After an explosion in the number of sets the year before, a thirsty hobby turned weary eyes to the horizon in search of more … and found 1990 Fleer football cards.
These things were like water — they looked pretty good to still-parched collectors, and they were everywhere.
They’re still everywhere, in fact, and sometimes seem to be growing in number (doesn’t hurt that there are a whopping 400 cards in the set).
But just because these cards are the epitome of junk wax, that doesn’t mean they’re all worthless.
Indeed, these most valuable 1990 Fleer football cards, as determined from recent eBay sales of PSA 10 copies, are still popular buys today.
Hut! Hut!
1990 Fleer Jerry Rice (#13)
Rice had four straight 1000-yard receiving seasons and two Super Bowl rings to his credit by the time this card was issued.
He was looking like he just might be the greatest receiver of all time … and he fulfilled that promise in the subsequent 13 seasons.
Time has done little to dampen collectors’ love of Rice, and his 1990 Fleer card is a $25 buy in perfect graded condition.
Check prices on eBay (affiliate link)Check prices on Amazon (affiliate link)
1990 Fleer Bo Jackson (#256)
There have been other two-sport stars, but there has never been anyone quite like Bo Jackson.
When he embarked on his combined pro baseball-football careers in 1986 and 1987, folks thought he had a chance to make the Hall of Fame in both sports.
And he might have, too, if that pesky hip injury hadn’t derailed him.
Like Rice, though, collectors still love Bo after all these years, and you can expect to pay $25 or so for a PSA 10 copy.
Check prices on eBay (affiliate link)
Check prices on Amazon (affiliate link)
1990 Fleer Joe Montana (#10)
It’s hard to believe looking back at it now, but Joe Montana was done winning rings when this card was issued.
In leading the 49ers to a 55-10 victory over John Elway and the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV, Montana picked up his record-tying fourth championship.
Montana’s Canton ticket had long since been punched by that point, of course, and he’ll always loom large on lists like this.
Expect a $25 price tag for PSA 10 copies of his 1990 Fleer card.
Check prices on eBay (affiliate link)
Check prices on Amazon (affiliate link)
1990 Fleer Deion Sanders (#382)
Sanders may have been even flashier than Bo, even if his ceiling didn’t seem quite as high.
Of course, Neon Deion eventually gave up baseball to focus on the gridiron, and he stayed healthy long enough to make the Hall of Fame as a lockdown cornerback.
Today, Deion’s 1990 Fleer fetches about $25 in PSA 10 condition.
Check prices on eBay (affiliate link)
Check prices on Amazon (affiliate link)
1990 Fleer Troy Aikman (#384)
Aikman suffered through an 0-11 rookie season right before this card was issued, but the Cowboys were starting to assemble the pieces (Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, etc.) who would turn things around fast.
In 1992, Aikman and the ‘Boys won their first ring together, added a second the next year, and topped it all off with a third in 1995.
This second-year card of the Hall of Famer sells for about $25 today (PSA 10).
Check prices on eBay (affiliate link)
Check prices on Amazon (affiliate link)
1990 Fleer Barry Sanders (#284)
Sanders ran for 1470 yards and 14 touch