The 1989 Fleer baseball card set was the third annual issue of Fleer’s baseball card series that began in 1987 when they acquired the license to produce cards from Topps. The ’89 Fleer set would mark another iconic year in the hobby as it featured some of the game’s biggest stars and future Hall of Famers.
The set contains a total of 792 cards and was issued in wax packs containing 5 cards each. The design featured a simple black and white photo on a colorful border that was typical of Fleer’s style at the time. One of the unique aspects of the ’89 Fleer set was the inclusion of “Traded” subsets highlighting players that were dealt to new teams midway through the 1988 season. These traded cards helped collectors keep up with the many player transactions that took place on an annual basis.
Some of the biggest stars and most valuable cards featured in the 1989 Fleer set include Nolan Ryan (#1), Orel Hershiser (#2), Roger Clemens (#3), Wade Boggs (#4), and Ryne Sandberg (#5). Each of these players were superstars in their prime during the late 80s. Nolan Ryan’s card in particular holds legendary status as one of the most iconic in the entire hobby due to his intimidating stare and legendary status as arguably the greatest pitcher of all-time.
Other notable star rookies and prospects included in the 1989 Fleer set were Barry Bonds (#33), Greg Maddux (#99), Tom Glavine (#132), David Justice (#155), and Kenny Lofton (#186). Each of these players went on to have Hall of Fame caliber careers and their rookie cards from the ’89 Fleer set are highly sought after by collectors today. Bonds and Maddux in particular are two of the greatest players of their generation and their rookie cards can fetch thousands of dollars in top grades.
In addition to starring active players, the 1989 Fleer set also included retired legends of the game with the inclusion of “Legends of the Game” subset. This special subset featured 21 cards honoring past stars like Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, and Jackie Robinson. Including retired stars helped connect both new and older collectors to the history and tradition of the game. The “Legends of the Game” cards are also highly valuable today, especially for the all-time greats like Ruth and Robinson.
One of the more unique aspects of the 1989 Fleer set were the inclusion of “Traded” subset cards highlighting players that switched teams via trade during the middle of the 1988 season. These traded cards included 34 total players that were dealt to new clubs prior to the start of the 1989 season. Examples include Eric Davis traded from Cincinnati to the Dodgers, Bob Welch traded from Oakland to the Dodgers, and Dennis Eckersley traded from the Cubs to the A’s. These traded subsets helped collectors keep up with all the roster movement from season to season.
In terms of chase cards and insert sets included in the 1989 Fleer base set, there were only a handful of notable short prints and special parallels. The big three chase cards included the Nolan Ryan Traded (#T1) card, Orel Hershiser Traded (#T2) card, and the Mike Greenwell Traded (#T34) card which were considerably more scarce than their base counterparts. There was also a “Fleer Futures” insert set highlighting top prospects that included cards like Barry Larkin, Gregg Jefferies, and Ben McDonald. Overall though, the 1989 Fleer set lacked many of the modern insert sets and parallels collectors expect today.
When it comes to the overall condition and availability of the 1989 Fleer baseball card set in the current market, most of the stars and key rookie cards can still be obtained in lower grades. High grade examples of the Nolan Ryan, Barry Bonds, Greg Maddux, and other top cards have become quite scarce and valuable. A PSA 10 Nolan Ryan can fetch over $10,000 while a PSA 10 Barry Bonds rookie exceeds $3,000. Even more common stars in high grades command hundreds to low thousands. The 1989 Fleer set endures as one of the most iconic issues due to its star power and inclusion of future Hall of Famers.
The 1989 Fleer baseball card set was truly a who’s who of the game at the time and featured some of the biggest stars, future Hall of Famers, and rookie cards of all-time. From Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens to Barry Bonds and Greg Maddux, this set captured the game at one of its most exciting periods. While it lacked modern parallels and inserts, the inclusion of retired legends and traded subsets gave collectors valuable context. Whether trying to complete a full set or acquire individual star cards, the 1989 Fleer issue remains a highly collectible part of the hobby that connects to the rich history of late 80s/early 90s baseball. Its iconic stars and rookie cards ensure this set will endure for generations of collectors to come.
