The 1995 Fleer Ultra baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic releases from the early and mid 1990s junk wax era. While sets from this time period are largely not very valuable today due to huge print runs that saturated the market, there are still a few standout rookie and star player cards that can command big money. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable and sought after 1995 Fleer Ultra cards.
The clear number one on any list ranking the top cards from this set would have to be the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie. As one of the greatest players of his generation and an icon of 1990s baseball cards in general, Griffey’s rookie is a true holy grail for collectors. Fresh off back-to-back AL MVP awards in 1995/1996, Griffey was at the absolute apex of his superstardom during the mid 1990s. His clean and appealing swing along with effortless play made him a fan favorite everywhere. In top Near Mint to Mint condition, Griffey’s 1995 Ultra rookie in today’s market will fetch prices starting around $1000 to potentially over $2000 for truly pristine specimens. This places it among the most expensive cards from the entire junk wax era.
Another star player rookie that garners big money is the John Smoltz entry from 1995 Ultra. Smoltz enjoyed a Hall of Fame induction caliber career primarily as a starter but also spent time in the Braves bullpen, where he found immense success as a closer later in his career. His dominance on the mound makes him a darling for collectors, especially for his Atlanta teams of the 1990s. Well-centered Smoltz rookies in near mint or better condition regularly sell in the $300-500 range. The strong demand and relatively low print numbers compared to other stars has kept his prices elevated through the years.
Beyond the player rookies, there are also a select few star cards that rise above the rest of the 1995 Ultra set in terms of value. Arguably the most prominent would be the Ken Griffey Jr. action image card showing him leaping over an outfield wall to make a catch. This iconic pose of the superstar outfielder are highly coveted by Junior collectors. Raw near mint examples of Griffey’s action card can sell for $100-150, and higher grades around PSA 8 or above start pushing $250 and up as a true standout among his 1995 issue cards.
Another star player that commands strong prices is the Cal Ripken Jr. card from 1995 Ultra. As a constant fan favorite and ironman who holds the all-time consecutive games played record, Ripken cards from the 1990s are always strong sellers. His sharp action pose diving into third base is a favorite for collectors of the Orioles’ shortstop. Near mint or better graded Ripken cards in this style typically sell in the $75-125 range based on condition.
The Barry Bonds rookie from 1995 Ultra also deserves mention as a valuable piece, though it doesn’t command the same prices as Griffey’s. Still, as one of the greatest home run hitters of all time who owns the single season home run record, Bonds does have an avid collector base. The price gap relative to Griffey is understandable given Bonds’ controversial latter part of his career. His rookie card in PSA 8 or higher condition averages $75-100 on the current market. Vintage Bonds cards retain appeal and this is one of his more iconic early issues.
Rounding out the top 5 most valuable cards from 1995 Fleer Ultra would have to be the Frank Thomas ‘Big Hurt’ insert parallel printing plate card from the set. Printed on metallic card stock and featuring an embossed ink printing plate marking on the front, these 1/1 parallel super short prints are trueHoly Grail items for collectors of the White Sox slugger. Naturally, they rarely come up for sale but when they do premium Thomas collectors are willing to pay top dollar. Reported private sales and recent eBay completions for Thomas’ printing plate have reached up to $600-800, making it one of the true big ticket rares from this release and exemplifying why parallel and short print cards can be so collectible, even from the junk wax era.
While most 1995 Fleer Ultra cards are quite inexpensive these days due to huge saturation, there remain some true gem cards featuring star rookies and players that maintain strong collector demand and prices reflective of their iconic status. Led by the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie as the true blue chip card from the set, followed by stars like John Smoltz, Barry Bonds, Cal Ripken and Frank Thomas, these select few cards prove that even in the depths of the junk wax era, the right rookie or star can stand the test of time and retain significant collecting and monetary value when graded and preserved well.
