The 1991 Fleer baseball card set is considered one of the most valuable issues from the early 1990s. Fleer only produced cards from 1991-1992 before losing the MLB license to Upper Deck. Within the 1991 set are several highly sought after rookie cards that have increased dramatically in value over the past 30 years. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable and desirable cards collectors search for from the 1991 Fleer set.
Perhaps the most well known card from the 1991 Fleer set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Griffey was already generating huge hype leading up to his first MLB season in 1989 and his rookie card status only added to the demand. While Griffey appeared in Fleer’s set during his rookie year of 1989, the 1991 issue is considered his true rookie card by most collectors since it was his first card in the regular Fleer set after appearing in special 1989 subsets in previous years.
In gem mint condition, Griffey’s 1991 Fleer rookie now fetches prices well over $10,000. Even well-centered near mint copies can sell for $3,000 or more. What makes the card so valuable is Griffey went on to have a legendary career and is considered one of the greatest players of all time. He was a fan favorite known for his smooth left-handed swing and effortless defense in center field. The card captured Griffey at the beginning of what became a surefire Hall of Fame career playing in Seattle.
Another hugely valuable rookie card from the 1991 Fleer set is Chipper Jones. Like Griffey, Jones also had a long and decorated MLB career that spanned over two decades, mostly with the Atlanta Braves. Jones won the 1999 NL MVP and was an 8-time All-Star. He was a career .303 hitter when he retired after the 2012 season. Mint condition copies of Chipper Jones’ rookie card now sell for $4,000-$6,000 depending on centering and corners. Even well-used copies in worn condition still demand $1,000 due to his career accomplishments and status as a Braves legend.
Two other notable rookie cards in the 1991 Fleer set that have greatly increased in value are Tom Glavine and David Justice. Glavine went on to win 305 career games and 2 Cy Young Awards as one of the best left-handed pitchers of the 1990s for the Atlanta Braves. Near mint copies of his rookie are around $800-1000 currently. David Justice was a power-hitting outfielder who played for several contending teams in the 1990s, winning a World Series with the Braves in 1995. His rookie card also sells in the $700-900 range. Both capture these players at the beginning of productive MLB careers.
In addition to rookie cards of future Hall of Famers and all-stars, there are also a handful of rare error and variation cards that command big money in the 1991 Fleer set. One of the most valuable is the Mike Piazza photo variation card. Due to a photo swap error during production, a small number of Piazza cards were accidentally printed with a photo of Dodger outfielder Darren Daulton on the front instead. Only a handful are known to exist in collectors’ hands. One recently sold for over $32,000.
Another very rare error is the Tom Glavine card with a blank back. During one print run, a small batch of Glavine cards were accidentally produced without any stats, career highlights or other information on the reverse. The blank back Glavine is arguably the rarest card from the 1991 Fleer set, with fewer than 5 known. One in pristine condition reached $46,000 at auction.
Well-centered examples of the key rookie cards in high grades like Ken Griffey Jr, Chipper Jones, Tom Glavine and David Justice are consistently some of the most in-demand and valuable cards to emerge from Fleer’s 1991 offering. But it’s the photographic variations and manufacturing errors that truly excite collectors due to their extreme rarity and allure as true one-of-a-kind items. Even after 30 years, the 1991 Fleer baseball card set remains a treasure trove for investors and enthusiasts looking to acquire iconic pieces of cardboard capturing baseball’s golden era in the early 1990s.
Fleer’s 1991 baseball card issue is considered one of the most valuable modern sets due to its inclusion of several future Hall of Fame rookie cards like Ken Griffey Jr, Chipper Jones and Tom Glavine. While the rookie cards of these all-time great players themselves command thousands, it is the rare photo variation and error cards within the set such as the Mike Piazza swap and Tom Glavine blank back that excite collectors the most. Their extreme scarcity makes them some of the most valuable individual baseball cards in existence today. The 1991 Fleer set will likely remain a focus for collectors and investors for decades to come.
