Card back countdown: #34 - 1963 Fleer

Before I get to the countdown, I wanted to mention a blog phenomenon that I find cool and humbling at the same time.

The much-loved and much-read blog site, UniWatch, linked to Night Owl Cards on Wednesday. While posting an interview with former major leaguer Jerry Reuss, Paul Lukas of ESPN fame linked to my own Jerry Reuss post. I now might have to rename my blog, "a baseball card site."

The measly 200-plus visits that I receive on an average day was eclipsed in a two-hour period. NOC received 800 visits Wednesday and 938 page views. And that, faithful readers, is the difference between the blog big boys and some dog-and-pony baseball card blog. But it's also cool.

Anyway, back to the countdown.

The latest card back countdown selection begins a short run of card backs that may not impress by today's standards, but are here anyway because I consider them iconic.

I do not have any 1963 Fleer cards. I just have the cheap Fleer Tradition imitation from a few years ago.

So, I'm showing just this one card here and hope you can appreciate its uniqueness.

For me, 1963 Fleer's card back is one of the most recognizable baseball card backs that there is. Sure, it's simple as hell, with not a lot to offer, but the simplicity is its selling point.

It is arranged in such a way that everything is easy to find and easy to read. Instant information from a card produced during a non-instant age.

But for me, the two best parts of the '63 Fleer card back are:

1. The color of the border and some of the lettering
2. The crossed bats behind the card number

The avocado color scheme instantly sums up the '60s. If you want something to say "1960s," spray it in avocado green. There are two other card backs in this countdown that also feature this color.

But the best part is the crossed bats. I don't know what it is. Maybe it's the design. Maybe it's the daringness of featuring a card number smack in the middle of the card. But it works.

Without a doubt, I will have to get some '63 Fleer cards. Sooner rather than later. And it will be for the card backs as much as the card fronts.

Best of the set:

I've got to get a freakin' card first. No best of the set yet.

(previous card back countdown selections):

50. 1978 SSPC Yankees Yearbook
49. 1993 Score
48. 1999 Skybox Thunder
47. 2000 Upper Deck
46. 1999 Skybox Premium
45. 1953 Johnston Cookies Braves
44. 1995 Topps
43. 1997 Fleer
42. 1992 Pinnacle
41. 1989 Bowman
40. 1977 Kellogg's
39. 2004 Topps
38. 2004 Topps Total
37. 1992 Topps
36. 1992 Donruss
35. 2008 Upper Deck Documentary