Fleer Retro: Thoughts then & now

[1980bust]

Hey all,

Just wondering what you think of the Fleer Retro stuff - both when they came out and also now.

I'm asking because I personally don't see that much chatter about them, but their prices seem to be surging over the last 6 months on eBay.

For me, some of the designs look like bootlegs of the originals, but others are on par or better. Plus most of the insert sets are loaded with decent names, albeit in college uniform.

[jbball50]

Their prices are ridiculous now. I wish I could’ve bought more boxes of it back in the day when I was first starting to work after college. The designs of the old school 90s inserts was good, even if they were college unis.

[DajuanWagner]

I bought a case of it when it came out for $1100.00......ah, the good ole days....

[scotthenrichs]

I bought a case of it when it came out for $1100.00......ah, the good ole days....

I think boxes are more than that now, aren’t they?

[Matt24]

I bought a case as well, was my first foray back into cards really. Had a great case as I hit a Jordan red pmg that I still have and a Lebron Autographics I kept as well. I sold two other Lebrons though.

Here is the thread from my case break years ago... sigh I sold a Lebron Golden Touch...

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=397266

[kingofsnake]

I never liked this product. It had many of those old 90's inserts we loved, except much shoddier and with college jerseys. Also, a strong autograph checklist wasted on mostly sticker fodder. It seemed to me a quick and lazy way for UD to monetize their Fleer purchase.

[DajuanWagner]

I never liked this product. It had many of those old 90's inserts we loved, except much shoddier and with college jerseys. Also, a strong autograph checklist wasted on mostly sticker fodder. It seemed to me a quick and lazy way for UD to monetize their Fleer purchase.



The fact that people hated this product is the reason why I bought as much of this product as I could. I couldn't afford Green PMG's of any dud back in the 90's, but I could be just as happy with Green PMG's of the retro.....win/win...


as well as all the other cool inserts. I didn't give a rip if it was in college uni's....

[Vinny407]

Just my opinion.......dumbest product I've ever seen. Re-hash iconic 90's cards with half-assed attempts to recreate the designs and throw in college uniforms. It was a money grab, nothing more. I totally understand why UD did it and understand why people liked it as well. Just not for me.

[lietuvalabas]

Just my opinion.......dumbest product I've ever seen. Re-hash iconic 90's cards with half-assed attempts to recreate the designs and throw in college uniforms. It was a money grab, nothing more. I totally understand why UD did it and understand why people liked it as well. Just not for me.

i agree wholeheartedly with this, they did a very weak attempt at recreating these inserts, college unis or not. will say the only appeal to me were the buyback autos, now those were legit.

[2010GBPackers]

Just my opinion.......dumbest product I've ever seen. Re-hash iconic 90's cards with half-assed attempts to recreate the designs and throw in college uniforms. It was a money grab, nothing more. I totally understand why UD did it and understand why people liked it as well. Just not for me.

i agree wholeheartedly with this, they did a very weak attempt at recreating these inserts, college unis or not. will say the only appeal to me were the buyback autos, now those were legit.

I'm with you guys. I have no idea what the draw is. Those cards - everyone of them - are ugly. But people like them. I'm just not one of them.

[ninjacookies]

Like a Lambo kit car.


Gets a few looks from 10+ feet, but there's always that underlying sense of shame when you pull back into your driveway and see the Pontiac Fiero gauges staring back at you.

[minnesotachill]

I started collecting Lebron Retro's 2 years ago.

I was originally buying up Lebron refractors and autos but found myself looking for cheaper alternatives after the prices went sky high.

I found a page on Blowout that gave the estimated print runs of the Retro inserts and after seeing how low the prices on these were on Ebay, I went all in on them.

Bought my first lot of Lebron Retros for $1100 in Sept 2018, that included both Rubies/50, Playmakers Theatre, Legacy Row 0, 2 Rubies/150, Raise the Roof, PMG Red 2011, Golden Touch, 2 Ultra Platinums, 2 Starring Roles, 2 Court Masters, Flair Showcase, and Comp. Advantage.

I've amassed a collection of probably 2-300 Lebrons now. I've slowed down a bit since the prices have been going up, but I won't hesitate to add a few here and there if the prices are good.

[Stats]

They are what they are. I have been picking up some for a while. Some of the inserts are shoddy, some are great. The PMGs are very nice. In the case of LeBron, the only pro LeBron PMG was completely botched, with really bad peeling on the surface. The Fleer Retro PMGs look nice in person across all the sets. High school LeBron doesn't bother me anymore because it has become a part of the card and the set.

[MyckKabongo]

As a college collector, I'm a fan. I collect Wilt, Pierce and Manning--haven't noticed their prices going up (maybe Wilt a little).

Some of the inserts are lower quality but they did a nice job on many of them. The Championship PMGs do not have the same effect but are still very cool.

The basketball hobby is really missing the connection to it's past like baseball has with Heritage and Archives. The vast majority of the best licenses and brands from the past belong to Upper Deck, which doesn't have a license. Our best hope for a retro release to be done right at this point is probably Panini buying out Upper Deck. Of course, this would also solve the Jordan and Lebron problems. With all that Dutch Auction money, maybe Panini will do it soon. Upper Deck is probably asking for a King's Ransom compared to their earnings and revenues.

[Maurice]

These were a really fun breaks to watch when they first came out. Enjoyed the nostalgia :)

Only opened a box but Managed to hit a Jordan Career Highlights Auto /5.. it's On-Card which i am happy about.

[phdbeckett]

Slightly different- I am high on the Retro designs using NBA licensed uniforms. Specifically, the 2006-2007-2008 Fleer sets that had both easy and tough parallels.
I have all but 1 Lebron, and all Kobe. They mimic 1961 Fleer, 86-87, 87-88, 88-89, and 89-90 All-Stars. They are certainly more difficult to locate now, but attainable if you are looking to make a "rainbow."

[drobfan8]

It was a cheap imitation, let's be real.

But there were still some incredible chase cards in it.

I should nab a D. Rob PMG as I let slip the OG versions.

[gespaco]

I’m happy with this pull from the product seeing as I’ll never be able to own one of the originals from the 90’s

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