The 1991 Fleer baseball card set is one of the most sought after issues for error card collectors due to the variety of mistakes found within. The set had a large print run of over 1.2 billion cards, so errors were more prevalent compared to smaller print runs from other years. With such a high volume of cards produced, quality control seems to have slipped through the cracks. As a result, the ’91 Fleer set offers collectors a fun challenge to seek out and acquire the many different mistakes and anomalies that were overlooked during production.
Some of the more common errors found involve missing or incorrect text on the fronts or backs of cards. Spelling mistakes, stat errors, name variations and position mistakes make up a good portion of the errors documented from this set. For example, the card of Scott Sanderson is missing the “T” from his first name so it reads “Sco Sanderson”. The card for catcher Tom Pagnozzi has his position listed as “P” instead of “C”. Stats are often wrong too – pitcher Tim Belcher’s record is listed as 12-10 when he was actually 11-11 that year.
Variations in photo cropping and centering are also plentiful in the ’91 Fleer set due to the high volume of cards being rushed through manufacturing. Many cards have the image noticeably off-center compared to the standard issue. In extreme cases, parts of the player’s body can be cut off at the edges. The card of pitcher Jimmy Key has his entire head cropped out of the photo. Other cropped photo errors include cards showing only half the player’s face or body. Proper centering was clearly an afterthought in the rush to produce cards.
Rarer find errors involve missing or extra colors on cards. The ’91 Fleer checklist card is missing its gold border color compared to the standard issue. A few cards had an extra ink run during printing resulting in a ghost image appearing. The error card of pitcher Mark Gardner has an extra light blue tint overlaying the standard image. Even more scarce are reverse negative errors where the photo is printed in negative on the card. Only a handful are reported from the entire ’91 Fleer set.
Among the most valuable errors are those with missing or swapped signatures. Signatures were still hand-cut and affixed in 1991. Errors saw the wrong signature placed on a card or none at all. The Cal Ripken Jr. Futures card is missing its signature altogether. Meanwhile, the error card of pitcher Dave Stieb has Terry Steinbach’s signature swapped onto it by mistake. These major signature errors can fetch thousands of dollars from serious collectors.
Another fascinating error subset involves test prints and proofs from the design and sampling process. ’91 Fleer test prints had sample photos and color variations that never made it to the final produced set. Prototype cards with blank backs or missing logos provide a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of early card designs. Test prints without gum are especially sought after since they were likely caught and pulled before full production.
The sloppy quality control exhibited by Fleer that year resulted in a virtual ‘error factory’ when it came to the 1991 baseball card set. While frustrating for the company at the time, it has provided collectors with a true treasure trove of mistakes to hunt for over 30 years since. The variety and frequency of errors in the ’91 Fleer set make it one of the most interesting issues to collect. For error card aficionados, it remains one of the holy grails of the hobby. Tracking down the many photo, text and color variations continues to be a challenge that maintains the allure of this highly produced yet deeply flawed release.
