Calvin Edwin Ripken Jr., known simply as Cal Ripken Jr., had an illustrious baseball career playing shortstop and third base for the Baltimore Orioles from 1981 to 2001. Known by the nicknames “Iron Man” and “The Iron Horse,” Ripken holds the record for most consecutive games played with 2,632 straight games played over 16 seasons. It’s no surprise then that Ripken’s baseball cards, especially those issued by Fleer during his playing career, are some of the most popular and valuable in the hobby.
Fleer was one of the major baseball card manufacturers during Ripken’s playing days, alongside Topps and Donruss. Ripken’s rookie card came in the 1981 Fleer set. The card featured a photo of Ripken from his 1980 minor league season with the Rochester Red Wings. It showed him wearing the #3 as he had not yet made his MLB debut. The 1981 Fleer Ripken rookie is considered one of the more affordable Ripken rookie cards to collect. In high grade it can be acquired for well under $100, though mint condition examples in the PSA 10 Gem Mint grade have sold for over $1,000.
Ripken’s true rookie card debut came in 1982 Fleer, where he is shown on the Baltimore Orioles team card in the #8 jersey. This was Ripken’s first season in the majors and he appeared in 28 games, mostly as a pinch hitter. The 1982 Fleer card was Ripken’s first “flagship” rookie as it captured his MLB debut season. Higher grade examples in PSA 8 or above have sold for $500-$1,000.
In 1983, Ripken broke out with his first full season as the Orioles’ starting shortstop. His 1983 Fleer card showed him at the height of his skills as a young shortstop, fielding a ground ball. This was Ripken’s first card as a full-time major leaguer and established stars of his caliber from the 1980s are highly sought after by collectors. Graded examples in PSA 8 or above have sold for $1,000-$2,000.
Ripken’s 1984 and 1985 Fleer cards continued to build on his emerging stardom. By 1986, he was a two-time All-Star and had won his first Gold Glove Award. His 1986 Fleer card depicted him swinging the bat and was a sign of things to come as Ripken began hitting for more power. Graded examples from these mid-1980s years have sold in the $500-$1,500 range.
In 1987, Ripken took the baseball world by storm. He won the AL MVP and led the Orioles to the postseason for the first time in a decade. Fleer commemorated Ripken’s breakout season with one of his most iconic cards from that year. It showed him in action at third base, his position at the time, with an illustration in the background highlighting some of his top stats from 1987. This is considered one of Ripken’s best and most valuable Fleer cards. PSA 10 examples have sold for over $10,000, with 8s and 9s also reaching thousands.
Ripken’s success continued unabated through the late 1980s and early 1990s. His 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991 Fleer cards maintained his image as one of baseball’s premier stars and are also highly sought after collectibles today. But it was the 1991 season that saw Ripken achieve baseball immortality by breaking Lou Gehrig’s iconic “Iron Man” streak of most consecutive games played.
Fleer recognized the significance of Ripken surpassing Gehrig’s mark with one of the most famous baseball cards ever produced. The 1992 Fleer Cal Ripken Jr. baseball card featured a dramatic image of Ripken celebrating with his teammates after breaking the record on September 6, 1995. With “The New Iron Man” text above, this instantly became one of the defining cards not just of Ripken’s career, but in the entire hobby. PSA 10 examples have sold for over $10,000. Even lower graded versions still command prices well into the thousands.
The rest of Ripken’s career played out as he cemented his legacy as arguably baseball’s greatest shortstop ever. His 1993-2001 Fleer cards continued to capture this phase of his sure-to-be Hall of Fame career for collectors. Ripken fittingly ended his career in 2001 with the Orioles, as one of the most decorated and admired players to ever wear the Baltimore uniform. To this day, Ripken remains one of the most collectible players in the hobby and his Fleer baseball cards stand as prized pieces of memorabilia chronicling his incredible playing days. Whether a rookie, star, or immortal record-breaker, Cal Ripken Jr.’s Fleer cards hold a special place in the hearts of collectors everywhere.
