The 1992 Fleer Ultra baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the height of the baseball card boom in the early 1990s. Packaged as “Ultra Premium” cards, the 1992 Fleer Ultra set contained 330 total cards and featured some of the biggest stars and rookies in baseball at the time. While the overall production numbers were massive compared to older sets, strong nostalgia and the prominence of stars featured still give many of the 1992 Fleer Ultra cards substantial value today for collectors. Here is an in-depth look at some of the most valuable and desirable cards from the 1992 Fleer Ultra baseball set.
Ken Griffey Jr. ROOKIE (#1) – Widely considered the crown jewel of the 1992 Fleer Ultra set, Griffey’s rookie card is the obvious top selection. Often dubbed the “Superman” card due to its iconic photo, Griffey’s rookie remains extremely popular and retains a high value given his legendary career. Near mint, unworn copies of Griffey’s rookie in a PSA/BGS 9-10 grade routinely sell for $4,000-6,000 dollars or more at auction. Even well-kept raw copies can fetch over $1,000.
Chipper Jones ROOKIE (#210) – As one of the top young stars and future Hall of Famer from the 1990s, Chipper Jones’ rookie is a highly coveted card in the 1992 Ultra set. PSA 9-10 mint copies typically sell for $800-1,500, with raw nm-mt copies bringing $300-800 depending on condition. Like Griffey, Chipper’s rookie maintains strong demand.
Frank Thomas (#90) – “The Big Hurt” was coming into his own as one of baseball’s best hitters in 1992. His somewhat understated Ultra design makes his common ’92 card still appeal to collectors today. PSA 9s go for $250-500, with PSA 10s reaching up to $1,000. Raw near mint copies sell in the $50-150 range.
John Smoltz (#132) – Though not technically a rookie card, Smoltz’s card from his breakout Cy Young season is highly sought after in the set. PSA 9s sell in the $150-250 range, while PSA 10 Gem Mint copies can reach $350-500. Raw near mint copies sell for $50-100.
Derek Jeter ROOKIE (#229) – While not in the same league of value as Griffey or Jones, Jeter’s rookie from his championship-filled career continues to hold high demand. PSA 9s sell for $150-250, with a PSA 10 potentially reaching up to $400-500. Raw near mint copies are $50-150 depending on condition.
Other cards that frequently receive attention from collectors in the 1992 Ultra set include Barry Bonds (#42), Ken Caminiti ROOKIE (#110), Cal Ripken Jr. (#80), Tom Glavine (#234), and Don Mattingly (#56). While not rookies, each of these stars sees consistent collector interest given their careers and status as ‘90s icons.
Beyond the star players, there are also several seldomly pulled parallel and short-printed variations that hold tremendous rarity and value within the set. The Derek Jeter “Uniform Change” parallel (#229U) where he appears in a Yankees uniform instead of the Mariners, and the Greg Maddux SP variation (#62SP) where his position is listed as pitcher instead of third base are just a couple examples. High-grade examples routinely sell for well over $1,000 thanks to their scarcity within the set.
While production numbers were huge overall for the 1992 Fleer Ultra baseball set during the card boom era, strong nostalgia and legendary careers of featured rookies like Ken Griffey Jr. and Chipper Jones still make their cards amongst the most coveted and valuable in the entire set several decades later. Keys, parallels and short prints can offer tremendous rarity and value as well. The 1992 Ultra set remains an extremely popular and collectible vintage release that many continue to chase cards from to this day.
