In 1987, Fleer released what is now considered one of the most iconic basketball sets of all time. Fleer Basketball Cards included luminaries such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird on what would become some of the most valuable cards in the hobby. In honor of the set's 35th anniversary, let's take a look back at what made the 1987 Fleer set so special.
Why the 1987 Fleer Basketball set is still popular today
Decades later, the 1987 Fleer Basketball set remains universally beloved amongst basketball card collectors. Each card features a glossy finish and bright colors that bring to life iconic players of the era against a backdrop of professional-looking court graphics. Many card designs for the set feature team uniform colors and high quality player photography with knowledge-filled statistics listed on the backside. Whether it be nostalgia or appreciation for history, the 1987 Fleer Basketball set continues to captivate people around the globe with every flip of a card.The top cards in the set and their estimated values
The 1987 Fleer Basketball Set has some incredible cards, with some of the top cards being highly sought after by collectors. The best and most valuable card in the set is Michael Jordan which can fetch up to $7,500, closely followed by Cards #68 (Charles Barkley) and #69 (Patrick Ewing), both valued at around $1,000. Also at the top of their value are the rookie cards of Scottie Pippen and Karl Malone. Other noteworthy names in the set have an estimated value between $200-$400 and include Dominique Wilkins, Kevin McHale, Clyde Drexler and James Worthy. Any collector would love to add any of these gems to their collection!How to spot a fake 1987 Fleer Basketball card
ISA Grading offers a great way to spot a fake 1987 Fleer Basketball card. ISA Grading is an independent third-party grading and authentication service that has established industry standards for grading sports cards. ISA Grading uses experienced graders to assess each item submitted, judging it against condition criteria specific to the set. ISA Grading also offers additional authentication services, like serial number verification, which can help ensure a card is legitimate. When looking for a 1987 Fleer Basketball card, it's important to look for ISA Grading to make sure your card is authentic.Where to find authentic 1987 Fleer Basketball cards for sale
If you're looking for authentic 1987 Fleer Basketball cards to add to your collection, you're in luck! With the rise of digital marketplaces and places like eBay, it has become much easier to find this sought-after set of cards. Not only can you find singles of your favorite players, but some sellers are even offering sealed boxes or sets with all the cards in one purchase. Whether you're on the hunt for a missing card or want to experience taking them out of the edge foil like when they first hit shelves over 30 years ago, there's sure to be an option that satisfies your basketball card collecting needs.The best way to store and protect your collection of 1987 Fleer Basketball cards
It’s essential to properly store and protect your collection of 1987 Fleer Basketball cards in order to preserve their condition over time. The best way to do this is through individual card sleeves, allowing you to display your gems without the fear of them being damaged or destroyed. Additionally, investing in specialty binders with protective covers can ensure your entire set is kept clean and safe from any external damages. Finally, it would be wise to create a list of each card so you can keep track of items that may have been misplaced or sold away from your collection over the years. Keeping these precautions in mind can guarantee that your invaluable 1987 Fleer Basketball collection stays strong for years to come!Michael Jordan's Second Year Card
As arguably the most iconic sports figure of his generation, Michael Jordan's 1987 Fleer Basketball set second-year card is highly desirable among collectors. From the design to the player featured, these cards are a must-have for fans and collectors alike. Those lucky enough to possess this iconic piece can draw gratifying comfort from its awe-inspiring illustration, as Jordan takes flight from beneath the rim in a picture that few basketball fans could forget. The market for this card has only grown since it was introduced over three decades ago, making it an investment that increases by value every day!Despite being produced over 30 years ago, the 1987 Fleer Basketball set is still popular among collectors and hobbyists today. The cards in the set feature some of the greatest players in NBA history, including Michael Jordan, who is featured on the most valuable card in the set - his second year card. If you're looking to start or add to your collection of1987 Fleer Basketball cards, be sure to do your research so that you can spot a fake and find authentic cards for sale. And once you've got your hands on those coveted cards, store them properly so that they maintain their value for years to come.
