Kristian Ferrell
The 1986-87 Fleer basketball card packs are considered one of the most important sports card sets of all time. The set includes several legends and Hall of Famers, including Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Patrick Ewing. The most sought-after card in the set is the Michael Jordan rookie card, which has sold for up to $96,000. The set also includes stickers, with one sticker included per pack. The cards were released in a specific sequence, so those who know the sequence can predict with some certainty which cards are in a pack.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1986-87 |
| Manufacturer | Fleer |
| Type | Wax pack |
| Cards | 132 |
| Stickers | 11 |
| Notable cards | Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, Johnny Moore, Chris Mullin |
| Grading | PSA, BBCE |
| Availability | eBay |
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What You'll Learn
- The 1986 Fleer Basketball set is the first basketball set produced in wax pack form since the 1981-82 Topps Basketball Set
- The packs are sequenced but not always perfect as cards can flip mid-pack
- The most valuable cards are the Michael Jordan rookie card and sticker
- The pack includes several legends and Hall of Famers including Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing
- The cards are graded by the Baseball Card Exchange, the leading authority in the authentication of unopened sports card material
The 1986 Fleer Basketball set is the first basketball set produced in wax pack form since the 1981-82 Topps Basketball Set
The 1986 Fleer Basketball set is iconic because it was the first basketball set produced in wax pack form in several years, following the Topps company's decision to stop making basketball cards due to their unpopularity. When Topps left the basketball card market after the 1981-82 season, it left a void that was filled by STAR, which produced basketball sets as the only company with a license to print NBA cards. However, STAR's cards had low print runs and were sold in team bags rather than wax packs.
The 1986 Fleer Basketball set was also significant because it marked Fleer's return to the basketball card business after a long hiatus. Each pack contained 13 cards and 1 sticker, with the cards released in a specific sequence. The packs were known for containing rookie cards of basketball legends such as Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, and Charles Barkley.
Despite the significance of the set, the 1986 Fleer Basketball set was initially treated as "junk wax" and did not sell well, often failing to reach $10 at retail. However, over time, the set gained popularity, especially with collectors, and the price began to increase. Today, unopened packs and boxes of the 1986 Fleer Basketball set are highly sought-after by collectors, with some packs and boxes authenticated and graded by companies like BBCE and PSA.
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The packs are sequenced but not always perfect as cards can flip mid-pack
The 1986 Fleer basketball packs are sequenced but not always perfect, as cards can flip mid-pack. This means that while the packs follow a certain order, there is a chance that the sequence may change within the pack. This "flip" occurs because the pack sequence reaches the end edge of a row on the uncut sheets, resulting in a break in the typical sequence.
The sequencing of the cards within the packs is important to collectors, as it can impact the value of the pack. For example, if a pack is known to contain a Michael Jordan rookie card, it will be priced higher. However, it is difficult to determine the exact sequence of cards in a pack, especially for unopened packs, as the sequences are seldom revealed or discussed.
Some collectors have tried to predict the sequencing by observing patterns in opened boxes or packs. One collector noted that the sequencing does not flip randomly but at specific points in the collation. They observed that the flip card patterns are ambiguous and can vary between boxes.
It is important to note that the 1986 Fleer basketball packs are prone to counterfeiting and resealing. Collectors are advised to purchase graded packs to ensure authenticity and reduce the risk of tampering. Additionally, the visible first card and sticker can also impact the price of the pack.
Overall, while the 1986 Fleer basketball packs are sequenced, the presence of mid-pack flips adds an element of unpredictability to the order of cards, making it challenging to determine the exact contents of a pack without opening it.
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The most valuable cards are the Michael Jordan rookie card and sticker
The 1986-87 Fleer basketball card packs are considered one of the most important sports card sets of all time. This is partly because the 1981-82 Topps Basketball set was the company's last for the sport until the 1990s, so the 1986-87 Fleer set includes rookie cards of several legends and Hall of Famers, including Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Patrick Ewing.
Michael Jordan's transformation into a basketball and cultural icon has sent his rookie card prices to unprecedented heights. The 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card is considered the most valuable card in the set, with prices for raw copies reaching five figures. The card features Jordan in an iconic moment, soaring to the basket with his arm extended for a slam dunk.
The 1986 Fleer set also includes eleven stickers, which are highly sought-after by collectors. The Jordan sticker is particularly valuable, with unopened packs containing the Jordan sticker reaching five-figure prices.
Due to the high value of certain cards in the set, collectors are advised to be cautious when purchasing unopened packs, as it is difficult to verify whether the packs have been tampered with.
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The pack includes several legends and Hall of Famers including Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing
The 1986-87 Fleer Basketball card packs include some of the biggest names in the sport's history. The packs are a great way to buy an authentic, unopened pack of 86-87 Fleer, with the first card visible and, in some cases, a sticker on the back.
The pack includes several legends and Hall of Famers, such as Charles Barkley, who remains charismatic and headline-grabbing even in retirement. His cards are available on eBay as sealed packs, single cards, uncut sheets, and wrappers.
Another legend in the pack is Karl Malone, who, despite never bringing an NBA Championship to Utah, was one of basketball's most dominant players. Malone was named the NBA MVP in 1997 and 1999 and was an All-Star 14 times.
Hakeem Olajuwon is another basketball great with a Rookie Card in the 1986-87 Fleer pack. He is considered one of the best centers in the game's history.
Finally, Patrick Ewing, the Knicks legend, is also included. Ewing was the first pick in the 1985 draft and was the face of the franchise for over a decade, averaging 20 points or more per game in his first 13 seasons.
The 1986-87 Fleer packs also include the iconic Michael Jordan Rookie Card, one of the most famous basketball cards of any generation. Stickers featuring Jordan are also available and are more affordable than his Rookie Card.
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The cards are graded by the Baseball Card Exchange, the leading authority in the authentication of unopened sports card material
The 1986 Fleer basketball cards are some of the most popular sports collectibles. This is largely due to Michael Jordan's iconic card #57. However, the set was initially unpopular, and many boxes remained unsold.
The Baseball Card Exchange has identified two different types of 86/87 Fleer uncut sheets, labelled as Sheets A and B. Each sheet contains a complete set of 86/87 Fleer basketball cards, but they differ in the order of cards. Sheet A starts with #1 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and proceeds numerically, while Sheet B begins with #67 Jeff Malone and follows a different pattern.
There are typically two sequences inside an 86-87 Fleer pack, running in opposite directions. For example, if the top card is #1 Abdul Jabbar, the third card will be card #2 Alvin Adams. The second card will be random, and the sequence will continue in descending order.
The Baseball Card Exchange has also observed the phenomenon of \"flip cards\" in 86/87 Fleer packs, where a card is upside down, interrupting the typical pack sequencing. Despite these variations, the Baseball Card Exchange is confident in its ability to authenticate these cards and ensure their authenticity and proper grading.
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Frequently asked questions
86 Fleer basketball packs are a set of sports trading cards released in 1986. They are considered one of the most important sports card sets of all time, as they include several legends and Hall of Famers such as Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and Magic Johnson.
There are 12 base cards in each pack, with stickers inserted one per pack.
The value of the cards varies depending on their condition and rarity. For example, a BGS 9.5 or PSA 10 graded 1986-87 Fleer Johnny Moore card has sold for over $10,000.
86 Fleer basketball packs are available for purchase on websites like eBay and from authorised resellers such as BBCE and Baseball Card Exchange.
You can get your 86 Fleer basketball pack graded and authenticated by reputable companies like PSA and BBCE. This ensures the pack has not been tampered with and confirms its condition.
