The 1990 Fleer baseball card set was one of the most popular and valuable sets of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Fleer released 762 total cards in the 1990 set, which featured many of baseball’s biggest stars from that era. While the set does not contain any true “rookie cards” of future Hall of Famers, it does have several key cards that are highly sought after by collectors to this day. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best and most valuable cards from the 1990 Fleer baseball set.
One of the most iconic and valuable cards from the 1990 Fleer set is the Ken Griffey Jr. card. Griffey Jr. was already well on his way to superstardom in 1990 as one of the game’s brightest young stars. His smooth left-handed swing and elite defense in center field made him a fan favorite. The Griffey Jr. card from the 1990 Fleer set, with his trademark backwards hat and effortless swing, is one of the most recognizable baseball cards ever printed. PSA 10 Gem Mint examples of this card regularly sell for over $1,000 due to its rarity, Griffey’s iconic status, and the card’s memorable design.
Another huge star featured prominently in the 1990 Fleer set is Nolan Ryan. Ryan was entering the twilight of his legendary career in 1990 but was still striking out batters at a record pace. His card depicts him mid-windup, with his long hair flowing behind him. High grade PSA 10 versions of the Ryan card can fetch $300-500 due to his status as perhaps the greatest power pitcher in MLB history. The card captures “The Ryan Express” at the peak of his powers.
Two other superstar pitchers with valuable cards in the 1990 Fleer set are Roger Clemens and Orel Hershiser. Clemens was already a perennial Cy Young candidate in 1990 with the Red Sox, and his card shows him ready to unleash a blazing fastball. PSA 10 Clemens cards sell for $150-250. Hershiser’s card remembers his incredible 1988 season where he set the record for most consecutive scoreless innings. The “Bulldog” is depicted in mid-windup, and high grade versions can sell for around $100.
On the position player side, two huge stars with very desirable 1990 Fleer cards are Barry Bonds and Cal Ripken Jr. Bonds was already one of the game’s best all-around talents in 1990 with Pittsburgh. His card is a classic snapshot of his smooth left-handed swing. PSA 10 Bonds cards sell in the $150 range. Meanwhile, Ripken’s iconic streak of consecutive games played was already over 1500 games by 1990. His card shows him fielding at shortstop, and top-graded versions regularly sell for $100-150.
Some other notable stars and their 1990 Fleer card values include Wade Boggs ($75 PSA 10), Ozzie Smith ($60 PSA 10), Kirby Puckett ($50 PSA 10), and Rickey Henderson ($40 PSA 10). The set also features rookie cards for future stars like Tom Glavine, David Justice, and Moises Alou. While not their true rookie cards, these can still hold value for young player collectors.
In terms of rarity and condition, finding PSA 10 “Gem Mint” quality examples of high-value cards like Griffey Jr., Bonds, and Ripken from the 1990 Fleer set is extremely difficult. Only the best-centered, best-printed versions qualify for the coveted PSA 10 grade. As a result, even minor flaws or off-centering can significantly hurt a card’s value. For example, a PSA 9 Griffey Jr. may sell for only $300-500 compared to over $1000 for the PSA 10.
While not the most valuable set of the junk wax era overall, the 1990 Fleer baseball card release does contain several true icons of the game that remain highly sought after by collectors. Stars like Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds, Cal Ripken Jr., and Nolan Ryan anchor the set with their hugely popular and visually striking rookie or star cards. For dedicated players from this time period or fans of the vintage 1990 Fleer design, finding high grade examples in a full set or individually makes for a great baseball card collecting opportunity.
