition will generally start around $1,000 and high-grade examples are much steeper. Currently, PSA 9 examples are selling in the $5,500 to $6,000 range with 8s at roughly half that.

Can’t afford the Jordan? Try looking for a sticker. The Jordan sticker rookies aren’t cheap, but at $150 or even less in decent condition, they’re a fraction of the price of a card.

Despite the price tag and somewhat scarcity, complete sets aren’t too hard to find. Prices will obviously vary by grade, but a complete set with a PSA 8 Jordan rookie card recently sold for nearly $4,000.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Facebook Messenger

Related Stories:

100 Hottest Michael Jordan Basketball Cards on eBay Michael Jordan rookie Fleer sticker1980s Fleer Basketball Stickers Skyrocket Big Money for Fleer Basketball Case Finds at NSCC PSA to Give Away 3 Jordan Rookie Cards as Part of NSCC Promo Plans Buried Treasure: 1986-87 Fleer Basketball Wax Find Revealed eBay: 150% Spike in Jordan Rookie Card Prices in April 1986 Fleer Basketball Boxes from Storage Unit Find Bring Big Price (Empty Case, Too) Bidding for Unopened 1986-87 Fleer Basketball Case Already Over $1 Million All PSA 10 1986-87 Fleer Set Expected to Push Past $200,000 1986-87 Fleer Box from Missouri Find Offered Box Break Style
Avatar

About Anson Whaley

Anson Whaley is a contributor to Sports Collectors Daily and has been an avid pre-war and vintage card collector for more than 20 years. He manages a pre-war sports card blog and database at www.prewarcards.com . You can email him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter @PreWarCards.

Filed Under: Modern Sports Card News, Popular Stories Tagged With: 1980s basketball rookie cards, 1986-87 Fleer, 1986-87 Fleer basketball, 1986-87 Fleer basketball set, 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan

Our articles may contain affiliate links. When you click one and make a purchase, we receive a commission.  The revenue is what helps keep SC Daily afloat!

What\
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • Hockey

High End Cards and Memorabilia

  • BBCE Authenticated Boxes, Packs
  • Graded Rookie Cards
  • Authenticated Photos
  • Graded Tickets & Stubs

Bargain Corner

  • Michael Jordan cards $5 and less
  • Kobe Bryant cards $5 and less
  • Mickey Mantle Cards Under $150
  • Graded T206 Cards Under $75
  • Pre-1980 Graded Baseball Cards $10 and Less
  • Pre-1985 Graded Football Cards $5 and Less
  • Pre-1980 Graded Basketball Cards $10 and less
  • Pre-1990 Graded Hockey Cards $5 and Less
  • Complete Sets Under $10 with Free Shipping
  • Baseball Hall of Famers for $5 or Less
  • Football Hall of Famers for $5 or Less
  • Hobby Boxes Under $30
  • Pre-1986 Rookie Cards Under $1

RSS Auction Report

  • SCP Auctions Winter Premier Auction Is Right Around the Corner
  • Most Expensive Kobe Bryant Card Ever Hits $1.2 Million In Ongoing Auction at Goldin Auctions
  • Steve Novella Offers 1956 Topps Baseball PSA Partial Set Break Ending March 2, 2021


Categories

  • Around the Hobby
  • Business/Industry News
    • Sports Memorabilia Business News
    • Sports Memorabilia Industry News
  • David Cycleback's Identification and Authentication Advice
  • Editor's Blog
  • Hobby Shop Talk
  • National Sports Collectors Convention
  • Popular Stories
  • Rich Klein's Ramblings
  • Sports Card News
    • Modern Sports Card News
      • New Sports Card Release Calendar
    • Vintage Sports Card News
      • Old Baseball Card Sets
      • Old Basketball Card Sets
      • Old Football Card Sets
      • Old Hockey Card Sets
      • Vintage Pack Facts
  • Sports Memorabilia News

Sponsor Links

  • Sports Card Forum
  • Buying Vintage Sports Cards
  • Game Used Jerseys
  • 1952 Topps Baseball
  • Championship Rings For Sale
  • Vintage Basketball Cards
  • NBA Signed Items
  • Signed Sports Memorabilia
  • UFC Memorabilia
  • Autographed Baseballs
  • NASCAR Autographs
  • Vintage Graded Baseball Cards
  • Player Pictures
  • Vintage Football Cards
  • Sports Card Boxes
  • Sports Collectors Store

