The 1991 Fleer set was notable because it marked the return of Fleer to producing official MLB licensed cards after a one year absence. Sets produced without an MLB license in previous years, such as the 1990 Score set, were unable to use player names on the cards. So collectors were excited to see Fleer back with photographer approved images and players’ proper names listed.
The base card design for the 1991 Fleer set showed the primary player image on a light gray background with their name, team, and position listed underneath. The rear of the cards featured individual player stats from the 1990 season. There were 669 total base cards, with one card dedicated to each player on a MLB team’s roster as of opening day 1991.
In addition to the base cards, there were several specialty subsets included. There were 42 rookie cards featuring first year players like Jeff Bagwell. There was also a 9 card Franchise Famous Feats subset highlighting iconic moments in baseball history, such as Hank Aaron’s 715th home run. Fan Favorites was a 50 card subset voted on by readers of The Sporting News to showcase some of the most popular players among fans.
Fleer also debuted two new autograph subsets in 1991. A 10 card autographed rookie subset included signed cards of rookie stars like Chuck Knoblauch. There were also 11 total autographed cards obtained from various Fleer signings that featured signed cards of veterans and stars of the day like Nolan Ryan. These autographed inserts helped drive interest in the set from collectors.
The design and subsets in the 1991 Fleer set helped make it a fan favorite among the many issues released that year. The 780 total cards matched the high water mark that some of the larger sets had achieved. And collectors were happy to see baseball’s tradition of a new Fleer offering continue after a one year lapse. The player images, full names and individually customized backend stats also allowed this set to achieve the level of authenticity that collectors had come to expect from the premier manufacturers like Fleer and Topps.
While some individual cards have gained higher values in the secondary market due to certain players’ careers, overall the 1991 Fleer set remains an affordable and fan-pleasing issue for collectors of all levels today. It marked the return of one of the great names in the hobby at a time when interest in the baseball card market was intensifying. Fleer’s first post-licensing set helped solidify them once again as a leader in the industry and a preferred brand for both established and new collectors getting involved in the pastime of amassing complete baseball card sets from the early 1990’s era.
