Fleer’s 3D Acrylic Basketball Cards Are Junk Wax Era Gems

1991-92 Fleer Basketball isn’t much to talk about.  The set consists of (400) cards which were distributed between two series.  It does have it’s share of rookies such as Kenny Anderson, Steve Smith, and Dikembe Mutombo.  But these cards are so overproduced their value is next to nothing.  It doesn’t seem to matter how overproduced a product may be, there almost always is some type of scarce version.  That holds true for this set.

Throughout the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, card manufacturers weren’t afraid to make what they call 3D cards.  99.9% of the time this involved using lenticular technology.  That’s the stuff that makes a high-pitched sound when you run your fingers over it.  This noise is the perfect sound that would make your dog do that head tilt thing.

On the backside of these packs you’ll see a special offer from Fleer.  For the price of $4.99, plus shipping and handling, and (3) pack wrappers, you could’ve gotten yourself a 3D parallel of any card from the base set.  Unlike other 3D cards at the time, these do not use lenticular printing.  They’re made up of multiple layers of an acrylic, acetate-like material.  Fleer even included a display stand for each card.  The images really do jump out at you, and live up to the 3D name.  In order to get the full experience, you need to see one in person.  Scans aren’t always the best.

Like I said before, many overproduced sets have some sort of scarce parallel.  These 3D cards are it for 1991-92 Fleer Basketball.  Apparently not a lot of people took part in this wrapper redemption program.  The collectors who did, found out these cards are very condition sensitive.  Regular base cards are barely worth a thing, but 3D versions reach into the hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Fleer could have made up 3D versions of every base card.  Whether or not each card was requested at least once is a mystery.  Top players like Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Magic Johnson, Karl Malone, Larry Bird, and John Stockton were popular requests.  Fleer could have easily destroyed whatever they had leftover once the promotion ended.  A 3D parallel may have been made for each base card, but I can guarantee you not every one has surfaced.  A print run for the cards that were distributed would massively help.  If that info ever existed it is long gone.

Another possibility is that Fleer had these 3D parallels made as they were requested.  If a player wasn’t requested, there may have never been a 3D parallel.

Basketball collectors definitely had the better mail-in offer from Fleer in 1991.  Football collectors had the opportunity to get a pin, while baseball collectors could’ve gotten (10) heavy-duty top loading album pages.

True gems from the junk wax era.

Card of the Day: Bryce Harper 2016 Topps New Era Cap Lids Exclusive

“Pin-Up” of the Week: New Era Super Bowl 50 18k Gold Pin

New Era has created quite the expensive hat for Super Bowl 50.  This hat is made of black lambskin leather and comes with an 18k gold pin.  They only made 50 of them, and cost $2,500 per hat.

There are a lot of pins made for Super Bowl 50.  Many of them feature just the logo.  Someone could easily try and pass off a cheap widely produced pin for this one made of 18k gold.  Especially if you’re not buying it in person.

$2,500 for a hat is nuts.  The brim is completely flat too.  I hate hats with flat brims.

“Pin-Up” of the Week: Penn State vs. Boston College 2014 New Era Pinstripe Bowl Pin

Penn State wasn’t even expecting to be eligible for a bowl game last year.  But with the lifting of the sanctions and their 6-6 record they became eligible for the 2014 New Era Pinstripe Bowl which took place in Yankee Stadium.  They were able to sneak out a 31-30 win over Boston College.  Placekicker Sam Ficken made the extra point that put Penn State over the top to win.  Ficken was using Derek Jeter’s old locker that day.  I guess using Jeter’s locker brought him some luck.

Pins from this game haven’t shown up all that much.  Apparently most of them sold out at the game.  They’ve been selling for $15.00 to 50.00.  I got mine for $15.00.

“Pin-Up” of the Week: 2012 New Era Pinstripe Bowl – West Virginia vs. Syracuse Pin

The New Era Pinstripe Bowl has been played at Yankee Stadium since 2010.  Watching a football game inside Yankee Stadium must be pretty different looking.  Its probably like watching the Winter Classic in Citizens Bank Park.  This year, Syracuse took on West Virginia and went on to win 38-14.  The MVP was Price-Tyson Gulley.

For being a simple looking pin, it apparently isn’t the easiest one to find.  They continue to sell for $30.00.

Recent Monty Sheldon Art

Monty Sheldon has been hard at work designing his famous “Artballs” and cigar boxes.  One of his newest “Artballs” commemorates probably the darkest time in baseball – the steroid era.

These baseballs are so colorful and detailed.  They make an excellent addition to any collection.

Check out this Pete Rose wooden cigar box he painted too.  If you have a favorite card, something like this would make a great display piece.

More Photos From The ’09 Little League World Series

This morning I headed up to the Little League World Series in Williamsport.  This year I had a lot more fun because I took part in many of the promotional campaigns some of the major sponsors were doing.  Aside from baseball and football cards, I also collect pins.  Pin trading is HUGE at the Little League World Series.  Obtaining some of the pins from the sponsors reminded me of being at The National, because you need to do certain things to get a pin.  I had a really good time and if you’re a baseball fan you should go.  I even found a few baseball cards 🙂  When I was there, Mexico and Canada were playing.  Click on each photo to enlarge.

Kellogg’s

Coca-Cola

David Sunflower Seeds

New Era’s booth is in the shape of a baseball.

This was one of the pin trading tents.  There were thousands of pins in here.

2009 Little League World Series logo pin

2009 Little League World Series ring pin

This ACE Hardware pin was a giveaway around lunchtime.

All I had to do was answer a few questions at the Honda booth and they handed me this pin.

Quality Inn was just giving these away at their booth.

Coca-Cola gave me this pin because I recycled one of their soda bottles at their booth.

While I was getting lunch, a man came up to me and said he was an umpire for Little League and gave me this pin.  Its an umpire pin from Johnson City, TN.

These cards were a giveaway from Sunkist.  Upper Deck made them back in 2005 for the Little League World Series.  Each came wrapped in a clear pack.  There are 5 cards to the set.