The 1993 Fleer baseball card set was one of the most iconic and valuable releases from the early 1990s. While not as large as sets from Topps or Donruss that year, Fleer 93 contained several highly sought after rookie cards and stars of the era. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the top cards from this vintage Fleer series.
One of the most well-known and valuable Fleer 93 cards is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Griffey was already a budding superstar by 1993 in just his third MLB season. His smooth left-handed swing and effortless defense in center field made him a fan favorite. The Griffey rookie captured him in his Seattle Mariners uniform with his trademark backwards hat. While printed in high numbers, this card has stood the test of time as one of the iconic rookie cards of the modern era. High grade Griffey rookies now sell for thousands in near mint condition or better.
Another huge star from 1993 was Barry Bonds of the Pittsburgh Pirates. In his 8th season, Bonds was coming off an NL MVP award and was one of the game’s best all-around players. His Fleer card shows him in the batter’s box, coiled and ready to unleash that powerful left-handed swing. Bonds cards from the early 90s Pirates era are quite collectible for fans of the game’s all-time home run leader. Even in well-worn condition, a Bonds Fleer 93 can fetch over $100.
For fans of the New York Yankees dynasty, one of the standouts from Fleer 93 is the Don Mattingly card. By this point, injuries were slowing down the former AL MVP, but “Donnie Baseball” was still an offensive force. His card depicts him in the on-deck circle, bat on his shoulder. Mattingly remained hugely popular even as his playing career wound down. High grade examples with his Yankees cap logo are valued around $150-200.
Rookies other than Griffey that hold value from Fleer 93 include Jimmy Key of the Toronto Blue Jays and Jeff Bagwell of the Houston Astros. Key was already an established starter by his rookie season, having gone 16-8. His card isn’t the flashiest design but still appeals to Jays collectors. Meanwhile, Bagwell’s rookie was an early glimpse of the power-hitting first baseman he would become. Both Key and Bagwell rookies can reach $50-75 in top condition.
Pitching standouts like Greg Maddux of the Chicago Cubs and Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves also have desirable Fleer cards from ’93. Maddux was in his 5th year but already establishing himself as the ace of the Cubs staff. Glavine sported the brand new Braves uniform design in his 6th season after being acquired from the Mets. High grade Maddux and Glavine cards can sell between $75-150 depending on centering and corners.
Beyond the stars, Fleer 93 contained several other interesting and collectible inclusions. The card of Cal Ripken Jr. in an Orioles uniform remains a fan favorite as he closed in on Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games played record. Ripken cards from the early 90s in general are very popular. The Fleer card of slugger Mark McGwire in his early Oakland A’s years also holds nostalgia before the home run chase era. And the inclusion of veteran stars like Eddie Murray and Ozzie Smith made Fleer 93 a well-rounded set.
While not the most abundant set from the junk wax era, Fleer 1993 succeeded in capturing many of baseball’s biggest names and future Hall of Famers. Cards like Ken Griffey Jr, Barry Bonds, Don Mattingly, and others have proven to stand the test of time. Even in lower grades, these cards remain affordable collectibles for fans. In top condition, the superstars from Fleer 93 can sell for thousands. It was one of the final classic Fleer releases before production issues in the mid-90s. For these reasons, Fleer baseball cards from 1993 remain a highly collectible part of the vintage card market.
