One of the biggest players in the vintage baseball card boom of the late 1980s was Fleer. While Topps reigned supreme for decades, Fleer managed to secure the license to produce Major League Baseball cards in 1986, breaking Topps’ monopoly. This new competition led to innovative designs and short print runs for some of the toughest cards to find from that era.
With the intense boom in interest and skyrocketing values witnessed in the 1980s, finding pristine, graded examples of the true “hit” cards from 1986 and ’87 Fleer runs is an extremely difficult task today. The low print numbers and fierce demand even back then means condition census level copies of some cards now regularly sell for tens of thousands. Here are some of the most prized Fleer cards to keep an eye out for:
1986 Fleer Barry Bonds Rookie Card – While Bonds’ rookie appears regularly in the 1985 Topps set, his true “flagship” rookie debuted in 1986 Fleer as one of the true icons of the junk wax era boom. Population reports show PSA 10 examples selling for over $30,000 with lower grade copies still fetching $1,000+.
1987 Fleer Frank Thomas Rookie Card – Another true rookie debut was Big Hurt’s 1987 Fleer issue. Like Barry Bonds, this one carries vastly more premium than his Topps rookies. PSA 10 Thomas rookies have eclipsed $15,000 with most graded copies still four figures.
1987 Fleer Mark McGwire Rookie Card – Part of the famed “Bash Brothers” duo with Canseco, McGwire’s rookie is coveted in its own right. PSA 10s bring north of $4,000 while most grades sell for $500-1,500 still.
1986 Fleer Update Nolan Ryan Record Breaker Insert – This elusive orange parallel depicts Nolan Ryan breaking Sandy Koufax’s strikeout record. It’s believed fewer than 10 PSA 10s exist with one copy selling for over $32,000 in 2020. Even lower grades fetch $2,000+.
1987 Fleer Update Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. – Griffey’s first major brand rookie was actually in 1987 Donruss, but it was reprinted as an “Update” subset in Fleer that same year. Pristine PSA 10 copies have sold for over $20,000, making it one of the toughest non-flagship Griffey rookies to acquire.
1986 Fleer Darryl Strawberry – Alongside Bonds and Clemens, Strawberry’s true rookie debut came in the 1986 Fleer set. PSA 10s now sell for $10,000+. Even graded 8s bring $2,000 still making this one a must-have for Mets fans and Strawberry collectors.
1986 Fleer Kurt Stillwell – Considered one of if not the single rarest card from the entire Fleer run, very few of Stillwell’s rookie are believed to even exist today. Just a few, low-grade copies have ever come to market. Considering the low pop, this true “holy grail” Fleer card would likely sell for well into the six figures should a pristine copy surface.
1986 Fleer Update Mookie Wilson – Wilson’s initial rookie was in the 1986 Fleer base set, but his coveted “hit” card is the ultra-short printed Update issue. Even low-grade copies sell for over $1,000 with a PSA 10 bringing approximately $5,000 due to the rarity.
1987 Fleer Ozzie Smith – Prior to the 1987 Donruss and Topps issues, Fleer was the first to feature The Wizard in a Cardinals uniform. PSA 10s generally sell between $1,500-2,000.
1986 Fleer Update Kirby Puckett – His true rookie year may have been 1984 but Puckett’s most recognized rookie is considered the ‘86 Fleer Update. PSA 10s now sell for $3,500+ on average.
1986 Fleer Update Mark Davis – Another ultra-short print from the ‘86 Update set, Davis’ star only shone briefly but his rookie card is a huge hit. PSA 10s have sold for over $4,000 due to the breathtaking rarity.
While not all mint by today’s standards, locating any of these key Fleer rookie cards in pristine, professionally graded condition is a true achievement. The low initial runs and demand even in the 1980s boom means condition census examples are about as rare as it gets when it comes to vintage cardboard. For dedicated Fleer collectors, tracking down high-grade versions of these pioneer issues should be the ultimate goal.
