The 1991 Fleer Ultra baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable issues from the junk wax era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. While sets from that time period are not generally very valuable compared to older vintage sets, there are still some standout cards from the ’91 Fleer Ultra release that can fetch strong prices from collectors. The set is memorable for its colorful and flashy design that really popped on the rack packs at the local card shop. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most noteworthy cards from this 700+ card monster set.
One of the true heavy hitters from the 1991 Fleer Ultra set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Griffey was already establishing himself as a budding superstar in his second big league season with the Seattle Mariners in ’91. His rookie card captured him at the peak of his abilities before injuries slowed him down later in his career. In top gem mint condition, Griffey’s rookie now sells for well over $1,000. Even well-centered near mint copies can bring $300-500. The card features vibrant colors and photos that really highlight Griffey’s athleticism. It’s truly one of the most iconic rookie cards ever issued.
Another huge star that had his coming out party in 1991 was Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Ed Sprague. While he never quite lived up to early expectations, Sprague’s rookie card from Fleer Ultra is still a very popular and valuable piece for Jays fans and collectors. In top condition it can sell for $150-250. The card features Sprague crouched at the plate ready to unleash with his powerful left-handed swing. Toronto’s World Series wins in the early 1990s make their stars from that era very desirable, even for role players like Sprague.
A third star rookie to watch out for is Oakland A’s pitcher Mike Moore. While he had some successful seasons, Moore is mostly remembered as the centerpiece of the infamous Mark McGwire trade in 1997. His ’91 Fleer Ultra RC shows him mid-windup and captures the promise he showed as a young hurler. Top graded examples can reach $75-100. Moore didn’t become a true ace but his rookie card endures as an important piece of A’s history from their transition from Bash Brother years to Moneyball era.
Veteran superstars also have some standout cards from the 1991 Fleer Ultra set. The Nolan Ryan card, showing him at age 44 still firing heaters for the Texas Rangers, is a favorite of collectors. Even in well-centered near mint condition it can sell for $50-75 due to Ryan’s status as a living legend. The Kenny Lofton rookie stars card is also highly sought after by Cleveland Indians fans. Lofton went on to a Hall of Fame career and this early preview of his skills captivates collectors. Near mint Lofton RCs sell in the $50-75 range as well.
Two other stars with very memorable 1991 Fleer Ultra cards are Toronto’s Roberto Alomar and Atlanta’s David Justice. Alomar’s smooth defensive skills and top-notch hitting ability are on full display in his action shot card. Near mint copies consistently sell for $40-60. Meanwhile, Justice’s powerful left-handed swing jumps off the card as he follows through. Braves fans love collecting cards from their early 1990s dynasty teams, giving the Justice RC a market value around $30-50 NM/MT. Both players were instrumental to their team’s success and have cards that stand the test of time.
While rookie and star cards get the most attention, 1991 Fleer Ultra also featured intriguing short prints and parallel inserts that can be real treasures. The Billy Ripken “F*** Face” error card, showing the Orioles star with the expletive written on his bat, is one of the most famous printing mistakes in card history. High grades of this controversial conversation piece can sell for thousands. The set also included “Gold Foil” parallel versions of select players that are rarer and hold premium value for collectors. Examples would be the Gold Ken Griffey Jr. (>$200 PSA 10) or Gold Nolan Ryan (>$100 PSA 9).
While 1991 Fleer Ultra was produced during the junk wax era, it still featured memorable rookie cards and inserts of stars from the late 1980s and early 1990s that hold up very well today. Key cards like the Ken Griffey Jr., Ed Sprague, and Mike Moore rookies alongside stars like Nolan Ryan, Kenny Lofton, and Roberto Alomar make this set worth exploring for both vintage baseball card collectors and fans of the players and teams featured. With its flashy design and exciting rookie debuts, ’91 Fleer Ultra endures as one of the most iconic issues from that era.