Pages

  • 10 Hottest Kareem Hunt Rookie Cards
  • 100 Hottest 2019-20 NBA Rookie Cards
  • 100 Hottest UFC Trading Cards
  • 100 Most Watched Graded Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay
  • 100 Most Watched Tom Brady Card Auctions on eBay
  • 20 Hottest Barry Sanders Football Cards
  • 2016 Cubs Replica Championship Rings Don’t Cost a Fortune
  • 2017 Topps Definitive Collection Box Breaks, Most Watched
  • 2019 Toronto Raptors NBA Championship Memorabilia Guide
  • 2019 US Women’s World Cup Apparel, Merchandise, Memorabilia Guide
  • 50 Hottest Baseball Hobby Boxes at Auction on eBay
  • 50 Most Watched Golf Trading Cards on eBay
  • 50 Most Watched Kevin Durant Auctions on eBay
  • 50 Most Watched Wrestling Trading Cards on eBay
  • 75 Most Watched Bowman Chrome Cards
  • 8 Types of Kobe Bryant Collectibles to Remember Him By
  • Aaron Judge Game Used Memorabilia Inventory Growing
  • About Us/Contact/Advertise
    • Advertise with SC Daily
    • Contact Us
    • Get Sports Collectors Daily via EMail
  • Affordable Vintage Sports Cards and Collectibles
  • Barnebys Sports Memorabilia Auctions
  • Baseball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Basketball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Best Derek Jeter Baseball Cards on eBay
  • Best Display Cabinets for Sports Memorabilia
  • Best Joey Votto Rookie Cards
  • Best Pascal Siakam Rookie Cards
  • Chiefs Super Bowl Champs Memorabilia Hits the Market
  • Current Most Watched Baseball Cards on eBay
  • Dale Murphy Rookie Card Remains Popular, Affordable
  • Eagles Super Bowl Champions Memorabilia Guide
  • Fanatics Under Wraps 2017 Next Level Edition Autographed Baseballs
  • Football Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Frank Gore Rookie Cards Get No Respect
  • Gardner Minshew Rookie Cards Heat Up as Fun-Loving Rookie Shows His Ability
  • Great Gifts for Cubs Fans
  • Guide to 2018-19 Clemson Tigers National Championship Memorabilia
  • Guide to Houston Astros Championship Memorabilia
  • Guide to LSU National Championship Merchandise, Memorabilia
  • Guide to Nationals World Series Champs Memorabilia, Merchandise
  • Guide to St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup Champions Merchandise, Memorabilia
  • Guide to Vegas Golden Knights Stanley Cup Memorabilia
  • Hank Aaron Cards on eBay
  • Henrik Lundqvist Rookie Cards a Strong Long-Term Play
  • Hockey Card Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
  • Hottest 2019 Baseball Rookie Cards
  • Hottest 2019 NFL Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Hottest Chicago Bulls Memorabilia Auctions on eBay
  • Hottest Devin Booker Rookie Cards as Suns Star Piles Up Points
  • Hottest Kyle Lewis Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Hottest Lonzo Ball Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Hottest Panini National Treasures Cards on eBay
  • Hottest Panini World Cup Stickers on eBay
  • Hottest Pokémon Card Auctions on eBay
  • Hottest PSA 10 Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Hottest Topps Living Set Auctions on eBay
  • Hottest Topps NOW Cards on eBay
  • Hottest Xander Bogaerts Rookie Cards
  • LeBron James Lakers Jerseys Already Available
  • Links
  • Mickey Mantle Cards on eBay
  • Most Popular Bobbleheads on eBay
  • Most Popular Mark McGwire Rookie Card Auctions on eBay
  • Most Watched 1/1 Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Basketball Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Complete Baseball Card Sets at Auction on eBay
  • Most Watched Football Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Football Rookie Card Auctions
  • Most Watched Goudey Baseball Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Hockey Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Kobe Bryant Basketball Card Auctions on eBay
  • Most Watched Racing Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Soccer Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Most Watched Sports Autographs on eBay
  • Most Watched Sports Jerseys on eBay
  • Most Watched Topps Project 2020 Auctions on eBay
  • Most Watched Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay
  • Most Watched Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay
  • Nick Bosa Rookie Cards Getting Collectors’ Attention
  • Patriots Super Bowl 51 Champions Merchandise
  • Ryne Sandberg Rookie Cards, Minor League Issues Still Collector Favorites
  • Selling Sports Cards on eBay for Cash
  • Sports Card Bargain Bin
  • Sports Memorabilia Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Test
  • The 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Kris Bryant Auto Saga: A Timeline
  • Tony Gwynn Rookie Cards Recall “The Best Hitter Since Ted”
  • Top 100 Most Watched Baseball Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Card Auctions
  • Top Authenticated Vintage Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay
  • Top Selling Patriots Super Bowl Championship Items
  • Upper Deck Authenticated Autographs Remain Popular, Accessible
  • Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay Ending Soon
  • Wade Boggs Rookie Cards Still a Collector Favorite
  • Wayne Gretzky Cards
  • What’s Hot on eBay
  • What’s It Worth
  • Where Can I Sell My Baseball Cards?
  • Where to Buy the Anthony Fauci Topps Baseball Card
  • Write About Your Sports Collection
  • Write for Sports Collectors Daily

Copyright © 2021 SportsCollectorsDaily.com | Genesis Web Design by Wickam Group