The 1989 Fleer baseball card set was issued at the height of the baseball card boom of the late 1980s. Fleer had lost the licensing rights to produce Topps cards starting in 1987, so they went all-in on creating innovative sets to attract collectors. The 1989 Fleer set contained 792 total cards and had a number of unique features that made it a highly coveted release during that era.
One of the most notable aspects of the 1989 Fleer cards was the photo variations used on many of the players’ cards. Fleer obtained permission from Major League Baseball to use action shots on most of the cards rather than the traditional static posed portraits found in other sets. This gave the cards a more lively and exciting feel. Many collectors appreciated being able to see their favorite players in the midst of swinging a bat, throwing a pitch, or fielding a ball. The action shots added a sense of realism and made the players seem more life-like on the cardboard.
In addition to the photo variations, Fleer incorporated a number of innovative design elements into the 1989 set. All the cards featured a blue border with a white interior. The team logo was prominently displayed on a banner at the top of the card along with the player’s name and position. Fleer also included the player’s career statistics on the back of the card in an easy-to-read format. The card stock was of high quality and had a glossy finish that showed off the vibrant colors and details of the photos.
One of the biggest storylines of 1989 was the historic home run race between Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco as teammates on the Oakland A’s. Naturally, the Fleer set that year featured McGwire and Canseco prominently. Their cards were part of the “Diamond Kings” subset within the set that highlighted some of baseball’s top sluggers. McGwire’s and Canseco’s Diamond Kings cards are still among the most sought-after and valuable from the 1989 Fleer release today.
The 1989 Fleer set also contained several innovative insert sets beyond the standard base cards. The “Fleer Futures” subset featured prospects and young players expected to break out. This included cards of players like Barry Bonds, Tom Glavine, and Greg Maddux early in their careers. The “Traded” subset highlighted players that had been dealt to new teams that year. And the “Record Breakers” subset honored players who had set or were approaching major career milestones.
Perhaps the most iconic insert set from 1989 Fleer was the “Diamond Gems” subset. These were extremely rare parallel versions of selected player’s base cards that featured the same photo but with a blue diamond-shaped logo in the bottom right corner. The Diamond Gems parallels added a whole new layer of scarcity, difficulty, and excitement to the already popular set. Landng a pack with one of the elusive Diamond Gems was a true thrill for collectors.
In addition to the innovative card designs and subsets, the 1989 Fleer set also contained several notable rookie cards that have stood the test of time. Future Hall of Famers like Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and Frank Thomas all had their rookie cards in the set. Ken Griffey Jr’s impressive rookie is also from the 1989 Fleer release and remains one of the most iconic in the hobby. Other notable rookies included Kevin Maas, Gregg Olson, and Derek Bell. The rookie class of 1989 Fleer helped shape baseball for years to come.
When issued in 1989, the Fleer set had a suggested retail price of $1 per pack with 11 cards inside (10 commons and 1 chase card). Due to the massive popularity of the cards, finding unopened 1989 Fleer in stores was extremely difficult. This helped drive up the secondary pack and loose card prices. Completed sets still fetch high prices today when graded and preserved in mint condition. Key individual cards like the McGwire and Canseco Diamond Kings or rare parallels can sell for thousands.
In the end, the 1989 Fleer baseball card set truly captured the excitement of the late 1980s card boom. With innovative photography, designs, subsets, and huge rookie class, it has stood the test of time as one of the most iconic releases from that era. The action shots, high production quality, and memorable rookie cards like Griffey Jr still make 1989 Fleer a beloved set for collectors decades later. It remains one of the most iconic and valuable vintage issues to this day.
