The 1991 Fleer baseball card set was the last Fleer produced before losing the MLB license to rival manufacturer Upper Deck. Fleer had been printing baseball cards since 1956 but 1991 would mark the end of an era. The set contains 234 total cards including rookie cards of future Hall of Famers Chipper Jones and Jim Thome. The design features a classic Fleer look with white borders and team logos across the bottom. Card quality was generally good but some collectors reported issues with centering and corners compared to previous Fleer releases. Overall the 1991 Fleer set provides a nostalgic look at the players and teams from that season while also serving as the final chapter in Fleer’s long history as a baseball card manufacturer.
The rookie class of 1991 was one of the strongest in years, headlined by Chipper Jones who went on to have a Hall of Fame career with the Atlanta Braves. His Fleer rookie card can be found in pack #231 and the card features a clean photo of Jones from his time with the Double-A Greenville Braves. Another rookie who went on to Cooperstown was Jim Thome, whose powerful swing led to 612 career home runs. Thome’s card is #229 and shows him as a member of the Peoria Chiefs, the Class A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Other notable rookies included Scott Rolen (#230), Jeff Bagwell (#233), and Moises Alou (#234). While not rookies, young stars like Barry Bonds (#6), Ken Griffey Jr. (#56), and Frank Thomas (#179) also appeared in their early career phases.
Veteran stars of the day like Nolan Ryan (#13), Wade Boggs (#23), and Ozzie Smith (#114) received some of the more visually appealing cards in the set with unique photography. Ryan’s close-up portrait stands out while Boggs takes a swing and Smith makes an acrobatic play. Legends like Hank Aaron (#24), Willie Mays (#36), and Bob Gibson (#75) received tribute cards honoring their Hall of Fame careers. The design also featured team leader cards, including Kirby Puckett (#44) for the Twins and Roberto Alomar (#58) for the Padres. While not all were superstars, the set as a whole provided a snapshot of the MLB landscape in 1991 from rookies to veterans.
In terms of rarity and value, the Chipper Jones and Jim Thome rookies unsurprisingly carry the highest prices in the set today. Both regularly sell for well over $100 in top-graded gem mint condition of PSA/BGS 10. Other notable valuable cards include the Barry Bonds (#6) which has reached over $70 and the Frank Thomas (#179) over $50. Rolen, Bagwell, and Alou rookies can also hit $30-50. Common players are very affordable but even stars grade PSA 8 or below are usually $10-20. The set has maintained collector interest over the years given its rookie class and status as the final Fleer baseball issue before Upper Deck. Condition is especially important, as centering and corners were known production flaws.
While the 1991 Fleer set was the last, the brand did continue producing other sport card lines for several more years. The loss of the MLB license was a major blow. Upper Deck came in with innovative technology and design which captured the imagination of the growing hobby. Fleer baseball cards were a staple for over 35 years but 1991 marked the end of an era as the company was surpassed by the ascendant Upper Deck. For collectors, it serves as a memorial to Fleer’s long run as a leader in the industry and captures the players and teams of that MLB season in the company’s classic cardboard design. The rookie cards of Chipper Jones, Jim Thome and others ensure the 1991 Fleer set remains both nostalgic and valuable for enthusiasts decades later.
The 1991 Fleer baseball card set was the final issue from the pioneering manufacturer before losing its MLB license. It features Hall of Fame rookie cards, stars of the day, and maintains nostalgia for collectors given its classic design and place as Fleer’s swan song in the industry. Production flaws exist but condition-sensitive cards like the rookies of Jones and Thome retain significant value. The set serves as both a remembrance of Fleer’s legacy and a snapshot of the 1991 MLB season through its player selection and team-centric design elements. For these reasons, 1991 Fleer remains an important set in the history of the hobby.
