The 1989 Fleer baseball MVP card set featured cards highlighting the most valuable players from both the American League and National League in 1988. This was the third year Fleer produced special MVP cards after beginning the insert set in 1987. The cards in the 1989 offering provided stats and career highlights for Dodgers slugger Kirk Gibson and A’s pitching ace Dennis Eckersley.
Kirk Gibson, an outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, was coming off an MVP season in 1988 where he batted .290 with 25 home runs and 76 RBIs. Gibson played his entire 12-year MLB career with the Tigers and Dodgers from 1979-1990. His biggest highlight came in the 1988 World Series where despite injuries, Gibson famously hit a walk-off home run in Game 1 off Oakland reliever Dennis Eckersley to propel the Dodgers to a championship. The 1989 Fleer MVP card for Gibson featured a photo of him mid-swing with his distinctive batting stance. The card back details Gibson’s ’88 regular season stats and recounts his Series-winning homer.
For his dominant season closing out games for the Oakland Athletics, reliever Dennis Eckersley earned American League MVP honors in 1988. Eckersley, nicknamed “Eck”, went 8-1 that year with a league-best 45 saves and a miniscule 1.61 ERA over 73 innings pitched. The right-hander was in his first season with Oakland after being acquired in a trade from the Red Sox. Prior to 1988, Eckersley had mostly been a starting pitcher throughout his career. But converted to a full-time reliever by then A’s manager (and later GM) Tony La Russa, Eckersley flourished in his new role. The 1989 Fleer MVP card pays tribute to Eckersley’s Cy Young and MVP winning 1988 season, showing him mid-windup with stats from that standout year listed on back.
In addition to highlighting the ’88 MVPs, the 1989 Fleer issue also included cards for other award winners and All-Stars from that season. Randy Johnson, the American League Rookie of the Year playing for the Seattle Mariners, got an insert card. So too did Orel Hershiser, winner of the National League Cy Young Award as a Dodgers pitcher. Hershiser’s stats and career overview are chronicled on the 1989 Fleer insert card celebrating his breakout 1988 season. Hall of Famers Nolan Ryan and George Brett each received special All-Star cards as well for their selections to the midsummer classic.
Fleer’s printing quality and card stock in 1989 resulted in a durable set that has held up well over 30 years later. The MVP cards and other top performers got bordered treatment to distinguish them from the base issues. Finished with a glossy coating, the photos and stats are still crisp. For collectors of the late ’80s Fleer run and fans of the featured players, these special MVP and award winner cards represent an iconic snapshot of the 1988 baseball season. They rank among the most iconic and sought after insert cards Fleer produced during their decade-long run making baseball cards in the 1980s and early 90s before losing the MLB license.
While fleeting stars of the day like Rookies of the Year Johnson and Gregg Olson received cards, the focus remained squarely on immortal talents like Ryan and Brett still performing at high levels in the late stages of Hall of Fame careers. For Gibson and Eckersley, fresh off their MVP triumphs, these 1989 Fleer inserts enshrined their peak individual seasons and accomplishments for collectors and fans. Both players enjoyed many more strong seasons and successes after 1988. But the cards stand as a reminder of the magic they conjured up during one of the most memorable years either had in storied careers.
Today strong examples of the 1989 Fleer MVP cards for Gibson and Eckersley in near mint to mint condition can fetch $50-$100 apiece graded and encapsulated by services like PSA or BGS. That pricing puts them within reach of dedicated collectors of each player or fans of vintage ’80s Fleer cardboard. For the condition-sensitive investor, slabbed mint copies can represent a solid long term hold. Even well-centered but lower grade copies still command $20-$30 due to the iconic subject matter captured on these special 30-year old inserts celebrating two of baseball’s biggest stars in 1988. They remain among the crown jewels of any vintage Fleer collection and affirm the brand’s excellence in chronicling history through the tradition of baseball cards.
