NOLAN RYAN BASEBALL CARDS 1991

The 1991 baseball season was a memorable one for legendary pitcher Nolan Ryan. At age 44, Ryan was still pitching effectively for the Texas Rangers, showcasing remarkable durability and velocity that defied his age. He proved once again that he was one of the greatest power pitchers in MLB history. Not surprisingly, Ryan’s impressive 1991 campaign made his baseball cards from that year highly coveted by collectors.

In 1991, Ryan posted a record of 16-10 with a 3.43 ERA over 232.1 innings pitched for the Rangers. He struck out 216 batters, adding to his all-time MLB record strikeout total that now stands at 5,714. Ryan’s control was still pinpoint, as he issued just 50 walks on the season. Perhaps most impressively, he was throwing his fastball in the mid-90s mph range consistently at his advanced age. With those statistics, Ryan had one of his strongest seasons in years.

Unsurprisingly, Ryan was prominently featured in the major baseball card sets released at the start 1991. Two of the biggest and most noteworthy Nolan Ryan cards from 1991 come from Fleer and Donruss. Let’s take a closer look at each:

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The 1991 Fleer Nolan Ryan baseball card (#339) features a full body action shot of the legendary flamethrower delivering a pitch. Donning his classic Rangers uniform and warm-up jacket, Ryan is shown mid-windup with his signature violent leg kick. His intense stare and fierce competitive spirit practically jump off the card. This Fleer issue captured Ryan at the peak of his powers in an iconic moment. The card stock, color, and photography combined to make it one of the best and most memorable Fleer designs ever released.

Today, the 1991 Fleer Nolan Ryan PSA 10 Gem Mint is one of the crown jewels for any serious baseball card collector. In pristine condition, examples have sold at auction for over $2,000. Even well-kept common examples still trade for $50-100 due to the strong nostalgia and Ryan’s enduring popularity. The Fleer set itself was tremendously popular upon release as well. It remains one of the most storied issues in the modern era.

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Meanwhile, the 1991 Donruss Nolan Ryan (#151) card took a simpler headshot approach. It shows a smiling close-up of Ryan in Rangers cap and jersey. Despite lacking the action photo of the Fleer issue, this card exudes a friendly, approachable warmth from Ryan that many fans loved. The vivid color and crisp printing resulted in a high-quality card that represented Ryan’s likeness with perfect clarity.

The condition sensitive Donruss set of 1991 is slightly less valued than the Fleer issue overall. Still, pristine PSA 10 examples of the Ryan have sold for $600-900. Even well-centered, sharply-printed near-mint copies in the PSA 8-9 range pull $50-150. It’s a classic flagship Ryan card that remains a coveted item for collectors.

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Beyond Fleer and Donruss, Ryan also received prominent multi-photo cards in theScore and Upper Deck sets in 1991. Both captured crucial moments from that productive season through innovative horizontal card designs. Meanwhile, specialty brands like Leaf produced rare parallel and memorabilia cards with game-used swatches or auto patches that have become extremely valuable for super-fans.

All in all, Nolan Ryan’s tremendous 1991 campaign with the Rangers solidified his legend and made his ’91 cards some of the most treasured in the entire hobby. Almost 30 years later, they remain a staple in collections nationwide. With Ryan’s all-time hallowed records, memorable milestones, and iconic intensity frozen for eternity on these pieces of cardboard, it’s easy to see why collectors continue chasing these seminal issues. For both statistical and nostalgic reasons, the 1991 Nolan Ryan cards resonate powerfully and will likely hold their luster for generations to come.

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