The 1990 Fleer Update baseball card set was released as the third series for the 1990 Fleer brand. Fleer had produced two main baseball sets already that year, but the Update set was released in September to feature any players who may have been traded or called up since the earlier sets. As such, the 1990 Fleer Update checklist showcases several key players in new uniforms from midseason trades and promotions.
The set contains 132 total cards and features a completely different design philosophy from the main 1990 Fleer issues. Gone are the classic team logo designs of the first two sets, replaced by vertical player portraits on a colored background without any team insignia. The simplicity allowed Fleer to getting emerging star rookies and newly acquired veterans in their new uniforms into fans’ hands quickly.
Some of the most notable additions to teams featured in the 1990 Fleer Update included:
Roberto Alomar, acquired by the Padres in a July trade with the Blue Jays. Alomar would go on to win Rookie of the Year honors.
Ruben Sierra, called up by the Rangers in August after a monster minor league season. Sierra hit .294 in his cup of coffee.
Dante Bichette, also a late season call up by the Rangers after dominating in the minors. Bichette hit .363 in 37 games.
Jeff Bagwell, who made his MLB debut with the Red Sox in late September after tearing up Triple-A. Bagwell went on to be traded to the Astros.
Gregg Jefferies, promoted by the Mets in September and hit .323 in 40 games as a 21-year old. He was one of the premier prospects in baseball.
Eric Anthony, acquired by the Giants in a trade with the Expos in August. Anthony provided a boost for the Giants stretch run.
Steve Sax, who was dealt from the Dodgers to the Yankees in August. Sax helped solidify the Yankee infield for their playoff push.
Ellis Burks, swapped from the Red Sox to the Rockies in August. Burks provided early offense for the expansion Rockies.
Pete Incaviglia, claimed off waivers by the Twins in September after falling out of favor in Texas. Incaviglia hit .321 in 23 games for Minnesota.
Tom Brunansky, another September call up, this time by the Reds. Brunansky blasted 4 homers in 22 games for Cincinnati.
While not all of these players cemented long term roles with their new clubs, the 1990 Fleer Update did a nice job highlighting some of the midseason moves and promotions that shook up rosters. For collectors, it was a fun annual set that captured the season in its closing months.
Some of the true rookie cards featured in the set included Gary Sheffield, Gregg Olson, Bob Pavlik, and Eric Yelding. Update veterans like Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, and Jack Morris were also included. The simple but colorful design incorporated all the major league teams. Checklists were included on the backs of selected cards.
While production numbers for the 1990 Fleer Update were slightly lower than the main sets, it has become a popular and fairly affordable vintage series for collectors today. Prices range from under $1 for common players to $10-20 for the top rookies. The key cards like Alomar, Bagwell, Jefferies, and Sheffield can exceed $100 in high grades. For anyone building MLB rosters from the late 1980s and early 1990s, the 1990 Fleer Update is an integral inclusion.
The 1990 Fleer Update baseball card set served as a real-time glimpse of the changing MLB landscape in the season’s final months. By spotlighting midseason trades and call ups of future stars, it provided useful context beyond the base rosters featured in the primary issues. Both for collectors at the time and today, it succeeds as a fun annual supplemental set that further chronicled the 1990 baseball season.
