The 1992 Fleer Ultra Baseball card series 2 set was released to high fanfare in the summer of 1992. The set was the sequel to the hugely popular inaugural Fleer Ultra set from 1991 that helped reinvigorate the baseball card industry. Like the 1991 set before it, the 1992 Fleer Ultra series 2 checklist contained highly sought after rookie cards and visual parallels that collectors craved.
The base set for 1992 Fleer Ultra series 2 consisted of 330 total cards packaged in factory-sealed wax packs. The checklist was led by superstar players like Barry Bonds, Cal Ripken Jr., Greg Maddux, Kirby Puckett, and Ken Griffey Jr. Among the many notable rookies included in the set were Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, Jason Varitek, and Paul Molitor in his final season. Molitor’s card holds extra significance as it marked the last baseball card produced featuring the future Hall of Famer before his retirement at the end of the 1992 season.
Aside from the 330 base cards, Fleer Ultra Series 2 also included several prestigious insert sets. The most notable were the Diamond Kings parallels – parallel glossy versions of select star players frames in a diamond shaped border. Some of the Diamond Kings featured included Bonds, Ripken, Griffey, Maddux, and Nolan Ryan in his final season. Another coveted insert was the All-Time Fan Favorites set which paid tribute to legendary retired players like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and others through commemorative Legacy cards.
One of the unique aspects of 1992 Ultra was the Franchise Favorites parallel set which focused on longtime stars within each MLB franchise. This included cards like Robin Yount’s Milwaukee Brewers Franchise Favorite and Pete Rose’s Cincinnati Reds Franchise Favorite. Other inserts included Traded sets highlighting stars who switched teams in 1992 along with additional Legacy parallels reproducing cards from vintage sets.
In terms of chase cards outside the base checklist, one of the true gems was the elusive Mike Piazza rookie card. Piazza had only made his debut late in the 1991 season, so 1992 marked his true rookie card year. His Fleer Ultra RC was one of the shortest prints in the entire 330 card set. Many speculate it was only produced in the range of 1 per case or less. As a result, Piazza’s RC quickly became one of the most valuable cards in the industry – especially after he went on to have a Hall of Fame caliber career.
Another extremely scarce parallel from 1992 Ultra series 2 was Tom Glavine’srefractor rookie card parallel. Refractors in general were a new and experimental parallel concept at the time produced through an exotic printing process. Only a tiny number of Glavine refractor RCs are believed to even exist today. Finding high grade examples in near mint or gem mint condition is considered one of the holy grails for collectors.
While stars like Bonds and Griffey remained hugely popular, interest in more obscure rookies and prospects helped 1992 Ultra series 2 retain strong collector momentum beyond the initial hype. Players like Darren Daulton, Tim Raines, Rickey Henderson and others saw strong early appreciation that has lasted decades. Even commons from the 330 card checklist hold value for set builders due to the overall scarcity of the products in the secondary market. Wax packs and unopened boxes from the original 1992 release rarely become available and sell for big money when they do.
Three decades later, 1992 Fleer Ultra series 2 is still regarded as one of the most iconic and influential modern sets in the history of the hobby. Rookie cards like Jeter, Giambi and Varitek remain highly collectible and accessible compared to stars of their era. The insert sets like Diamond Kings and Franchise Favorites also have a very strong following. Perhaps most importantly, Ultra popularized the “refractor” idea and helped usher in the modern premium parallel era that still drives interest today. Few checklists from the 1990s hold as much nostalgia and steep card values as the 330 cards and extras from Fleer’s 1992 Series 2 sequel. It was a set that truly had “something for everyone” and changed the baseball card collecting world.
The 1992 Fleer Ultra Baseball card series 2 set broke new ground with its inserts, parallels and short printed chase cards. Legends like Molitor bookended their careers alongside stars of the future in Jeter and Giambi. Elite talents like Bonds, Ripken and Maddux remained featured attractions. Through it all, Fleer Ultra series 2 told the stories and statistics of an exciting time in baseball through 330 classic cardboard treasures plus prestigious extras still hunted by collectors today. The allure and mystique of this pivotal 1992 checklist ensures it will continue captivating the hobby for generations to come.
