The 1990 Fleer baseball card set is considered one of the better issues from the late 1980s and early 1990s era. While not quite reaching the heights of the classic rookie card era in the 1950s and 1960s, the 1990 Fleer set featured several young stars who were in the early stages of potentially Hall of Fame careers. The set also contained veteran stars still producing at a high level. As a result, several 1990 Fleer cards stand out for their long term collectible and monetary value. Let’s take an in depth look at some of the most valuable 1990 Fleer baseball cards.
Perhaps the crown jewel of the 1990 Fleer set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Widely considered one of if not the best pure five-tool players of his generation, Griffey was already showing superstar potential in his first full major league season of 1990 with the Seattle Mariners. His rookie card, numbered 126 in the 660 card base set, skyrocketed in value in the late 1990s as Griffey’s Hall of Fame career developed. In top grade of near mint to mint condition, Griffey’s 1990 Fleer rookie currently ranks as one of the most expensive modern era cards, routinely fetching prices well above $1,000 and potentially above $10,000 in mint condition with perfect centering. The Griffey rookie is the obvious blue chip card from the 1990 Fleer set.
Another extremely valuable key rookie from 1990 Fleer is card number 224, featuring a young Gregg Jefferies of the New York Mets. While injuries derailed Jeffries career potential, his rookie card captured the excitement of his outstanding minor league numbers and huge upside. In mint condition, the Jefferies rookie has sold for over $500 in recent years due to its strong historical significance. The card depicts Jeffries with the Mets during a time of optimism for the franchise after their late 1980s World Series titles.
In addition to rookie star power, the 1990 Fleer set highlighted veteran talents still cranking out All-Star caliber numbers. A perfect example is card number 31, showcasing Oakland A’s slugger Jose Canseco. As one of the leaders of the legendary “Bash Brothers” tandem with Mark McGwire, Canseco was coming off a massive season in 1989 where he led the majors in home runs and RBI. This card features a sharp action image of Canseco taking a cut. In high grade it has achieved prices up to $150 due to Canseco’s iconic status from the late 1980s/early 1990s “Steroids Era”.
Another veteran star with a valuable card is number 151, Chicago White Sox outfielder Frank Thomas in the early days of his excellent career. Thomas would win back-to-back American League MVP awards in 1993-1994 and finish as one of the premier power hitters of the 1990s. High grade copies of his 1990 Fleer card as a young up-and-comer have sold for up to $75-$100 given Thomas’s Hall of Fame honors and prominent place in White Sox franchise history.
Switching focus to pitchers, card number 595 of Oakland A’s flamethrower Dave Stewart stands out. Stewart was arguably the premier starting pitcher in baseball during the late 1980s, winning 20 games three times and the World Series MVP in 1989. This card is also desirable as it pictures Stewart playing for one of the most exciting teams of that era, managed by future Hall of Famer Tony La Russa. Mint copies in the $50 range show the lasting popularity of Stewart and Athletics teams from that period.
Staying in Oakland, the 1990 Fleer set also pays tribute to one of the sport’s all-time greats with card number 537 featuring Rickey Henderson. As one of the most dynamic players to ever play, Henderson was still producing at an incredible level for the A’s in 1990 when this photo was taken. In top condition, the Henderson has sold for $35-$50 given his incomparable base-stealing prowess and leadoff hitting skills that made him a fan favorite for decades.
While not quite on par with the true vintage greats, the 1990 Fleer baseball card set occupies an important place in the hobby as one of the last major issues to feature the fledgling careers of future Hall of Famers like Ken Griffey Jr. alongside prolific veterans from the late 1980s/early 90s. As the years pass, keys cards like the rookies of Griffey, Jefferies and stars like Canseco, Thomas, Stewart and Henderson remain among the most historically significant and valuable from the set. Strong performance in high grade auctions reflect their lasting mainstream appeal among both vintage and modern collectors.
