The 1991 Fleer Ultra Baseball card set was one of the most notable releases of the early 1990s baseball card boom. Featuring sharp photography and creative design elements, the 1991 Fleer Ultra set helped popularize the increasingly flashy “Ultra” brand. While most sets from this era have seen significant decreases in value from the lofty heights of the early ’90s, 1991 Fleer Ultra remains a fan favorite and holds steady demand from collectors. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key aspects of this classic release and get a sense of what various cards from the set tend to sell for in today’s market based on player, grade, and other factors.
Released in June 1991 near the peak of the sports card craze, Fleer Ultra was the company’s attempt to create a flashy premium product that could compete with the popular Upper Deck and Stadium Club brands that were driving skyrocketing prices. The base set included 792 cards distributed in wax packs, boxes, and factory sets. Notable rookie cards included Chuck Knoblauch, Mark McGwire, Darren Daulton, and John Smoltz. Fleer pulled out all the creative stops with this release, utilizing action photos, die-cuts, embossed foil, and various parallel “Ultra Variations” featuring color treatments and numbering.
When it comes to general conditions and prices, here is a breakdown of the 1991 Fleer Ultra base set by grade:
Raw (Ungraded)/Poor 1-3: Common base cards in below average condition typically sell in the $1-3 range. Heavily played examples may go for under $1.
Fair 4-6: Lightly played base cards in fair condition average $3-5. More sought after rookie cards or stars could fetch $5-10.
Good 7-8: Nice, clean base cards suitable for a starter set sell for $5-10 on average. Rookies and stars may get $10-20.
Very Good 8.5: Crisp, high-end display quality base cards run $10-15. Top rookies and stars range from $20-50.
Near Mint 9: Pristine Near Mint examples of common base cards command $15-25. Premum condition of top stars could reach $100+.
Gem Mint 10: Pristine graded 10 gems of common players sell $25-50. True gem 10 rookies of stars could reach hundreds or low thousands depending on the player.
Now let’s take a closer look at estimated values for some key 1991 Fleer Ultra rookie and star cards across the different grade levels:
Chuck Knoblauch Rookie:
PSA 8 – $20-30
PSA 9 – $50-75
PSA 10 – $150-250
Mark McGwire Rookie:
PSA 8 – $30-50
PSA 9 – $75-150
PSA 10 – $300-600
Darren Daulton Rookie:
PSA 8 – $15-25
PSA 9 – $30-50
PSA 10 – $100-200
John Smoltz Rookie:
PSA 8 – $15-25
PSA 9 – $30-50
PSA 10 – $100-250
Ken Griffey Jr.:
PSA 8 – $15-25
PSA 9 – $30-50
PSA 10 – $100-250
Nolan Ryan:
PSA 8 – $10-15
PSA 9 – $20-30
PSA 10 – $75-150
Ryne Sandberg:
PSA 8 – $10-15
PSA 9 – $15-25
PSA 10 – $50-100
As you can see, 1991 Fleer Ultra remains a very collectible and desirable set from the junk wax era, especially for the star rookies it featured. While prices have come down significantly from the speculated heights of the early ’90s, condition-sensitive stars and key rookies can still hold meaningful value – from $20-50 in mid-grades up to hundreds or more for true pristine specimens. The flashy photography, creative Ultra parallels, and nostalgia ensure this set stays popular with collectors three decades later.
