March 30, 2023: Spring Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/30/2023
Presented is a nice example of an important 1960s historical milepost, the charming 1963 Fleer Baseball issue that is found here in a condition range perhaps a bit wider than this issue typically encountered in mature collections, essentially Good to Ex-Mt, with a handful of cards falling below the range to Fair. It is the only significant mainstream non-Topps baseball card issue of the decade, Fleer’s final attempt in 1963 to jostle the Brooklyn-based Topps from its perch along atop the baseball card world. This was the first of what was planned to be several series, with Fleer issuing its cards with an uninspiring “cookie” rather than bubble gum in an ultimately futile effort to evade the dictates of Topps’ legendary exclusive contracts with major league ballplayers. While stymied in the courts and forced to abandon hopes of subsequent series beyond this classic, the 1963 Fleer Baseball issue wound up securing its well-deserved place in the hearts of collectors. The offered set comes out to 13 percent Ex-Mt, 28 percent Excellent, 37 percent Very Good and 13 percent Good. Here’s the breakdown: No. 4 Brooks Robinson – Ex-Mt, 5 Mays – Very Good, 8 Yastrzemski – Excellent-Plus, 22 Karat – Ex, 32 Santo – VG-Ex, 41 Drysdale – Good, 42 Koufax – Good, 43 Wills – VG, 45 Spahn – Fair, 46 Adcock – Good, 56 Clemente – Ex-Mt-Plus, 59 Mazeroski – Fair, 61 Gibson – VG, 64 Cepeda – Fair and Checklist – Good (mk).
1963 Fleer Baseball Complete Set With Checklist (67)
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