The 1989 Fleer baseball card set was released during an exciting year in baseball history. The Oakland A’s had won the 1988 World Series, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games. Looking ahead to the 1989 season, fans were eager to see if the A’s could repeat as champs. Fleer’s 1989 card checklist reflected the sport at that moment in time.
The base card set totaled 792 cards featuring current major league players and managers. Some notable rookies included Eric Davis, Jose Canseco, Barry Larkin, and Ken Griffey Jr. For veteran collectors, it was a chance to add cards of aging Hall of Famers like Nolan Ryan, Steve Carlton, and Reggie Jackson. The photography and designs were cleaner and sharper than previous Fleer issues. Card stock was also improved, featuring a glossier finish that held up better over time.
The true stars of the 1989 Fleer checklist were the rookie and insert cards. Ken Griffey Jr’s rookie became one of the most iconic and valuable baseball cards ever made due to his stellar career. His smooth swing and effortless power made him a fan favorite for decades. Despite great things still ahead, his rookie card already hinted at baseball dominance to come.
Jose Canseco smashed 40+ home runs in his rookie season of 1986, establishing him as one of the first true “sluggers” in baseball’s steroid era. His powerful swing and muscular physique were perfectly captured in his 1989 Fleer RC. Though his bat would cool off in later years, at the time Canseco looked poised to be one of the game’s top sluggers for ages.
Barry Larkin had just broken into the majors in 1988 with the Cincinnati Reds. His 1989 Fleer rookie card showed flashes of his future all-star excellence at shortstop, with slick glovework and a sweet batting stroke. He’d go on to win the 1995 NL MVP and earn induction into the Hall of Fame. His RC from this set remains a Reds favorite.
Eric Davis was also entering his third big league campaign in 1989, having bounced between the Reds and Orioles to start his career. His athleticism, cannon arm, and burgeoning power made him look like a future star in the making on his ’89 Fleer RC. Injuries would hamper his career potential but that rookie hinted at the superstar level he looked destined to reach.
The inserts in 1989 Fleer were also standouts. The “Diamond Kings” parallel insert set featuredfoil variations of stars on elegant 3D diamond-pattern cards. The “Diamond Anniversary” subset commemorated famous milestones from baseball history with vintage photography on a diamond anniverary logo design. Both made for attractive chase cards amidst the base checklist.
In total, 1989 Fleer baseball cards offered collectors a fun and memorable set from the game’s late 1980s era. Rookies like Griffey, Canseco, Larkin and Davis captured the next generation of talent emerging. Veterans like Carlton, Ryan, and Jackson reminded of storied past heroes. With improved production and memorable photography, it was an issue that held up very well over time for collectors of all levels. The 1989 Fleer baseball card checklist remains a set fans look back on fondly from that exciting moment in MLB history.