1987 Fleer Basketball Checklist
The 1987 Fleer Basketball Set provides basketball fans with the rare combination of classic nostalgia combined with modern-day collectability. The set contains 132 base cards featuring some of the best NBA talent from the 1980s, including Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson. The 1987 Fleer Basketball Set also includes 10 unique "Star Stickers" and 20 different insertion cards sure to please even the toughest collectors. With an overall condition rating often exceeding that of other similar sets released during this era, it's no surprise why the 1987 Fleer Basketball Set continues to be highly sought after today.- 1 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Los Angeles Lakers
- 2 Alvan Adams - Phoenix Suns
- 3 Mark Aguirre - Dallas Mavericks
- 4 Danny Ainge - Boston Celtics
- 5 John Bagley - Cleveland Cavaliers
- 6 Thurl Bailey - Utah Jazz
- 7 Greg Ballard - Golden State Warriors
- 8 Gene Banks - Chicago Bulls
- 9 Charles Barkley - Philadelphia 76ers
- 10 Benoit Benjamin - Los Angeles Clippers
- 11 Larry Bird - Boston Celtics
- 12 Rolando Blackman - Dallas Mavericks
- 13 Manute Bol - Washington Bullets
- 14 Tony Brown - New Jersey Nets
- 15 Michael Cage - Los Angeles Clippers RC
- 16 Joe Barry Carroll - Golden State Warriors
- 17 Bill Cartwright - New York Knicks
- 18 Terry Catledge - Washington Bullets RC
- 19 Tom Chambers - Seattle SuperSonics
- 20 Maurice Cheeks - Philadelphia 76ers
- 21 Michael Cooper - Los Angeles Lakers
- 22 Dave Corzine - Chicago Bulls RC
- 23 Terry Cummings - Milwaukee Bucks
- 24 Adrian Dantley - Detroit Pistons
- 25 Brad Daugherty - Cleveland Cavaliers RC
- 26 Walter Davis - Phoenix Suns
- 27 Johnny Dawkins - San Antonio Spurs RC
- 28 James Donaldson - Dallas Mavericks RC
- 29 Larry Drew - Los Angeles Clippers
- 30 Clyde Drexler - Portland Trail Blazers
- 31 Joe Dumars - Detroit Pistons
- 32 Mark Eaton - Utah Jazz
- 33 Dale Ellis - Seattle SuperSonics RC
- 34 Alex English - Denver Nuggets
- 35 Julius Erving - Philadelphia 76ers
- 36 Mike Evans - Denver Nuggets
- 37 Patrick Ewing - New York Knicks
- 38 Vern Fleming - Indiana Pacers
- 39 Sleepy Floyd - Golden State Warriors
- 40 Artis Gilmore - San Antonio Spurs
- 41 Mike Gminski - New Jersey Nets
- 42 A.C. Green - Los Angeles Lakers RC
- 43 Rickey Green - Utah Jazz
- 44 Sidney Green - Detroit Pistons
- 45 David Greenwood - San Antonio Spurs
- 46 Darrell Griffith - Utah Jazz
- 47 Bill Hanzlik - Denver Nuggets
- 48 Derek Harper - Dallas Mavericks
- 49 Ron Harper - Cleveland Cavaliers RC
- 50 Gerald Henderson - New York Knicks
- 51 Roy Hinson - Philadelphia 76ers
- 52 Craig Hodges - Milwaukee Bucks
- 53 Phil Hubbard - Cleveland Cavaliers
- 54 Dennis Johnson - Boston Celtics
- 55 Eddie Johnson - Sacramento Kings
- 56 Magic Johnson - Los Angeles Lakers
- 57 Steve Johnson - Portland Trail Blazers
- 58 Vinnie Johnson - Detroit Pistons
- 59 Michael Jordan - Chicago Bulls
- 60 Jerome Kersey - Portland Trail Blazers RC
- 61 Bill Laimbeer - Detroit Pistons
- 62 Lafayette Lever - Denver Nuggets
