The 1990 Fleer baseball card set was released at the start of a new decade that featured plenty of established stars still in their prime as well as some young talent that would go on to have Hall of Fame careers. Let’s take a look at some of the top rookies and veterans featured in the 480 card base set from Fleer in 1990.
Ken Griffey Jr. was one of the most exciting young players to enter the majors in 1989 and his sophomore season card in 1990 Fleer is highly sought after by collectors (card #1). Griffey would go on to have a legendary career that lands him in the Baseball Hall of Fame and his rookie cards from 1989 Upper Deck and Score are among the most valuable baseball cards ever printed. While not quite the rarity of his true rookie, Griffey’s 1990 Fleer shows him in the prime of his ability at just 20 years old.
Another Hall of Famer and arguably the best player of the 1990s has a prominent card in the set – Barry Bonds (card #61). Entering his 6th MLB season entirely spent with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bonds established himself as a dangerous power hitter and five-tool player at just 25 years old in 1990. His card shows him in the midst of an MVP caliber season where he would hit .301 with 33 home runs and 114 RBI. Bonds would go on to shatter the all-time home run record and this card serves as a reminder of his early dominance.
Nolan Ryan (card #150) remains one of the most intimidating and record-breaking pitchers in MLB history. As a 43-year-old in 1990 still pitching for the Texas Rangers, Ryan’s card commemorates him surpassing the legendary Walter Johnson for the all-time strikeout record. His 5,387th career strikeout came in 1989 and cemented his place as the greatest strikeout pitcher ever. Even in his final MLB season at age 46 in 1993, Ryan was still posting 200+ innings with over 150 strikeouts.
Arguably the biggest star of the late 1980s and reigning American League MVP, Rickey Henderson’s 1990 Fleer card (card #229) carries tremendous star power. Fresh off a 1990 season where he stole 65 bases and hit .310 batting leadoff for the Oakland A’s, Henderson was a one-of-a-kind impact player in his prime. He holds the single season and career stolen base records by wide margins and transformed the leadoff hitter role. His 1990 Fleer looks back on a truly magical 1989 season and career.
The cream of the crop rookie pitchers in 1990 was another future Hall of Famer – Pedro Martinez (card #288). In his debut season splitting time between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Montreal Expos, Martinez posted a spectacular 2.92 ERA over 30 games started. He struck out 165 batters in only 167.1 innings of work in a true preview of the dominance to come. His pristine 1/1 rookie card in 1990 Fleer is a coveted piece for any collection, showing Martinez at only age 22 before he became a feared ace.
Another young arm that burst onto the scene was 21-year old Pat Hentgen (card #299) of the Toronto Blue Jays. Posting a 3.31 ERA over 25 starts and 135.2 innings in his rookie year, Hentgen looked every part of a budding ace with his control and poise on the mound. He would go on to win the 1996 AL Cy Young Award. His rookie card in 1990 Fleer foreshadows great things to come from the hard-throwing righty.
One of the biggest stars of the 1980s was continuing his prolific ways – Mike Schmidt (card #344). Playing in his 17th season entirely with the Philadelphia Phillies, Schmidt hit .249 with 29 home runs and 83 RBI at the age of 36 in 1990. It was a testament to how feared and productive an offensive threat he remained, cementing his legacy as perhaps the greatest third baseman of all-time. His card in 1990 Fleer commemorates his illustrious career that saw him named NL MVP three times.
The 1990 Fleer baseball card set showcased the established stars of the late 80s and early 90s continuing to dominate as well as some young talent like Griffey, Martinez, and Hentgen that hinted at the greatness soon to unfold. Hall of Famers like Bonds, Ryan, Henderson, and Schmidt had definitive moments encapsulated alongside elite rookies. It remains a set that defined a transition from one impressive era to the next in Major League Baseball through its variety of impressive veterans and rookies included amongst the 480 total cards.
