Fleer baseball cards have been produced since 1956 and many of the early issues from the late 1950s and 1960s can be quite valuable, especially if in pristine condition. Let’s take a deeper look at some specific Fleer baseball cards that collectors are always on the hunt for and what can make them potentially worth a significant amount of money depending on grade and demand.
One of the most iconic and valuable Fleer cards is the 1961 Fleer Ted Williams. Only 12 of these cards are known to exist in gem mint condition. One graded PSA 10 sold for over $690,000 at auction in 2016, setting a new record. Even lower graded examples in the PSA 7-9 range can still fetch $25,000-$100,000. What makes it so rare and desirable is that it was one of the very first rookie cards produced by Fleer after they entered the baseball card market. As one of the game’s greatest hitters, Ted Williams is always in high demand from collectors.
Another highly valuable early Fleer rookie is the 1962 Fleer Willie Mays. Like the Ted Williams, very few are known to exist in pristine condition. One PSA 10 sold for over $200,000 in recent years. Lower graded copies still sell for $15,000-$50,000 depending on demand. Willie Mays is considered one of the greatest all-around players of all-time, so his rookie card holds iconic status. Plus the 1962 Fleer set had a very small print run, making Condition sensitive cards like Mays’ extremely rare in the highest grades.
Moving into the mid-1960s, the 1964 Fleer Dick Allen rookie card is another big ticket item. He was one of the game’s early superstars and his Fleer rookie is the only one produced, making it highly significant for Allen collectors. A PSA 10 recently sold for over $90,000, showing strong demand. Even lower graded copies in the PSA 7-9 range can still net $5,000-$20,000 depending on the market. Allen had a Hall of Fame caliber career cut short, adding to the card’s lore.
The 1968 Fleer Nolan Ryan rookie is also a blockbuster card in pristine condition due to Ryan’s status as one of the game’s all-time strikeout kings. A PSA 10 recently sold for over $100,000. Lower graded examples still sell strongly in the $10,000+ range. What makes Ryan’s rookie cards so highly valued is his longevity playing 27 seasons breaking numerous career records cementing his legendary status.
Moving into the 1970s, the 1973 Fleer Mike Schmidt rookie is a modern-era card that can be worth a substantial amount to the right collector. Schmidt would go on to win 10 Gold Gloves and 3 MVP awards cementing himself as perhaps the greatest third baseman ever. A PSA 10 has sold for over $50,000 in recent years. Even lower graded versions still sell in the $3,000-$15,000 range depending on demand. Schmidt is always a fan favorite whose rookie remains iconic.
A key factor that drives values for these early Fleer cards is how small the original print runs were in the late 1950s-1970s compared to modern production numbers. Many early Fleer sets had runs estimated in the mere few hundred thousand range compared to tens of millions printed today. This scarcity drives values up significantly for high grade examples, which are exponentially rarer in many cases. Things like centering, corners and surface quality can make or break the value when discussing the potential 6 figure cards.
Beyond the superstar rookie cards, there are also certain key vintage stars from the 1960s that can have valuable Fleer cards depending on condition. For example, the 1968 Fleer Carl Yastrzemski, who captured the Triple Crown that year, can sell for $3,000+ in high grades as one of his key vintage cards signed with the Boston Red Sox. The 1969 Fleer Tom Seaver, who won 25 games and the Rookie of the Year award can reach $2,000+ in top condition. Even stars like 1968 Fleer Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente in high grades have value potential in the $1,000+ range.
While it takes the right combination of player, year, and pristine condition to reach those huge 6 figure prices, there are plenty of collectible and valuable Fleer baseball cards spanning the late 1950s through 1970s that can still hold value in the thousands depending on demand, scarcity and grade. For the savvy collector, keeping an eye out for these key vintage Fleer issues at card shows and auctions is always worthwhile as an investment in sports history and memorabilia from the golden era of the game. Condition is truly king when it comes to realizing the full potential value.
