1995 Fleer Extra Bases Prototype Game Cards
#P16 and the NNO "Gamebreaker" Card

Tough prototype "game" card. Never issued.

In 1995 the then-popular role/game-playing hobby was successfully being marketed by companies like Wizards Of The Coast (Magic The Gathering) and Topps (Pokemon). Fleer's creative team, trying to capitalize in the interest, attempted to create their own card playing games. However, despite best efforts, the project was not green-lighted and never put into production.

Adopting the same dimensions as their 1994 Extra Bases issue was likely a marketing mistake*. The unusually large, non-traditional card shape likely had an effect on their perceived marketability. (However, it should be noted that this oversized design was later successfully adopted by the non-sports card industry, who marketed them to their audience as so-called "widescreen" cards)

Lackluster interest for the general release '94 Extra Bases issue + declining interest in the role playing/gamer hobby (due to advances in video game technology) probably led to this project's demise; leaving only these prototypes for the hobby to collect. Estimates put the number between 50-100 complete sets. However, it's important to note that no accurate records were kept and estimates are based on inference by specialists.


Collector's Note: "Terry Smith Creations" was hired as the game's designer. Note the use of the TSC Logo on the reverse side of the card (lower left corner). Terry Smith was an artist associated with Fleer for many years. He also created the "art card" inserts for the 1993 Diamond Marks Bookmarkers.

* In the same year (1995) rival company Donruss attempted to market a similar role-playing card game using standard card sizes, but it also failed to find an audience. I mention it in case it sounds like I'm saying: "Had Fleer just made their game cards to standard dimensions their Gamebreaker line would have found a home in our hobby". I don't believe that at all. My point is that the creative team's use of the oversized 'Extra Bases' issue likely contributed to Fleer's decision to end the project.

A complete set is made up of 24 Player cards, 2 Info cards, 1 "Gamebreaker" card, and the Introduction/Instruction/Design Notes sheets (8-1/2"W x 11"H). The complete checklist for this rare prototype issue**:

P1 - Tony Gwynn, San Diego Padres P10 - Tom Glavine, Atlanta Braves P19 - Robin Ventura, Chicago White Sox
P2 - Lenny Dykstra, Philadelphia Phillies P11 - Doug Drabek, Houston Astros P20 - Ivan Rodriguez, Texas Rangers
P3 - Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants P12 - Deion Sanders, Cincinnati Reds P21 - Roger Clemens, Boston Red Sox
P4 - Matt Williams, San Francisco Giants P13 - Joe Carter, Toronto Blue Jays P22 - Jimmy Key, New York Mets (Pictured as a Yankee)
P5 - Jeff Bagwell, Houston Astros P14 - Ken Griffey Jr, Seattle Mariners P23 - Randy Johnson, Seattle Mariners
P6 - Craig Biggio, Houston Astros P15 - Juan Gonzalez, Texas Rangers P24 - Kirby Puckett, Minnesota Twins
P7 - Barry Larkin, Cincinnati Reds P16 - Frank Thomas, Chicago White Sox 2 Info Cards - "Game Rules" and "How-To-Play".
P8 - Mike Piazza, Los Angeles Dodgers P17 - Roberto Alomar, Toronto Blue Jays 1 NNO Frank Thomas "Gamebreaker" Card (pictured below) - Used to settle disputes during game play.
P9 - Greg Maddux, Atlanta Braves P18 - Cal Ripken Jr, Baltimore Orioles Instructional Sheets/Design Notes - I only have the xerox copies, but they showcase images of many of the cards they had already produced - including those for Basketball, Football and Hockey.

**My thanks to MrMopar (eBay ID) for providing the complete checklist and, more importantly, for allowing me to purchase the Frank Thomas "Gamebreaker/Traded" card seen above.

Final Collector's Note: Extra Bases represented only the 'Baseball' variation of the game. Fleer & Terry Smith also created prototypes for Basketball/Jam Session, Football/Game Day and Hockey/Power Play. All are considered extremely rare to obtain today.

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