The 1990 Fleer baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic issues from the junk wax era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. While the cards themselves held little value at the time due to overproduction, certain rare and coveted rookie cards have grown exponentially in worth. The following details some of the most valuable and sought-after cards from Fleer’s 1990 offering.
Perhaps the most well-known card from the set is the Frank Thomas rookie card. As one of the best right-handed hitters of his generation, Thomas went on to have a Hall of Fame worthy career that saw him hit .301 with 521 home runs and 1,704 RBIs over 19 seasons. His 1990 Fleer rookie is the key card for White Sox collectors and has increased greatly in demand in recent years. PSA 10 Gem Mint examples now sell for $3,000-$5,000, while raw near-mint copies can bring $1,000-$2,000.
Another highly valuable rookie is Ken Griffey Jr’s 1990 Fleer issue. Considered one of the best all-around players of all time, Griffey was a fan favorite known for his sweet swing and effortless defense in center field. His rookie card is iconic from the junk wax era, but examples in top condition have soared in price. A PSA 10 Griffey rookie will fetch $10,000+ at auction, with raw near-mint copies selling in the $3,000 range. Even well-centered examples in PSA 8 condition sell for over $1,000.
While not rookies, the 1990 Fleer cards of Barry Bonds and Roberto Alomar also hold great value for collectors. Bonds went on to shatter the all-time home run record and is considered one of the best pure hitters in MLB history. His 1990 Fleer card has increased in parallel to his legendary career, with PSA 10’s now selling between $2,000-$3,000 and raw near-mint copies bringing over $500. Roberto Alomar enjoyed a Hall of Fame career mostly with the Blue Jays and Orioles, winning 10 Gold Gloves at second base. His 1990 Fleer is one of his key rookie cards, with PSA 10’s selling for around $1,000 and raw near-mint copies going for $300-$500.
Two other stars whose 1990 Fleer rookie cards have grown substantially are Jeff Bagwell and Moises Alou. Bagwell enjoyed 15 all-star seasons primarily with the Astros, winning an MVP in 1994. His rookie card has increased greatly in the PSA 9-10 range, where examples can sell for $800-$1,200. Moises Alou had a solid 17-year career, but his rookie is particularly valuable for Expos collectors. PSA 10 examples trade hands for $600-$800, with raw near-mint copies selling closer to $300.
While the above cards featuring future Hall of Famers and all-time greats carry the highest values, there are other key 1990 Fleer rookie cards that hold significance. Todd Hundley had 42 home runs in 1996 for the Cubs and Mets, and his rookie has risen to $200-$300 in PSA 9-10 condition. Chuck Knoblauch enjoyed success with Minnesota and New York, and his rookie sells for around $150 graded PSA/BGS 9-10.
While the 1990 Fleer set was produced in enormous numbers that prevented most cards from gaining value initially, certain rare and coveted rookie cards have seen astronomical price increases in recent decades. For key players like Frank Thomas, Ken Griffey Jr, Barry Bonds and others, their 1990 Fleer issues are iconic from the junk wax era and hold great significance for serious baseball card collectors and investors. With the passage of time, as these players enter Cooperstown or their careers are further celebrated, their rookie cards from this set will likely continue climbing in price for years to come.
