The 1991 Fleer baseball card set is well known among collectors for its unique illustrated artwork featured on many of the cards. Breaking from the traditional posed photography that had been the norm, Fleer commissioned illustrators to create one-of-a-kind cartoon-style drawings of players for the “Ultra” subset included in the 660-card base set. With bold colors, creative perspectives, and exaggerated features, the Ultra cards stood out from the standard cards in exciting new ways. The experiment proved popular with collectors and cemented Fleer’s reputation for innovation in the hobby.
A total of 120 cards in the 1991 Fleer set featured the illustrated artwork instead of photos. Fleer selected some of baseball’s biggest stars of the time for the treatment, including Ken Griffey Jr., Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken Jr., and Roger Clemens. Lesser known players also got the illustrated treatment to round out the subset. The imaginative depictions brought new life and visual appeal to the traditionally static baseball card designs of the era. For instance, Griffey’s card showed him leaping over outfield walls in an action scene capturing his elite athleticism. Ripken took on a superhero aura swinging a bat.
Each Ultra card was uniquely illustrated by one of three artists – R.C. Brooks, Dave Decker, or Fred Salsedo – contracted specifically for the project. Brooks specialized in a loose cartoon style with bold outlines and exaggerated features. Decker brought a graphic comic book influence to his pieces. Salsedo incorporated vivid colors and dramatic lighting in photorealistic renderings. While diverse in approach, all three artists infused the cards with energy, motion, and imagination absent from typical photography-based designs up to that point.
Collectors excitedly awaited seeing how their favorite players would be depicted in the illustrations. The dynamic presentation transported players beyond the constraints of a standard rigid pose into fantastical scenarios. For example, Clemens was illustrated throwing a pitch with the seams appearing to glow and trail behind the ball. Bo Jackson appeared to be running at superhuman speed, his feet barely touching the ground. The illustrations allowed for creative liberties that photographs could not match.
Some of the illustrations took stylistic risks that garnered criticism as well. A few depictions appeared almost caricature-like with cartoonish exaggerations. Others experimented with odd camera angles or embellished environments that distracted from the players. The positive reception from collectors largely outweighed any criticisms. By departing from tradition in a bold manner, the Ultra subset drew increased attention to the 1991 Fleer set. It has since become one of the most recognizable included in any flagship release.
The illustrated cards proved a massive success for Fleer both critically and financially. Buoyed by collectors’ excitement over the fresh take on classic designs, box sales of the 1991 Fleer set notably outperformed Topps’ competing offering that year. As a result, the subset helped elevate Fleer to new heights as a serious competitor after years of lagging Topps in reputation and sales. Most notably, the Ultra cards introduced an innovative precedent that subsequent card manufacturers sought to emulate. Even competitors like Topps incorporated limited illustrative elements and art styles in future releases to keep designs feeling fresh.
While the subset was welcomed by collectors at the time, debate exists over how the illustrated artwork has aged in retrospect. Supporters argue the cartoony, exaggerated illustrations and creative storytelling are why the cards remain unique conversation pieces today. Detractors note the illustrations seem increasingly dated and out of step with modern stylistic preferences. Photography reigns as the standard again, but the Ultra cards showed baseball cards did not need to remain static. They proved designs could break conventions to captivate collectors through imagination instead of realism alone.
For these reasons, the 1991 Fleer Ultra baseball cards live on as a special part of the hobby’s history. They represented a major creative leap forward that invigorated the industry during a time when competition between manufacturers pushed them to new frontiers of innovation. While products today emphasize different priorities, the Ultra subset demonstrated baseball cards could succeed by capturing imaginations rather than just accurately reflecting reality. Its legacy ensures it will remain a bright highlight in the annals of the collectibles genre.
