The 1990 Fleer baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable issues from the late 1980s/early 1990s period. While not quite as coveted or expensive as the classic 1952 Topps or 1957 Topps sets of decades prior, the 1990 Fleer cards still hold a special place in the hearts of many collectors and speculators due to the amazing rookie cards and star players featured. With 700 total cards in the base set plus additional inserts, the 1990 Fleer set had no shortage of memorable and investment-worthy content. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the standout cards from the 1990 Fleer release that still attract attention and big bucks from collectors today.
Frank Thomas Rookie Card (Card #1)
Arguably the crown jewel of the 1990 Fleer set is the rookie card of Chicago White Sox slugger Frank Thomas. Often regarded as one of the greatest right-handed hitters of all time, Thomas would go on to have a Hall of Fame career and win two American League MVP awards after debuting in the majors in 1990. His rookie card from Fleer is one of the most iconic in the modern era, featuring “The Big Hurt” in his Sox road grey uniform with a blue sky backdrop. In gem mint condition, Thomas’s rookie card now sells for thousands of dollars and is a must-have for any serious baseball card collection or investment portfolio. Even well-centered, nicely centered copies still command four figures due to his legendary status.
Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card (Card #91)
While the Thomas rookie is the big ticket item, many collectors argue that the 1990 Fleer Ken Griffey Jr. rookie is actually the better looking and more aesthetically pleasing card overall. Like Frank, Junior would go on to have a stellar career and eventually earn enshrinement in Cooperstown. His rookie features an action shot of the young centerfielder patrolling the outfield in a Mariners uniform. Griffey’s card isn’t quite as valuable as Thomas’s today, but mint copies still sell for $1,000+ due to his popularity and the clean, iconic design of this particular issue. Both rookies are must-owns for any collection.
Chipper Jones Rookie Card (Card #234)
Another all-time great who debuted in 1990 was Atlanta Braves legend Chipper Jones. While he didn’t achieve the same commercial popularity or acclaim as Frank or Ken during his playing days, Jones is undoubtedly a Hall of Famer after his 19-year career, all spent with the Braves franchise. His rookie card from Fleer is still a big draw for collectors, showing the young third baseman in his classic Braves home duds. High grade Chipper rookies can reach $500-1000 depending on condition factors like centering. He may not be the household name that Thomas and Griffey are, but the Chipper rookie remains a coveted piece for ’90s collectors.
Tom Glavine Rookie Card (Card #256)
Chipper’s Braves teammate Tom Glavine also had his rookie card appearance in the 1990 Fleer set. Like Jones, Glavine spent the majority of his illustrious career in Atlanta and was eventually elected to the Hall of Fame as one of the best pitchers of the 1990s. His rookie card depicts “Glav” in mid-windup, wearing the classic Braves road grays. While not in the same demand tier as the Thomas/Griffey/Chipper cards, a pristine Glavine rookie can still fetch $200-300 due to his outstanding career stats and World Series success. It’s an important piece of memorabilia for any Braves PC.
Sandy Koufax (Card #320)
One of the greatest pitchers in MLB history who sadly had his career cut short, Sandy Koufax was already enshrined in Cooperstown by 1990 but still held icon status among collectors. The classy portrait photo Fleer used of the lefty is one of the stand-out images from the entire set. While not technically a “rookie” card since Koufax last played in 1966, specimens of this card still command $100-200 today due to his legendary status. No true baseball collection is complete without an example of one of the games’ all-time great hurlers.
Ozzie Smith Autograph (Card #662)
Fleer’s 1990 issue included several autographed memorabilia cards of stars, and one of the most popular was “The Wizard” Ozzie Smith. Arguably the greatest defensive shortstop ever, Smith’s career was in full swing in 1990 as a fan favorite for the St. Louis Cardinals. His autographed card shows him signing a baseball and stands out as a true one-of-one collectible. Even lower-end copies still sell for $150-250 based purely on Ozzie’s popularity and mystique alone. It’s a true chase card for the set.
Ken Griffey Sr. & Jr. Team Card (Card #667)
A true one-of-a-kind rarity from the 1990 Fleer set is the father-son team card of Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. showing the two posing together in Mariners uniforms. While Griffey Sr. was nearing the end of his playing days in 1990, this iconic image of the then-current and future star outfielders stands as a true piece of baseball history. Only one of these exists in the world, making it arguably the most valuable single card from the entire issue. Rumored prices have exceeded $10,000 when one has rarely come up for public sale. A true holy grail for any collector.
While produced during the junk wax era of the late 80s/early 90s, the 1990 Fleer baseball card set endures as one of the most storied issues ever due to the star rookies, HOFers, and one-of-a-kind memorabilia cards it featured. Anchored by the Frank Thomas, Ken Griffey Jr. and Chipper Jones rookies, the set also highlights legends like Koufax and Ozzie Smith. For collectors and investors, examples like the Griffey Sr./Jr. dual or autographed Smith remain true unicorns. Overall it was an amazing year for the sport, and 1990 Fleer perfectly captured that magic on card stock for the ages. The issue remains a benchmark for collectors even 30+ years later.
