The 1991 Leaf Baseball card set was the second series issued by Leaf that year. It followed the successful Series 1 release earlier in 1991 which featured stars like Ryne Sandberg, Ozzie Smith, and Nolan Ryan. For Series 2, Leaf opted to focus on rising young stars and fan favorites in an effort to entice collectors.
The set totaled 132 cards and included rookie cards for players who would go on to have solid MLB careers like Derek Jeter, Jeff Bagwell, Kenny Lofton, and others. The checklist was rounded out by veteran stars, players on contending teams, and popular future Hall of Famers. Unlike some other brands at the time, Leaf prided itself on including cards for almost every active player.
Some of the bigger named included on the 1991 Leaf Baseball Series 2 checklist were:
Andy Benes (Card #1) – The Cardinals right-hander was in his third season and coming off an All-Star appearance. He posted a career-high 16 wins in 1991.
Jeff Bagwell (Card #3) – Bagwell’s rookie card, depicting him as a member of the Boston Red Sox organization before being traded to Houston. He would win the 1991 ROY award.
Denny Neagle (Card #5) – The tall lefty was in his second season with the Pirates and had breakout potential. He became a 20-game winner later in his career.
Gregg Olson (Card #9) – The Orioles’ flame-throwing closer led the league with 45 saves in 1990 and continued dominating hitters in 1991.
Willie McGee (Card #14) – A perennial All-Star and 1985 NL MVP, McGee was still a productive outfielder for the 1990 World Series Champion Reds.
David Cone (Card #19) – After several strong seasons with the Mets, Cone was dealt to Toronto where he shined as the #2 starter behind Jack Morris.
Will Clark (Card #22) – “Thrill” continued raking for Barry Bonds and the Giants, earning his 5th consecutive All-Star nod in 1991.
Robin Ventura (Card #25) – A defensive whiz at third base, Ventura settled in as the future cornerstone of the White Sox after his rookie campaign.
Gary Carter (Card #29) – “The Kid” was in the final season of his Hall of Fame career, still providing veteran leadership for a young Expos squad.
Darren Daulton (Card #39) – Entering his prime as Philadelphia’s starting catcher, Daulton brought toughness behind the plate for the Phillies.
Tim Raines (Card #47) – Injuries slowed down “Rock” over the previous two seasons but he was still a threat atop Montreal’s lineup when healthy.
Lee Smith (Card #52) – One of the game’s all-time great closers, Smith was still racking up saves for the Red Sox bullpen into his late 30s.
Orel Hershiser (Card #62) – After injuries limited his 1990 season, Hershiser returned to being an ace for the defending champs though arm issues were mounting.
Ken Griffey Jr. (Card #65) – Junior’s spectacular rookie campaign made him an instant star, though injuries would slow his progression over the next few years.
Cal Ripken Jr. (Card #73) – The Iron Man’s consecutive games played streak was up to 1,424 games and counting as he led the Orioles’ lineup.
Ruben Sierra (Card #81) – One of the most feared sluggers in the AL, Sierra smacked 31 homers for the Rangers in 1991.
Dennis Eckersley (Card #86) – At age 36, Eck was still the dominant force closing out games for the A’s 1990 World Series champions.
Tom Glavine (Card #88) – The young lefty was coming into his own as Atlanta’s ace, winning 20 games for the first time in 1991.
Juan Gonzalez (Card #98) – Gonzo began showing the immense power that would make him a two-time AL MVP, belting 34 homers in 1991.
John Smoltz (Card #106) – Still learning as a starter, Smoltz possessed the power arm and competitive fire that would fuel his HOF career.
Fred McGriff (Card #114) – “Crime Dog” provided consistent production in the middle of Atlanta’s lineup, bashing 25 homers and 95 RBI in 1991.
Barry Larkin (Card #121) – Already an All-Star and Gold Glover, Larkin was blossoming into a superstar shortstop for the Reds.
Kirby Puckett (Card #124) – “Puck” was in his prime as Minnesota’s smiling sparkplug, still collecting 200 hits despite battling injuries.
In addition to future Hall of Famers and established stars, the 1991 Leaf Baseball Series 2 checklist included several promising rookies:
Derek Jeter (Card #3) – Still at the Class A level, Jeter’s talents were obvious and his legendary Yankees career was just beginning.
Jeff Bagwell (Card #3) – Bagwell showed prodigious power in his 1990 cup of coffee and was poised for a ROY campaign with Houston.
Kenny Lofton (Card #11) – Lofton hit .301 in his first season split between Houston and Cleveland, introducing his blazing speed to MLB.
Edgar Martinez (Card #41) – The sweet-swinging designated hitter began to blossom in his first extended shot with the Mariners.
Moises Alou (Card #69) – The son of pitcher Felipe Alou, Moises broke out with 17 homers as Houston’s right fielder in ’91.
Frank Castillo (Card #87) – At just 19 years old, the hard-throwing righty made his Reds debut and brought mid-90s heat.
Ramon Martinez (Card #93) – The Dodgers called up Ramon’s live fastball in the second half and he showed why he was a top prospect.
Todd Helton (Card #126) – Still a teenager in the minors, Helton was developing into a superstar first baseman in the Rockies system.
Leaf did an excellent job diversifying the 1991 Series 2 checklist with a mix of young stars on the rise alongside familiar veterans nearing the end of their careers. For collectors, it offered rookie cards and lesser produced Red Sox/Giants issue cards that increased the demand. The 132 card checklist proved to be a successful follow up to Leaf’s first baseball release of 1991 and captured the momentum of many future MLB standouts.
