The 1999 Fleer baseball card set showcased some of the biggest names and brightest young stars in baseball at the time. Released during the heart of the steroid era, the set contained rookie cards of future Hall of Famers as well as short prints and parallels that have become highly sought after by collectors in the ensuing decades. Now over 20 years later, some of the top cards from the 1999 Fleer set command thousands of dollars. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most valuable 1999 Fleer baseball cards:
Ken Griffey Jr. SP – Widely considered one of the true grails of the modern era, Griffey’s short print parallel debuted an incredibly rare design featuring the superstar swinging a bat from an angles perspective. Only 10 of these cards are believed to exist, making it arguably the rarest modern card in the hobby. In pristine gem mint condition, a Griffey Jr. SP has sold for upwards of $100,000 at auction. Even well-centered near mint copies trade hands for $10,000 or more due to the card’s legendary status.
Chipper Jones SP – As one of the elite switch hitters of his generation, Chipper Jones put together a Hall of Fame career with the Atlanta Braves. His Fleer rookie short print parallel is also incredibly scarce, with a print run believed to be under 25 copies. High grade Chipper Jones SP’s have sold for $30,000-$50,000 depending on centering and condition. Any copy that grades a PSA/BGS 10 is guaranteed to be a six figure card.
Derek Jeter Autograph – Jeter’s signed rookie card from 1999 Fleer was one of the most sought after autographed rookie cards of the late 90s/early 00s. Numbered to only 250 copies, a Mint condition Jeter autographed rookie in a holder with a grade of PSA/BGS 10 is valued north of $15,000. Well centered unsigned Jeter rookies still command $1,000-$3,000 depending on grade.
Pujols Base Rookie – While not quite as iconic or valuable as his 2001 Topps rookie card, Albert Pujols’ true Fleer rookie from 1999 is still an exciting piece of cardboard for Angels or Cardinals fans. High end PSA/BGS 10 examples have cracked the $5,000 mark in recent auction sales. Most raw or lower graded Pujols ’99 Fleer rookies trade in the $300-$800 range.
Ichiro Suzuki Autograph – A legend on both sides of the pacific, Ichiro’s debut season with the Seattle Mariners was one of the most dominant rookie campaigns in MLB history. His ’99 Fleer autograph rookie is quite rare, as it was only issued serial numbered to 250 copies worldwide. A pristine BGS/PSA 10 grade Ichiro autographed rookie would be valued north of $10,000 in today’s market.
Adrian Beltre Rookie – A career .280 hitter with nearly 3,000 hits and 400 home runs, Beltre put together a Hall of Fame resume that began with a highly productive rookie season split between the Dodgers and Mariners in 1998. His ’99 Fleer RC is amongst the more valuable mainstream rookie cards from the set, with a PSA/BGS 10 example selling for over $3,000. Most well-centered raw Beltre rookies trade in the $150-$300 range.
Alex Rodriguez Rookie Patch – Often lost among the hagiography he received early in his career, A-Rod’s debut season with the Mariners portended a destiny among the all-time greats. His ’99 Fleer card serially numbered to only 100 copies and featuring an on-card jersey swatch is a true “hit” card. Pristine graded examples have sold for upwards of $5,000 at auction.
Kenny Lofton Collection – An All-Star six consecutive times with the indians in the 1990s, Kenny Lofton was one of the best defensive center fielders and baserunners of his era. His ’99 Fleer “Fleer Collection” insert parallel features dazzling photography and was produced in a limited print run believed to be under 100 copies. High grade Lofton Collections have achieved $2,000+ at auction.
Iván Rodríguez RC – A 13-time All-Star and winner of a record 13 Gold Gloves at catcher, “Pudge” Rodriguez put together a Hall of Fame caliber career that began with breakout rookie campaigns in 1991 and 1992. His official ’99 Fleer rookie card remains a staple in collections of Texas Rangers and Miami Marlins fans alike. Expect to pay $150-$300 for a well-centered Iván RC.
Sammy Sosa Rookie – One of the towering figures of the late 90s home run heyday, Sammy Sosa smashed his way to 609 career home runs and 3 MVP awards. His 1988 Bowman rookie holds nostalgia as one of the true vintage Sosa rookies, but his ’99 Fleer RC offers a modern take. Well-centered raw copies in the $75-$150 range.
Jason Schmidt Rookie – A 15-year MLB veteranshmidt broke out with the Giants in 2001 with a 16-6 record and 273 strikeouts, finishing fourth in Cy Young voting. His ’99 Fleer RC shows promise of what was to come. Creased examples under $50, pristine PSA/BGS 10 grades over $100.
Eric Chavez Rookie Patch Autograph – A slick fielding third baseman and career .260 hitter with 260 home runs for the Athletics, Chavez’s serially numbered rookie patch autograph from ’99 Fleer to 100 copies is a true “hit” card, especially for A’s fans. Examples have topped $500 at auction.
That covers some of the headline cards and investments from the 1999 Fleer baseball set over two decades later. With legends, stars, and HOFers like Griffey, Jones, Jeter, Beltre and Pujols the set lives on as an iconic snapshot of the sport at the turn of the century. Condition sensitive premium cards like short prints and autographed patches continue to gain in value as the years pass.
