The 1991 Fleer baseball card set is considered one of the most valuable series from the junk wax era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. While most cards from sets released during this time period are not worth much today, there are a select few 1991 Fleer cards that can fetch thousands of dollars. Let’s take a look at some of the most valuable and sought after cards from the 1991 Fleer set.
Heading the list is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Widely considered one of the best rookie cards of all-time, Griffey’s 1991 Fleer card is the crown jewel of the set. In pristine near-mint to mint condition, examples can sell for over $10,000. Even well-centered lightly played copies often trade hands for $1,000 or more. What makes Griffey’s rookie so desirable is that it captures one of the game’s all-time great players at the very beginning of his Hall of Fame career. Griffey was already recognized as a superstar in the making when this card was issued. High quality versions command a huge premium due to Griffey’s iconic status.
Another uber-valuable rookie card from 1991 Fleer is Frank Thomas’ debut issue. Like Griffey, Thomas went on to have an outstanding big league career that ended with induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Pristine Thomas rookies in a PSA/BGS Gem Mint 10 grade have exceeded $3,000 at auction. Even well-centered near mint to mint copies frequently trade for $500-$1,000 or more. What’s notable about the Thomas rookie is how early it captures “The Big Hurt” before he was really recognized as a superstar. The card acts as an investment in one of the game’s most feared sluggers during the early days of his towering home run barrage in Chicago.
In addition to Griffey and Thomas, the Derek Jeter rookie is also a highly-sought part of the 1991 Fleer set despite it not being his true rookie issue (that came in 1992 Donruss). Centered examples with strong surfaces in near mint or better condition will command $200-$500. While not in the same stratosphere as the Griffey or Thomas rookies value-wise, the Jeter does represent one of the classiest shortstops in baseball history at the start of his legendary Yankees career. Any card showing “The Captain” in his early days remains a desirable piece for team and player collectors.
Interestingly, the most valuable short print from the 1991 Fleer set is not a rookie at all but rather the Kirby Puckett “Errors” variant card. Due to some type of manufacturing mistake, a small number of Puckett cards were mistakenly printed with the word “ERRORS” across the bottom of the fronts instead of “Traded.” These quirky short prints often sell in the $1,000 range when high quality copies surface. While Puckett had already established himself as an elite player by 1991, the printing oddity adds substantial scarcity value to his card from this set.
In terms of star players outside of the rookie cards, mint condition examples of the Ken Singleton retired player card can fetch hundreds on the secondary market. A PSA/BGS Gem Mint copy recently sold for over $500 due to Singleton’s status as a long-time Montreal Expos star from the late 1960s through the 1970s. High grade versions of slugger Mark McGwire’s 1991 Fleer card prior to his record breaking home run chase also carry value around $150-$250 range for his iconic home run swing captured early in his career.
Even run of the mill stars from the 1991 Fleer roster that go overlooked can possess value. For example, centered mint condition versions of cards showing Philadelphia Phillies stars Darren Daulton and John Kruk from their 1993 World Series championship season routinely sell for $50-$75 each due to strong Phillies and vintage cardboard demand. Collectors love capturing memorable teams and seasons through individual player cards long after the fact.
While most cards from the overproduced junk wax era lack value, the 1991 Fleer baseball set stands apart due to some true superstar rookie debuts plus notable short prints and star player highlight cards. For savvy vintage collectors, investing in high quality copies of the Griffey, Thomas and Kirby Puckett errors cards can really pay dividends decades later as those players grow in stature. The 1991 Fleer release captured lightning in a bottle by introducing iconic player talent to the hobby at the beginning of their careers. As a result, it remains one of the crown jewels from that era in terms of long term collectibility and value appreciation potential.
