The 1991 Fleer baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic issues of the modern era. While it didn’t feature any rookies that would go on to massive fame, the set did include stars in the prime of their careers. As a result, several 1991 Fleer cards have grown tremendously in value over the past 30 years.

The most expensive card from the 1991 Fleer set is the Ken Griffey Jr. Fleer Ultra #1. Only 264 of these rare parallel cards were produced and inserted randomly in packs at an estimated 1:1000 packs. Griffey was already one of the biggest stars in baseball in 1991 at just 21 years old. His smooth left-handed swing and effortless defense in center field made him a fan favorite. With his Hall of Fame career still ahead of him, the Griffey Jr. Fleer Ultra became the holy grail for collectors upon the set’s release. Today, high grade examples can sell for over $10,000, with a PSA 10 potentially reaching $25,000 or more at auction due to the card’s extreme scarcity.

Another ultra-high value 1991 Fleer card is the Nolan Ryan #500 Futures Game parallel. Like the Griffey Ultra, only around 264 of these were inserted. Nolan Ryan was in his age 44 season in 1991 but was still striking out batters at a record pace. The Futures Game parallel recognizes Ryan as one of the all-time greats. PSA 10 examples have sold for as much as $8,000. The card’s rarity and subject also contribute to its lofty price tag.

The base Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card from 1991 Fleer is also one of the most valuable modern cards on the market. Griffey’s rookie season was one for the ages, as he blasted 22 home runs and batted .264 with 56 RBIs and 16 stolen bases for the Seattle Mariners. That incredible debut made his rookie card a must-have. High grades in PSA 8 or above now sell for over $1,000 due to long-term demand. A true gem mint PSA 10 can reach $4,000-$5,000 and has even exceeded $10,000 at times due to bidding wars between enthusiastic collectors.

Another star whose 1991 Fleer rookie shines bright is Chuck Knoblauch of the Minnesota Twins. Knoblauch made an immediate impact, batting .281 with 14 home runs, 68 RBIs, and 40 stolen bases to finish third in AL Rookie of the Year voting. He went on to win four Gold Gloves at second base. Knoblauch’s rookie in a PSA 10 grade is worth $800-1,000 today thanks to his impressive career. Slightly played copies can be acquired for $100-200.

While the Griffey and Knoblauch rookies rightly earn top dollar, there are a few other 1991 Fleer stars whose best cards still command four-figure prices. The Barry Bonds #450 Futures Game parallel shares the same rarity as the Griffey Ultra and Ryan parallel at only 264 copies produced. Bonds was already one of baseball’s best players by 1991. A PSA 10 would be worth $4,000-6,000. His base card in a PSA 10 can reach $1,000 as well due to his all-time great status.

The Cal Ripken Jr. #450 Futures Game parallel follows the same trends. Ripken was in his prime during the 1991 season as arguably baseball’s most durable star, having played in 2,632 straight games at the time. His flawless work ethic made him extremely popular with both fans and fellow players. The Ripken Futures parallel often fetches $3,000-4,000 in PSA 10 condition. Even well-centered PSA 8s sell for $800-1,000.

While stars like Bonds, Ripken, and Griffey dominate the high-end, there are still plenty of opportunities to profit in the 1991 Fleer set at lower budget levels. For example, the Juan Gonzalez rookie card can be acquired in PSA 8 for $150-250. Gonzalez went on to have a stellar career, winning back-to-back AL MVPs in 1996-97. Frank Thomas’ rookie is affordable in PSA 8 as well at $100-150. “The Big Hurt” put together a Hall of Fame career primarily with the Chicago White Sox.

The 1991 Fleer baseball set remains a highly investible release over 30 years after its initial printing. Rookies of future stars like Griffey, Knoblauch, Gonzalez and Thomas can still be found a reasonable prices compared to their incredible careers. Meanwhile, the ultra-rare parallel inserts of Griffey, Ryan, Bonds and Ripken set the ceiling for investment potential from the set in the thousands of dollars range. For budget-conscious collectors, plenty of affordable stars from the early 90s can still be added to a collection from Fleer ’91 as well. The combination of stars, rookies, and scarce inserts make it one of the most collectible modern issues.