2013 Fleer Retro

File:2013-Upper-Deck-Fleer-Retro-Precious-Metal-Gems-Mike-Trout-Promo.jpg

2013 Fleer Retro Precious Metal Gems Industry Summit #LV1 Mike Trout (green) /100

Description

For the 2013 Las Vegas Industry Summit, Upper Deck -- which had purchased the rights to the Fleer brand name in 2005 -- distributed a Mike Trout promo card for a proposed MLBPA-licensed baseball set.

2013 Fleer Retro Baseball was to have been released in the Summer of 2013. Although Upper Deck had lost their MLB Properties license in 2009, UD still retained their MLBPA license. The plan for Fleer Retro was to issue cards of current Major League players, but in the style of various 1990s Fleer baseball sets.

To promote 2013 Fleer Retro Baseball, Upper Deck produced a Mike Trout promo card done in the style of the 1997-98 Skybox Metal Precious Metal Gems parallel set. 160 Trout cards were printed: 100 in Red, 50 in Blue, and 10 in Emerald Green, all serial-numbered, and randomly inserted into promotional packs distributed to attendees who were also members of Upper Deck's Certified Diamond Dealer network.

As part of the terms of a lawsuit with MLB Properties after the release of the unlicensed 2010 Upper Deck, UD agreed to never again produce cards featuring players in MLB uniforms even if those uniforms had their MLB trademarks removed. In Upper Deck's Las Vegas Industry Summit presentation promoting the set, 2013 Fleer Retro was to feature players in generic uniforms, not in the color scheme of their current Major League team.

Feedback from Industry Summit attendees, and The Hobby at large, caused Upper Deck to cancel 2013 Fleer Retro along with 2013 Sweet Spot Classic, which was also announced at the Summit.

As of the Summer of 2015, the Mike Trout Precious Metal Gems Industry Summit promo cards remain the last licensed baseball cards Upper Deck has produced.

Distribution

Randomly inserted into promo packs distributed to Upper Deck Certified Diamond Dealers who attended the 2013 Las Vegas Industry Summit.

Checklist

LV1 Mike Trout (Red) 100 LV1 Mike Trout (Blue) 50 LV1 Mike Trout (Emerald) 10