The 1991 Leaf Series 2 baseball card set was the second series of cards released by Leaf trading card company that year, following their initial Series 1 release earlier in 1991. It marked just the third year Leaf produced baseball cards after starting in 1989. The 1991 Leaf Series 2 set showcased players from both the American and National Leagues and totaled 234 cards in the base set.
Some key details and highlights about the 1991 Leaf Series 2 baseball card set include:
Design and Printing: Like most Leaf sets of the era, the cards featured a colorful border design with player photos on a white background. They were printed on thicker stock paper than some other contemporary card brands which helped them hold up better over time. The card design was also neatly organized with stats and career highlights.
Rookies and Rookie Cup Cards: Some notable rookies included in the base set were Kenny Lofton, David Justice, Gregg Olson, and Pat Listach. An additional 10 Rookie Cup parallel cards were also inserted at a rate of 1 per hobby box, highlighting top rookie talents like Juan Gonzalez and Bret Saberhagen.
Stars of the Set: Big name veterans that were highly sought after pulls included Ken Griffey Jr., Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken Jr., Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, and Rickey Henderson. Griffey’s card has become one of the most iconic and valuable from the entire 1991 card season.
Checklists and Inserts: In addition to the base set, Leaf also included checklists, future stars cards, and Diamond Kings parallels (1 per rack pack) as bonus inserts. The checklists functioned as trade bait to help collectors fill in gaps, while the Diamond Kings featured up-and-coming young talents.
Production: An estimated 10 million packs were produced by Leaf for the 1991 S2 release to keep up with the booming sports card market of the early 90s. This high production volume helped keep individual cards quite affordable for collectors at the time compared to more limited print runs.
Overall Condition: Most examples found today in collectors’ hands grade in EX-MT condition still due to the thicker stock paper as mentioned. The set has held up relatively well compared to the worn, beat up state many 1980s-era cardboard is found in nowadays. Proper storage is still recommended.
Secondary Market Prices: With such a large initial print run, uncorrected 1991 Leaf Series 2 cards are quite easy to acquire on the secondary market. Common base cards can be found for under $1 each still. Short prints and stars command more, with a PSA 10 Ken Griffey Jr. bringing over $500. Rookie Cup cards and stars are the true keys.
Popularity and Legacy: Despite its vast production, the 1991 Leaf Series 2 set remains a beloved issue amongst collectors of the early 90s card boom. Its affordable prices have allowed many to build or complete the base roster over the decades. The inclusion of so many notable rookie and star players lends it enduring nostalgic appeal as well. While not as rare as some other sets, its colorful designs and breadth of content keep interest strong.
In the years since, 1991 Leaf Series 2 has proven to be one of the more accessible sets for collectors to gain exposure to the stars and prospects of that MLB season. Its large initial print run helped the cards stay attainable long after they stopped being pulled from new packs. While the individual paper stocks may not rise to ultra-valuable status, the fun, flashy design combined with so many noteworthy subjects embedded within its 234 card checklist give 1991 Leaf Series 2 a worthy place in the history and archives of the modern baseball card era.
