The 1991 Fleer Ultra baseball card set was one of the most highly anticipated releases of the early 1990s. Coming on the heels of the hugely popular 1990 Fleer design, Ultra took the hobby by storm with its innovative style and inclusion of some of the game’s biggest stars and rookie cards. The set is still regarded as one of the most iconic of the junk wax era over 30 years later.

Fleer had made a name for itself in the late 1980s by offering innovative designs that stood out among the traditionally designed offerings from Topps and Donruss. For 1991, the company took things to another level with Ultra. The set featured a futuristic, neon color scheme and cutting edge design elements that seemed from another planet compared to previous years. Each card had a bright colored background with the player’s picture enlarged and overlapping the edge of the card. Statistics were displayed in a vertical column down the right side.

At the forefront of the 126 card base set were superstar players in the prime of their careers. Ken Griffey Jr., Nolan Ryan, Jose Canseco, and Roger Clemens adorned some of the most eye-catching designs. But perhaps the biggest draws were the rookie cards for players who would go on to have Hall of Fame careers like Chipper Jones, Jim Thome, and Derek Jeter. Ultra marked the first widely available rookie card for each of those future legends, making many of the cards highly sought after by collectors even today.

The set also featured “Traded” versions of players who had been dealt to new teams in the previous year or during the 1991 season. This included traded cards of Cy Young winners Bret Saberhagen and Doug Drabek, who were both dealt in 1990. The Traded cards were inserted randomly in packs instead of the base card, adding a layer of chase and excitement for collectors.

In addition to the base set, Fleer offered several enticing inserts. “Fleer Futures” cards spotlighted top prospects who had yet to make the majors. “Fleer FanFare” insert cards highlighted statistical milestones and career achievements of star players. And “Fleer Legends” paid tribute to retired greats with photo reprints from their playing days.

Perhaps most significantly for the time, Ultra was one of the first mainstream sets to include Spanish language parallels. Called “Fleer Ultra Espanol”, these inserts featured the same designs and photographs but with Spanish text on the fronts and backs. This helped expand the reach of the hobby and was a harbinger of more multi-lingual cards to come.

The reception to 1991 Ultra was off the charts. With its neon colors, modern designs, star power, and hot rookie cards, it captured the imagination of collectors. While production numbers were enormous for a single set in the early 90s, demand was so high that values remained strong in the initial years after release. The Chipper Jones and Derek Jeter rookies in particular achieved legendary status.

As with most products from the early 90s “junk wax” era, values have declined over time with sheer number of sets produced. But 1991 Ultra has proven more resilient than many. Key cards, especially the rookies of future Hall of Famers, still attract interest from collectors. The innovative designs and inclusion of so many all-time great players in their primes ensure the set remains a recognized standout and an iconic release that helped shape the modern baseball card collecting landscape. Three decades later, Fleer Ultra 1991 still captivates collectors with its flashy style, star power, and place in the historical development of the hobby.

The 1991 Fleer Ultra baseball card set was a true landmark release that took the industry by storm. With its cutting edge neon designs, inclusion of so many star players and their rookie cards, innovative inserts, and huge popularity at the time of release, Ultra captured the imagination of collectors. While short term values have declined due to production numbers, the flashy style and notable cards ensure the set remains a recognized classic over 30 years later. It was an iconic representation of the early 1990s junk wax era that still holds significance in the hobby today.