The 1995 Fleer Ultra baseball card set was released at the height of the baseball card boom of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Fleer was one of the “Big 3” card manufacturers along with Topps and Donruss. Fleer Ultra was one of Fleer’s premier sets each year featuring premium quality cards with sharp photography and creative designs.
The 1995 edition contained 330 total cards and featured a number of popular rookie cards and stars from the 1994 MLB season. The set had a distinctive design with player photos taking up much of the front of the card and a silver foil border. Fleer Ultra was considered a “high end” set at the time with its shiny foil packaging and sought after rookie cards.
Some of the top rookies in the 1995 Fleer Ultra set included Nomar Garciaparra of the Boston Red Sox, Jason Varitek also of the Red Sox, Paul Konerko of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Troy Percival of the California Angels. Each of these players went on to have solid MLB careers and their rookie cards from this set are still popular with collectors today.
Garciaparra’s rookie card in particular is one of the most valuable from the 1995 Fleer Ultra set. As a lifetime .316 hitter who won a batting title and Rookie of the Year award in 1997, Garciaparra became a fan favorite in Boston. His card has appreciating in value over the years for both its subject and the fact it was one of the last high quality rookie cards issued before the baseball card market crashed in the late 90s.
In addition to rookies, the 1995 Fleer Ultra set also featured superstar veterans like Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds, Greg Maddux, Frank Thomas, and Cal Ripken Jr. Griffey and Bonds were two of the biggest stars in baseball in the mid-90s while Ripken was coming off breaking Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games played record. Maddux and Thomas were also dominant players winning multiple MVP awards during this time period. Their cards remain some of the most popular veteran cards from the 1995 Fleer Ultra set.
An interesting parallel between Griffey and Bonds is that their rookie cards were issued a decade earlier in 1989 Upper Deck and 1985 Topps sets respectively. However, Griffey and Bonds were still early in their primes in 1995 producing MVP caliber seasons. Their cards from this Fleer Ultra set captured them in that exciting phase of their careers before injuries began slowing them down later on.
The design scheme for 1995 Fleer Ultra cards was somewhat similar to the previous year’s version with player photos taking up a large portion of the front. The 1995 cards featured a silver foil border around the image which added extra flair and made the photography really pop compared to other sets that year. The backs of the cards contained the standard Fleer player stats and career highlights layout in a light blue color scheme.
One unique aspect of the 1995 Fleer Ultra set was the inclusion of parallel and autographed “Ultra Premium” insert cards. There were three parallel variations including Gold (#/100), Silver (#/500), and Black (#/25) parallels that were slightly more valuable than the base cards due to their limited print runs. The set also had autographed cards from players signed through Fleer that carried premium prices. These parallel and autograph inserts helped add another layer of collecting and added value to the core 1995 Fleer Ultra set.
When the 1995 Fleer Ultra cards were originally released, a factory sealed wax box could usually be found in hobby shops for around $75-100. Demand was high at the peak of the baseball card boom era with collectors eager to pull rookies and stars from the latest releases. In today’s market, a sealed box of 1995 Fleer Ultra in near mint condition would sell for $500-700+ due to the vintage cards inside and nostalgia associated with the design. Individual cards can range in price from $1-2 for common players up to $100+ for the top rookies and stars.
The 1995 Fleer Ultra set remains a highly collectible vintage release to this day for its memorable rookie class, photography of stars from the mid-90s, and premium quality design elements. While the baseball card market has changed significantly since the boom years, sets like 1995 Fleer Ultra still hold appeal for collectors and investors appreciating memorable pieces from the height of the sport’s popularity. The cards also capture a snapshot of baseball just before some of the game’s biggest names like Griffey, Bonds, and Garciaparra really broke out as superstars.
