The Harlem Globetrotters are one of basketball’s greatest icons. Even Michael Jordan never got a chance to pair up with Scooby-Doo. And while there are some Harlem Globetrotters trading cards, there aren’t a lot. The 1992 Comic Images set might be the most comprehensive from a historical perspective, but there’s no question that 1971-72 Fleer Harlem Globetrotters is the most fun and popular.
The set comes with 84 cards. They’re all posed studio shots of then-current players. The photos highlight the fun and whimsy that are team trademarks. Plenty of stills showcase trick shots and props. Several of the 1971-72 Fleer Harlem Globetrotters basketball cards include multiple players.
Like traditional basketball cards, backs include players vitals and background bios. The end result is a set that illustrates not only the team, but the individuals that made them icons.
Besides the base set, there’s also a team emblem sticker that was inserted in every pack. Given it’s plentiful supply compared to individual cards, it’s not worth much.
1971-72 Fleer Harlem Globetrotters is somewhat of an overlooked set today, which is a shame because it’s so much fun. It straddles the fence between being basketball cards, at least from a professional standpoint, or entertainment cards.
There is something of a divide over whether it’s a 1971 or 1972 set as the backs do not list one in the copyright.
Fleer released a similar but smaller set as a premium for Cocoa Puffs cereal. The images for the set are the same, but the cereal is advertised on the backs of them, so it’s not hard to tell between the two releases.
1971-72 Fleer Harlem Globetrotters Checklist
Shop for 1971-72 Fleer Harlem Globetrotters packs and boxes on eBay.
Base Set
84 cards.
1 Bob “Showboat” Hall
2 Bob “Showboat” Hall
3 Bob “Showboat” Hall
4 Pablo “Pabs” Robertson
5 Pablo “Pabs” Robertson
6 Pablo “Pabs” Robertson
7 Pablo “Pabs” Robertson
8 Pablo “Pabs” Robertson
9 Meadowlark Lemon
10 Meadowlark Lemon
11 Meadowlark Lemon
12 Meadowlark Lemon
13 Meadowlark Lemon
14 Meadowlark Lemon
15 Meadowlark Lemon
16 Meadowlark Lemon
17 Meadowlark Lemon
18 Curley, Meadowlark and Mel
19 Football Play
20 Meadowlark Lemon
21 Hubert “Geese” Ausbie
22 Hubert “Geese” Ausbie
23 Hubert “Geese” Ausbie
24 Hubert “Geese” Ausbie
25 Hubert “Geese” Ausbie
26 Ausbie and Neal
27 Freddy “Curly” Neal
28 Freddy “Curly” Neal
29 Freddy “Curly” Neal
30 Mel Davis and “Curly” Neal
31 Freddy “Curly” Neal
32 Freddy “Curly” Neal
33 Mel Davis
34 Mel Davis
35 Mel Davis
36 Mel Davis
37 Mel Davis and Bill Meggett
38 Mel Davis
39 Bobby Joe Mason
40 Bobby Joe Mason
41 Bobby Joe Mason
42 Bobby Joe Mason
43 Bobby Joe Mason
44 Bobby Joe Mason
45 Clarence Smith
46 Clarence Smith
47 Clarence Smith
48 Clarence Smith
49 Jerry Venable
50 Frank Stephens
51 Frank Stephens
52 Frank Stephens
53 Frank Stephens
54 Theodis Ray Lee
55 Theodis Ray Lee
56 Jerry Venable
57 Doug Hines
58 Doug Hines
59 Bill Maggett
60 Bill Maggett
61 Vincent White
62 Vincent White
63 Pablo and “Showboat”
64 Meadowlark, Neal and Ausbie
65 Curley Neal, Quarterback
66 Ausbie, Meadowlark, and Neal
67 Neal and Meadowlark
68 Football Routine
69 Meadowlark to Neal to Ausbie
70 Meadowlark is Safe at the Plate!
71 1970-71 Highlights
72 1970-71 Highlights
73 Bobby Hunter
74 Bobby Hunter
75 Bobby Hunter
76 Bobby Hunter
77 Bobby Hunter
78 Jackie Jackson
79 Jackie Jackson
80 Jackie Jackson
81 Jackie Jackson
82 The Globetrotters
83 The Globetrotters
84 Dallas Thornton
Stickers
1 card, inserted one per pack.
Harlem Globetrotters Logo