- 63 Cliff Levingston - Atlanta Hawks RC
- 64 Alton Lister - Seattle SuperSonics
- 65 John Long - Indiana Pacers
- 66 John Lucas - Milwaukee Bucks
- 67 Jeff Malone - Washington Bullets
- 68 Karl Malone - Utah Jazz
- 69 Moses Malone - Washington Bullets
- 70 Cedric Maxwell - Houston Rockets
- 71 Tim McCormick - Philadelphia 76ers RC
- 72 Rodney McCray - Houston Rockets
- 73 Xavier McDaniel - Seattle SuperSonics
- 74 Kevin McHale - Boston Celtics
- 75 Nate McMillan - Seattle SuperSonics RC
- 76 Sidney Moncrief - Milwaukee Bucks
- 77 Chris Mullin - Golden State Warriors
- 78 Larry Nance - Phoenix Suns
- 79 Charles Oakley - Chicago Bulls
- 80 Akeem Olajuwon - Houston Rockets
- 81 Robert Parish - Boston Celtics
- 82 Jim Paxson - Portland Trail Blazers
- 83 John Paxson - Chicago Bulls RC
- 84 Sam Perkins - Dallas Mavericks
- 85 Chuck Person - Indiana Pacers RC
- 86 Jim Petersen - Houston Rockets RC
- 87 Ricky Pierce - Milwaukee Bucks
- 88 Ed Pinckney - Phoenix Suns RC
- 89 Terry Porter - Portland Trail Blazers RC
- 90 Paul Pressey - Milwaukee Bucks
- 91 Robert Reid - Houston Rockets
- 92 Doc Rivers - Atlanta Hawks
- 93 Alvin Robertson - San Antonio Spurs
- 94 Tree Rollins - Atlanta Hawks
- 95 Ralph Sampson - Houston Rockets
- 96 Mike Sanders - Phoenix Suns RC
- 97 Detlef Schrempf - Dallas Mavericks RC
- 98 Byron Scott - Los Angeles Lakers
- 99 Jerry Sichting - Boston Celtics
- 100 Jack Sikma - Milwaukee Bucks
- 101 Larry Smith - Golden State Warriors
- 102 Rory Sparrow - New York Knicks
- 103 Steve Stipanovich - Indiana Pacers
- 104 Jon Sundvold - San Antonio Spurs RC
- 105 Reggie Theus - Sacramento Kings
- 106 Isiah Thomas - Detroit Pistons
- 107 LaSalle Thompson - Sacramento Kings
- 108 Mychal Thompson - Los Angeles Lakers
- 109 Otis Thorpe - Sacramento Kings RC
- 110 Sedale Threatt - Chicago Bulls
- 111 Wayman Tisdale - Indiana Pacers
- 112 Kelly Tripucka - Utah Jazz
- 113 Trent Tucker - New York Knicks RC
- 114 Terry Tyler - Sacramento Kings
- 115 Darnell Valentine - Los Angeles Clippers
- 116 Kiki Vandeweghe - Portland Trail Blazers
- 117 Darrell Walker - Denver Nuggets RC
- 118 Dominique Wilkins - Atlanta Hawks
- 119 Gerald Wilkins - New York Knicks
- 120 Buck Williams - New Jersey Nets
- 121 Herb Williams - Indiana Pacers
- 122 John Williams - Washington Bullets RC
- 123 John Williams - Cleveland Cavaliers RC
- 124 Kevin Willis - Atlanta Hawks
- 125 David Wingate - Philadelphia 76ers RC
- 126 Randy Wittman - Atlanta Hawks
- 127 Leon Wood - New Jersey Nets
- 128 Mike Woodson - Los Angeles Clippers
- 129 Orlando Woolridge - New Jersey Nets
- 130 James Worthy - Los Angeles Lakers
- 131 Danny Young - Seattle SuperSonics RC
- 132 Checklist (#1-132)
Stickers Checklist:
- 1 Magic Johnson - Lakers
- 2 Michael Jordan - Bulls
- 3 Hakeem Olajuwon - Rockets
- 4 Larry Bird - Celtics
- 5 Kevin McHale - Celtics
- 6 Charles Barkley - 76ers
- 7 Dominique Wilkins - Hawks
- 8 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Lakers
- 9 Mark Aguirre - Mavericks
- 10 Chuck Person - Pacers
- 11 Alex English - Nuggets
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