Ep 11. Fleer Trading Cards

John Ratzenberger's Made in America is a show that focuses on American-made products and the hardworking men and women who create them. In season 1, episode 11, named Fleer Trading Cards, viewers get an inside look at the making of the iconic collectible trading cards.

The episode starts with John Ratzenberger visiting the Fleer Corporation headquarters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1849, Fleer is known for producing some of the most popular trading cards in history, including basketball, baseball, and football cards. Ratzenberger meets with the current Fleer president, who gives him a tour of the facility and shows him the different steps involved in creating the trading cards.

The first step in creating a trading card is to design the card itself. At Fleer, this is done by a team of graphic designers who work on computers to create the final product. Ratzenberger watches as the designers choose the colors, images, and text that will go on each card. Once the design is complete, it is sent to the printing department.

The printing department is where the cards are actually made. Ratzenberger sees the massive printing machines that create each card. These machines use advanced printing technology to ensure that each card is of the highest quality possible. The cards are printed on large sheets of paper, and then cut into individual cards using a special machine.

After the cards are cut, they are sent to the packing department. Here, workers sort the cards and pack them into sets. Ratzenberger meets with one of the workers, who tells him about the various sets that Fleer produces, such as the classic basketball card sets and the newer Marvel superhero sets.

The last step in creating the trading cards is to package them for sale. Ratzenberger watches as the workers carefully pack each set into a shrink-wrapped package. These packages are then sent to stores across the country, where they are sold to collectors and fans.

Throughout the episode, Ratzenberger emphasizes the importance of American-made products. He notes that Fleer has been producing trading cards in the US for over 160 years, and that the company takes pride in creating high-quality products that collectors love.

Overall, John Ratzenberger's Made in America season 1 episode 11 is an informative and exciting look into the world of Fleer trading cards. Viewers get a behind-the-scenes look at the complex process of creating these iconic collectibles, and learn about the hardworking men and women who make it all possible.