The Fleer 1990 baseball card set was the last Fleer flagship baseball card release prior to their loss of the MLB license to Upper Deck in 1991. It marked the end of an era for the historic Fleer brand that had been producing baseball cards since 1956. The 1990 set featured a variety of stars from the late 80s and early 90s era of baseball and contained several notable rookie cards that have grown significantly in value over the past few decades. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the most valuable cards from this historic Fleer release.
One of the crown jewels of the Fleer 1990 set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card (#90). Griffey was already one of the game’s brightest young stars by 1990 in just his second MLB season. His sweet left-handed swing and effortless athleticism made him a fan favorite. The Griffey rookie is one of the most iconic and sought after cards in the hobby due to his Hall of Fame career and popularity as a player. In pristine mint condition, Griffey’s rookie now sells for well over $1000 and even lower graded copies in the PSA 8-9 range can fetch $300-500. The card captured Griffey at the beginning of what became one of the great careers in baseball history.
Another star rookie from 1990 was Edgar Martinez (#431). Martinez made his MLB debut in 1987 but did not become an everyday player until 1990 when he slashed .307/.401/.506 for the Seattle Mariners. His rookie card showcased an emerging star at the dawn of his prolific career. In a PSA 10 gem mint, the Martinez rookie has sold for over $500 in recent years. Even well-centered, sharp copies in PSA 8 or 9 condition can sell for $100-250 depending on the market. The card commemorates a player who went on to have Hall of Fame caliber numbers as arguably the greatest designated hitter in baseball history.
The Fleer 1990 set is also noteworthy for featuring the rookie cards of several other stars who went on to have impressive MLB careers like Sandy Alomar Jr. (#135), Moises Alou (#156), and Mike Mussina (#449). The Alomar rookie has broken the $100 mark in high grades. The Alou has reached $75 PSA 10. And the Mussina, capturing a pitcher who would rack up 270 career wins and seven All-Star appearances, has sold for around $50 in top condition. While not in the Griffey or Martinez tier, these cards still hold value for collectors due to the quality careers of the players depicted.
In addition to star rookies, Fleer 1990 contained several chase cards of established MLB superstars that have grown in demand over the decades. One of the most significant is the Nolan Ryan (#460) card, featuring a photo of the Express firing one of his blazing fastballs. Even ungraded copies in played condition can sell for $20-30 due to Ryan’s legendary status and the card’s iconic image. Higher graded versions have reached $200 PSA 10. The Ryan is a must-have for any collection paying homage to one of the game’s most intimidating hurlers.
Another all-time great with a highly sought after Fleer 1990 issue is Rickey Henderson (#455). Arguably the best leadoff hitter and baserunner in MLB history, Henderson’s speed and basepath heroics made him a fan favorite. His Fleer card shows the dynamic Rickey posing confidently in his Oakland A’s uniform. PSA 10 copies have sold for over $150 given Henderson’s Hall of Fame enshrinement. Even well-centered versions in PSA 8 fetch $50-75 depending on the market. No vintage card collection is complete without an issue honoring the inimitable Rickey Henderson.
Two other superstar veterans with valuable Fleer 1990s are Roger Clemens (#401) and Wade Boggs (#422). Clemens, already a two-time Cy Young winner by 1990, is depicted firing a pitch with his trademark intensity. PSA 10s have reached $125 given his eventual place in Cooperstown. Boggs, a perennial .300 hitter and five-time batting champ, is shown crouched at the plate ready to launch one. High grade Boggs can sell for $75-100. Both capture all-time greats and are highly sought by collectors paying homage to the eras they dominated.
While the star rookies and veterans drive the most demand, there are also several valuable short prints and parallel inserts found throughout the Fleer 1990 checklist. One of the most significant is the Frank Thomas rookie short print (#456). Only available at a rate of one per case of wax packs, the Thomas short print has reached over $500 PSA 10. Even well-centered copies in the $8-9 range can sell for $150-300 given his huge career numbers.
Fleer also included “Traded” parallel cards within the 1990 set that featured players who had been dealt to new teams after the start of the season. Highlights include the Nolan Ryan (#T14) traded Astros card and the Rickey Henderson (#T6) traded A’s issue. Both parallels in high grades have reached $100-150 prices. The set also contained “Studio” parallel cards that were photo variations shot in a studio rather than on a baseball field. Star examples like the Roger Clemens (#S25) have sold for $50-75 PSA 10.
The Fleer 1990 baseball card set stands out for featuring the rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez. It also contains seminal issues of legends already in their primes like Nolan Ryan, Rickey Henderson, Roger Clemens and Wade Boggs. Short prints, parallels and the set’s historical significance as the last Fleer flagship release prior to the Upper Deck era all contribute to strong secondary market values, especially for high grade examples. Even 30 years later, Fleer 1990 remains one of the most iconic and collectible vintage baseball card sets.
