It's official. After 26 years, Upper Deck has killed Fleer baseball.
Upper Deck has confirmed to Stale Gum that 2008 Fleer baseball was canceled. No word on the status of other Fleer brands (i.e. Ultra, Tradition, et al).
I think the writing was on the wall for that, but it is still a bit of a downer to hear.
One of the things to me about the Fleer situation is that even though the cards said Fleer they were now produced by Upper Deck. Its just not the same. I think I will miss the base Fleer set the most out of the Fleer line. Base sets are either fading away or just plain ole' going to crap a lot.
1997 Fleer and Fleer Inscribed will remain my two favorite sets of all time. If any one thing is to blame for the decline of the hobby next to greed look for Upper Deck.
Fleer (the company) only produced Fleer (the brand) one time from 1998-2005. Upper Deck should have never tried to revive it. Hopefully they will keep the true Fleer staple brands alive (Fleer Tradition, Ultra)
To me, Fleer Ultra is/was the single-best set/brand out there. It was one of the only true brands out there (along with Topps base, Upper Deck base...not sure I can think of any other brand that's winning formula wasn't messed with).
I feel kinda empty inside now.
ReplyDeleteI think the writing was on the wall for that, but it is still a bit of a downer to hear.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things to me about the Fleer situation is that even though the cards said Fleer they were now produced by Upper Deck. Its just not the same. I think I will miss the base Fleer set the most out of the Fleer line. Base sets are either fading away or just plain ole' going to crap a lot.
Fleer was the best base set every year for me. Cheap and non-glossy. I loved it.
ReplyDeleteI'm struggling to feel bad about this one. Does this make me a bad collector?
ReplyDeleteThey didn't have a base set in 2005, right?
ReplyDeleteIt is a sad day. I hadn't collected Fleer cards in years, but I always liked knowing they were out there.
Fleer really died in 2005. The name lived on a couple more years, under UD. But it still does feel like a loss.
Steve in Philly
too bad so sad.
ReplyDelete1997 Fleer and Fleer Inscribed will remain my two favorite sets of all time. If any one thing is to blame for the decline of the hobby next to greed look for Upper Deck.
ReplyDeleteFleer (the company) only produced Fleer (the brand) one time from 1998-2005. Upper Deck should have never tried to revive it. Hopefully they will keep the true Fleer staple brands alive (Fleer Tradition, Ultra)
ReplyDeleteFleer was dead to me when they went bankrupt and Upper Deck bought them out. It just didn't feel the same to me.
ReplyDeleteTo me, Fleer Ultra is/was the single-best set/brand out there. It was one of the only true brands out there (along with Topps base, Upper Deck base...not sure I can think of any other brand that's winning formula wasn't messed with).
ReplyDelete