The 1991 Fleer baseball card set was notable for being one of the last major sets produced before the baseball card market crashed in the early 1990s. While most cards from the 1991 Fleer set hold very little value today, there are a handful that still attract attention from collectors. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the top cards and their estimated values.
One of the most valuable and sought after rookie cards from the 1991 Fleer set is the Ken Griffey Jr. card. Widely considered one of the best player products of his generation, Griffey was already establishing himself as a superstar by 1991 in just his third MLB season. His rookie Fleer card from that year remains quite collectible and has an estimated mint condition value around $100-150. Well centered copies in near mint to mint condition can occasionally sell for over $200.
Another rookie card that still holds value is Chuck Knoblauch’s 1991 Fleer issue. Knoblauch made his MLB debut in 1991 and went on to have an excellent career as a prolific hitter and skilled fielder. His rookie card value currently sits around $15-25 in near mint condition. Higher graded copies closer to mint can fetch up to $50-75.
Two other notable rookie cards that usually trade hands in the $10-20 range include Scott Erickson and Erik Hanson. Erickson went on to win 20 games for the Twins in 1991 while Hanson was a talented young starter for the Red Sox. Both players had solid careers but their rookie cards don’t quite match the star power or collectibility of Griffey or Knoblauch from this set.
In terms of veteran stars, the Nolan Ryan card is usually the most expensive regular issue from 1991 Fleer outside of the rookies. Always one of the most popular players among collectors, Ryan’s card has a near mint value of $15-25. Higher graded mint copies can reach $40-60 given his legacy and iconic status in the game.
Another pitcher who usually commands a slight premium is Roger Clemens. Arguably the best right-handed hurler of his generation, Clemens’ card hovers around the $10-15 price range in near mint. Well centered mint examples have sold in the $25-40 range.
Two other star position players whose cards from 1991 Fleer hold above average value include Don Mattingly and Wade Boggs. As consistent superstars throughout the 1980s, both of their cards trade hands in the $8-12 range in near mint condition. Higher end copies closer to mint could reach $15-20 given their sustained excellence and fan popularity during their careers.
In terms of value beyond the major star cards, most regular common issues from the 1991 Fleer set have negligible value, usually $1-3 in near mint condition. There are a few exceptions worth mentioning. Rookies like Pat Listach, Brad Ausmus, and Bobby Bonilla have cult followings and their rookie cards can reach the $5-8 range. Error variations or short printed parallels that are hard to find can also carry more value depending on condition and scarcity.
While it was one of the last big sets before the crash, 1991 Fleer doesn’t hold tremendous value on the whole outside of a few elite rookie cards headlined by Ken Griffey Jr. Savvy collectors can still find potential gems by targeting stars, short prints, and overlooked rookie issues though. For historians of the sport and collectors of that era, it remains an important issue to have in a collection. With time, certain cards could continue to appreciate given the notable players featured from that season.
The 1991 Fleer baseball card set features some valuable rookie and star player cards over 25 years later. Rookies of Ken Griffey Jr., Chuck Knoblauch, Scott Erickson, and Erik Hanson along with veterans Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, Don Mattingly, and Wade Boggs maintain the highest value thresholds. But there are still prospects for finding undiscovered treasures by researching variations, errors, and overlooked prospects as well. Overall it provides an interesting historical artifact from when the baseball card boom was beginning to unwind.
