Overview: 2006 Fleer Tradition Baseball

Fleer Tradition is back in all its retro goodness. Appearing for the first time since Fleer's demise and subsequent purchase by the Upper Deck Company, 2006 Fleer Tradition Baseball goes for the nostalgia thing once again. Why reinvent the wheel, I guess? Or cut down on the number of products?

The base set is a managable but not terribly in-depth 200 cards. Each pack will include either a sepia or a black and white parallel.

Inserts include "Blue Chip Prospects" (25 cards), which highlights 2006's rookie class, and the aptly titled "Triple Crown Contendors" (15 cards). As the name suggests, "Grass Roots" (25 cards) looks at the game's poster children and Diamond Tributes (25 cards) does the same for its current legends. "Signature Tradition" (42 cards) is a somewhat non-descript autograph set. "Traditional Threads" (42 cards) gives memorabilia cards a retro look. Hobby boxes should yield either one memorabilia card or printing plate.

To celebrate his 18th birthday in the Majors, Ken Griffey Jr. has signed 99 of his "classic" 1989 Fleer rookies.

The following came from Upper Deck's press release:

"Batting cleanup for Fleer Tradition Baseball is the inclusion of the 1934 Goudey Greats inserts. “We have created a reprint insert set of the original 1934 Goudey set, each card will come with a certificate of authenticity verifying the content,” added Kohn."

Call me confused, but certificates of authenticity for reprints? 1934 Goudey Reprints fall one per box. For those who like the real thing, Upper Deck will also be inserting the occasional authentic 1934 Goudey card. Adding to the Goudey goodness is the mammoth 1934 Goudey Greats (100 cards) insert set that gives today's heroes a 1934 Goudey makeover.

Set Breakdown:

Base Set: 200 cards
Cards per pack: 10
Suggested Retail Price: $1.99

© Ryan Cracknell, Trader Crack's; August 31, 2006