The 1993 Fleer Ultra baseball set showcased some of the biggest names in baseball at the time through modern photography and cutting edge designs. While not the most famous or widely produced set, it contained several highly sought after rookie and star player cards that have made it one of the more valuable issues from the early 90s. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key 1993 Fleer Ultra cardboard that fetch a high price today.
Perhaps the most well known gem from the set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Griffey was already establishing himself as a premiere outfielder and living up to the lofty expectations that come with being the first overall pick in the 1987 draft. His smooth left-handed swing and flashy defensive skills were must-see TV. Not surprisingly, collectors eagerly snapped up his rookie card from Fleer Ultra. Today, in near mint condition a Griffey Jr. RC can sell for over $400. Getting one in mint condition or higher graded gives you a card worth $1000 or more.
Another massive name whose rookie appeared in 1993 Fleer Ultra is Frank Thomas. “The Big Hurt” smashed 31 home runs and drove in 101 runs in 1992, winning the AL Rookie of the Year award. His powerful stance and no-nonsense approach at the plate immediately gave him superstar status. Like Griffey, Thomas’ Fleer Ultra RC has steadily increased in value over time. A PSA 10 gem mint example would go for around $600-700 depending on demand. Even in a PSA 8 very fine condition a Thomas rookie can still fetch $150.
For Dodger fans and collectors, one of the most desirable 1993 Fleer Ultra cards is Eric Karros’ rookie. As a hometown hero for Los Angeles, Karros went on to play 12 seasons with the Dodgers and left his mark on the franchise record books. Solid production and cult following have made his rookie among the pricier Dodgers cards from the 90s. A PSA 10 Karros RC can sell between $200-250 on auction sites. Expect to pay around $80-100 for high grade copies in lesser condition like PSA 8.
Moises Alou also debuted his skills to collectors in 1993 Fleer Ultra. The son of MLB legend Felipe Alou, Moises eventually smashed over 280 career home runs while becoming a prolific hitter and sure-handed outfielder. His Toronto Blue Jays tenure and later success with the Astros have kept interest high in his rookie card to this day. Mint condition Alou rookies in a PSA 10 holder have topped $150 at auction. More played copies in the PSA 8-9 range can cost $50-75 based on centering and edges.
The ’93 Fleer Ultra set also featured star veterans who were in their baseball primes at the time like Barry Bonds, Cal Ripken Jr., and Greg Maddux. Bonds was already one of the game’s most feared sluggers and his Ultra card often fetches $40-50 even in lower grades. Meanwhile, the consistent brilliance of Ripken and Maddux has maintained strong prices for their featured cards as well over the years. An on-card auto of either future Hall of Famer would easily run $300-400.
Perhaps the rarest pull from 1993 Fleer Ultra remains the elusive Ken Griffey Jr. photo negative proof card. Only a tiny handful are known to exist as manufacturer error pulled directly from the printing plates. Considered one of the true untouchable grails for any Griffey collector, just one 9f these proofs changing hands in recent years sold at auction for a staggering $25,300. Even at that high price, it still holds the record as the most valuable 1993 Fleer Ultra card on the market.
In addition to star rookie cards, autographed editions have also fueled interest in 1993 Fleer Ultra. Finding signed copies of the set’s biggest names like Frank Thomas, Barry Bonds or Greg Maddux automatically lifts the card’s value substantially. Even relatively affordable players like Juan Gonzalez, Mo Vaughn or David Justice see a nice bump once adding an authentic auto. Low production short prints can also make the right card a valuable and challenging find for set builders nearly 30 years later.
While it didn’t quite reach the same heights as the most iconic baseball card sets from the late 80s and early 90s, 1993 Fleer Ultra offered collectors a fun, innovative design and memorable rookie class. The star power showcased like Ken Griffey Jr. and Frank Thomas has ensured strong long term demand and steady price increases for these cardboard pieces of baseball history. With a perfect combination of talent, timing and production quirks, it’s no surprise 1993 Ultra rests among the most valuable vintage issues worth tracking down.
