Lot # 1487: 1960 and 1961-1962 Fleer All-Time Greats Complete Set Pair (2 Sets, 233 Cards)

This collection includes the 1960 and 1961-1962 Fleer Baseball Greats sets, each featuring old-timers. These were extremely substantial and significant sets issued by Fleer, as it battled as best it could to be a part of the baseball-card market in a world in which Topps had exclusive contracts with virtually all modern stars. Ted Williams was the one current star under contract with Fleer, and he appears in the 1960 set (on the heels of the marketing of the 1959 Fleer Ted Williams set) as an added draw for kids. These sets introduced baseball history to many youngsters, and are favorites with vintage-card collectors to this day. 1) 1960 Fleer Baseball Complete Set (79): Condition is 9% Ex-Mt to Nr/Mt, 69% Vg-Ex to Ex, and 22% Gd to Vg (including one lesser). Keys: #3 Ruth (Vg-Ex+), 6 Johnson (Pr-Fr due to glue on reverse), 28 Gehrig (Vg-Ex), 42 Cobb (30/70 T/B, otherwise Nr/Mt-Mt), 62 Wagner (Vg-Ex+), and 72 Williams (Vg-Ex+). 2) 1961-1962 Fleer Baseball Complete Set (154): Condition is 19% Ex-Mt to Nr/Mt, 20% Vg-Ex to Ex, 4% Gd to Vg, and 57% lesser (all due to small, partially erased pencil marks on the left borders, otherwise averaging Ex in appearance). Keys: #1 Baker/Cobb/Wheat (Ex), 14 Cobb (partially erased pencil on left border, otherwise Ex), 31 Gehrig (partially erased pencil on left border, otherwise Ex), 75 Ruth (partially erased pencil on left border, otherwise Ex+), 89 Sisler/Traynor (Vg-Ex), and 152 Williams (Vg-Ex+). The early Fleer sets are among the most interesting and overlooked sets of the era. This is a very attractive pair of these popular sets. Total: 233 cards.