1983 was a milestone year for the Fleer trading card company as they released their second ever series of baseball cards. The 1983 Fleer baseball card set would feature the same size and design as in 1982 but would take Fleer card collecting to new heights with the inclusion of rookie cards for future Hall of Famers like Cal Ripken Jr., Wade Boggs, Dwight Gooden, and Kirby Puckett. While the plain white borders and team logo focus didn’t have the intricate designs of Topps, the 1983 Fleer cards signified a rise in competition that captured the attention of the growing baseball card collecting hobby. Let’s take a deeper look at what makes the 1983 Fleer set so desirable and explore the price guide for the top stars and rookies from that year.
The entire 1983 Fleer baseball card set contains 381 total cards with multi-player cards making up the bulk of the checklist. Some of the standout star cards that can still fetch a hefty price today include Ryne Sandberg’s card which has a near mint to mint condition value of around $50-75. Another one of the best cards is Mike Schmidt’s which graders near mint to mint is valued at $30-50. Nolan Ryan, whose Hall of Fame career was in full swing, has a card worth $20-35 NM-MT. While not the biggest stars, Juan Beniquez, Larry Bowa, and Manny Trillo as Phillies have higher values than normal due to the team success in the early 80s and strong Philly collector base. Their cards range from $10-25 depending on condition.
Moving into the rookie cards, this is where 1983 Fleer really starts to heat up in value and collector interest. Cal Ripken Jr’s iconic rookie is one of the most sought after cards in the entire set. In near mint to mint condition expect to pay between $150-250 depending on the market. Another absolute gem is Wade Boggs’ rookie which has an NM-MT value of $100-150. Kirby Puckett’s rookie which shows him smiling in a Twins uniform consistently sells for $75-125 in top shelves. But perhaps the most hyped rookie from 1983 Fleer is Dwight Gooden’s. As one of the best pitchers of the 1980s, his rookie is a true grail card for many collectors. In pristine condition, an NM-MT Gooden rookie will likely sell for $200-300 or higher through an action.
While stars and rookies tend to drive the highest prices, there are also several other 1983 Fleer cards that perform well. One is the “Traded” cards – featuring players who had switched teams since the previous season. Some examples include Bob Horner to the Braves for $15-30 NM-MT, Don Baylor to the Angels for $10-20 NM-MT. Another category is the short printed cards. It’s believed Fleer short printed cards 132-160 which included players like Carmelo Martinez, Manny Sarmiento, and Rick Cerone. High grades of these tend to trade hands for $20-40 due to the challenge of locating the cards. Multi-player cards staring Hall of Famers like the Dodgers (featuring Steve Garvey and Pedro Guerrero) go for $10-25 while the Expos (featuring Tim Raines and Andre Dawson) bring $15-30 depending on condition.
When exploring a price guide for the entire 1983 Fleer baseball set, there are several factors collectors look at to determine estimated value. Of course, near mint to mint condition will always demand the highest prices. But beyond condition, collectors also look at star power, rookie pedigree, team affiliation, and short print status which canbump value on certain cards. The 1983 Fleer set just gets more valuable as the years pass since production was far lower than Topps sets of the same era. For dedicated collectors, building a high grade ’83 Fleer set complete with the rookies of Ripken, Boggs, Puckett and Gooden is the ultimate prize. While it may take time and patience to acquire the truly valuable rookie gems, the 1983 Fleer release is surely one of the best investments in the hobby.
