Keizer, Oregon

I opened this package and perhaps the largest assortment of Fleer Tim Wallach cards I've ever been sent came pouring out.  They were sent by Bo of Keizer, Oregon, who is a wildly generous guy.  When it comes to "non-Topps" brands of cards,  I think at the end of the day I can safely say, that I am, and always have been a "Fleer Guy."  There was definitely a time during the 80's that I considered Fleer my favorite brand, Topps included.  I loved the stickers, I loved the crown logo, they made pretty good gum too.  Albeit, gum that didn't come with the cards.  But I also liked the designs.  The backs from '83-86 don't get nearly enough credit for their innovation in design.  And while I won't die on the hill of saying Fleer had the best run of designs in the 80's (it doesn't, Topps does), you can't convince me that it doesn't blow Donruss out of the water.  From 1981 to 1992, I'd take the Fleer design over Donruss every year but '87 and '90.  And '90 is a very close call for me.  Feel free to disagree, I won't lose sleep over it or think any less of you.

Not all of the 186 cards sent by Bo were Fleer, as you can see in the pictures.  Which is fine, I like all Wallach cards.  The K-Mart Dream team card will always be one of my favorite odd-ball cards.  Thank you so much for the cards Bo.  I'll see what I can come up with to send back your way.

Updated Totals:

1982 Fleer x3: 247
1983 Fleer x7: 123
1984 Fleer x15: 119
1984 Topps x2: 316
1985 Fleer x10: 106
1985 Topps: 300
1986 Fleer x2: 121
1986 Topps: 312
1986 Topps All-Star: 626
1987 Donruss x3: 423
1987 Fleer x17: 223
1987 Topps x2: 875
1988 Donruss: 764
1988 Fleer x16: 266
1988 Topps: 685
1988 Topps All-Star: 676
1989 Donruss x3: 382
1989 Fleer x41: 384
1989 K-Mart x3: 53
1989 Topps x10: 683
1989 Upper Deck: 190
1990 Fleer x32: 361
1990 Score: 259
1990 Topps x2: 503
1991 Donruss x2: 264
1991 Donruss MVP: 246
1991 Fleer x3: 184
1992 Donruss x2: 198
1993 Fleer x2: 57
1995 Upper Deck x2: 37

I think another reason for my affinity for Fleer back in the 80's (and today for that matter), is due in no small part to their basketball cards.  They were more or less the only game in town for basketball cards for the later part of the 1980's, which was also my peak period for buying cards.  Putting out cards for another major league gave Fleer a feel of legitimacy that Donruss lacked.  For a couple of years now I've been making a slow and steady effort to complete the first three Fleer Basketball sets.  Bo was kind enough to throw these four needs my way.  They're not just scrubs either, two of those are Clyde Drexler's.  Drexler, sadly, has somewhat fallen through the cracks of Basketball lore, but as anyone over the age of 40 can tell you, for about a 5-10 year period he in was in the conversation for best player in the world, and that period over lapped with some well known names like Dominque, Jordan, Magic, Isiah.  That '87-88 Drexler is no throw away card.  So thank you very much Bo, I'll make it up to you.

And if anyone is interested, here are my remaining needs for those three Fleer sets, I'm more than willing to trade and am flush with doubles from the '86-87 set:

Fleer Basketball Sets

1986-87: 9, 57

1987-88: 1, 3, 9, 11, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 41, 42, 48, 49, 54, 56, 59, 61, 63, 68, 69, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79, 80, 83, 85, 92, 95, 97, 98, 99, 106, 109, 112, 113, 118, 123, 130

1988-89: 9, 13, 14, 16, 21, 25, 31,  39, 40, 43, 45,  57, 64, 82, 85, 93, 115, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 129