A 1973 Fleer Mike Schmidt rookie?

metalmike

In 1968, Fleer was approached by the Major League Baseball Players Association, a recently organized players' union, about obtaining a group license to produce cards. The MLBPA was in a dispute with Topps over player contracts, and offered Fleer the exclusive rights to market cards of most players starting in 1973, when many of Topps's contracts would expire. Since this was so far in the future, Fleer declined the proposal. Who declined this? Topps may have sued and who knows what would have happened? Dumb move on Fleer's part as 5 years is nothing even in toyland.