10 Most Valuable 1994 Fleer Baseball Cards

1994 Fleer #321 Nolan Ryan

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $115

Though he wasn't on the field during the 1994 MLB season, Hall of Fame hurler Nolan Ryan was still very much active in the hobby in 1994.

After 27 years in the Majors, it was hard to imagine a set without Nolan Ryan.

So multiple card manufacturers continued to include him in their base checklists, much to the delight of collectors everywhere.

Some showed him saluting the crowd or in some kind of "farewell" atmosphere.

But Fleer held steady with the theme most often used on cards throughout his incredible career: an image of Ryan ready to unleash one of his trademark fastballs against an opposing hitter.

After tying Cap Anson's MLB record with 27 years played from 1966-93, Ryan left a legacy as one of the game's biggest stars who dominated through multiple eras of the game.

When the dust settled on his career, Ryan had pitched 5,386 innings in 805 games, with 324 wins to go along with records for no-hitters (7), strikeouts (5,714), walks (2,795), and hits per nine innings (6.6).

1994 Fleer #286 Ken Griffey Jr.

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $85

As if he hadn't already proven how incredibly talented he was through the first five years of his career, Ken Grifey Jr. kicked things into overdrive during the 1994 season.

Through the first half of the year, Griffey gave fans one of the best shows in modern baseball history, setting off on a torrid home run pace.

In May alone, Griffey had 15 home runs.

By July 1, he had 32, two more than Babe Ruth's record pace by that date.

The baseball world sat on edge all season, wondering if The Kid had what it took to surpass Roger Maris's single-season record of 61.

Seattle fans could keep track of his pace by the white tick marks painted above his head on a mural of the superstar on a downtown building.

No player was more admired that season.

At the All-Star break, fans voted for the superstar centerfielder a then-record 6,079,688 times, crushing Rod Carew's previous record of 4,292,740 votes in 1977.

Eventually, the players' strike would bring his streak to a crashing halt at 40, leaving the baseball world always to wonder if he could've caught Maris.

Still, he'd turned in back-to-back 40-home run seasons to help finish second in the MVP vote, solidifying his place as one of baseball's biggest stars.

1994 Fleer #239 Don Mattingly

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $75

For the ninth time in his storied career, New York Yankees icon Don Mattingly earned a Gold Glove for his defensive brilliance at first base in 1994.

As a plus, his bat experienced a bit of resurgence as his batting average rose to .304, making it the first time since 1989 that he'd eclipsed the .300 mark.

Mattingly and the New York Yankees were fantastic during the 1994 season.

They began to look like a team destined for playoff action as early as May, utilizing a solid mix of talent on both sides of the ball.

And by August 12, 1994, their captain, Donnie Baseball, looked like he might finally get a crack at playoff action as his Yankees stood 6.5 games in front of the Baltimore Orioles for first in the AL East.

And then, like so many other times before, the playoff door was shut.

The MLBPA could not agree with league ownership on certain demands, kicking off what turned out to be the longest work stoppage in league history.

On September 14, commissioner Bud Selig called off the rest of the season.

There would be no playoffs for Mattingly, the Yankees, or anyone that year.

1994 Fleer #84 Bo Jackson

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $60

The California Angels struggled in 1994, finishing with a 47-68 record and in fourth place in the AL West.

But every team in the AL West struggled in 1994, as even the division-winning Texas Rangers turned in a losing record at 52-62.

Yet, the Angels' newly-acquired free agent, Bo Jackson, exceeded expectations.

After slashing .232/.289/433 in 85 games for the Chicago White Sox in 1993, Bo Jackson turned things up a notch in Southern California with a .279/.344/.507 slash line for the Angels in 1994.

His batting average and on-base percentage turned out to be career highs.

And his 13 home runs and 45 RBIs in just 201 at-bats proved he still had plenty of pop left in his bat.

Jackson was well worth the one-year, $1 million the Angels had invested in the legendary superstar.

During the extended 1994 offseason caused by the MLBPA strike on August 12, 1994, Jackson spent the extra downtime with his wife and kids.

And, in the process, he learned that he'd much rather dedicate himself to being a closer husband and father.

Though he could have easily suited up for another team in 1995, Jackson decided to retire entirely from professional sports.

1994 Fleer #19 Cal Ripken Jr.

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $50

When the MLBPA strike began on August 12, 1994, the door slammed on the possibility of multiple potentially significant achievements from occurring.

We'll never know if the Expos or Don Mattingly could've made their first trip to the playoffs that season.

We'll never know if Tony Gwynn could have pulled off a .400+ batting average or Griffey Jr. or Matt Williams could've snapped Roger Maris's then-single-season home run record.

However, there was still some silver lining for those fans willing to look hard enough: Cal Ripken Jr.'s streak of 2,009 consecutive games was only temporarily on pause.

On August 10, 1994, Ripken played in his 2,009th consecutive game on the road against the New York Yankees, going 3-5 at the plate to help the Orioles to an 8-1 victory.

And that was it.

The MLBPA began their strike a couple of days later and Ripken's chase for 2,131 consecutive games would sit on the shelf until next season.

And by the time Ripken made his 2,131st consecutive appearance on September 6, 1995, the fans' relationship with baseball was still not fully recovered.

But baseball's Iron Man certainly did his part to get things back on track.

1994 Fleer #334 Rickey Henderson

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $50

When the Toronto Blue Jays were looking to make another deep playoff run in 1993 after winning the 1992 World Series, it was no surprise that they knocked on Oakland's door that July.

Henderson was one of the pieces that would bring another ring to Toronto and the teams soon reached an agreement on a multi-player trade.

Though his bat wasn't as effective as usual while in Toronto, Henderson remained an electric threat on the base paths.

As fate would have it, he would be on base when Joe Carter belted that historic series-winning shot in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies to seal the repeat.

And then he hit free agency, eventually signing with the Athletics and returning to Oakland that December.

Coming off the World Series high from 1993, Henderson's experience in 1994 was quite the opposite.

Oakland just wasn't a good team in 1994 and, at the time of the strike, their record stood at a dismal 52-62.

Yet, the entire AL West was bad that year and Oakland sat just behind the Texas Rangers at 51-63 for first place in the division.

Henderson would have a bounce-back season in 1995, but the Athletics remained unimpressive and finished last in the AL West at 67-77.

1994 Fleer #665 Tony Gwynn

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $50

The baseball world was treated to many what-ifs during the strike-shortened 1994 MLB season.

In hindsight, maybe "teased" is a better word than "treated."

Matt Williams and Ken Griffey Jr. had an outside shot at breaking Roger Maris's then single-season home run record.

At 74-40, the MLB-leading Montreal Expos were on pace to visit the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

And legendary hitting wizard Tony Gwynn had maintained a .394 batting average through 110 games for the San Diego Padres.

Although George Brett came close in 1980 with a .390 average, no player since Ted Williams hit .406 during the 1941 campaign had been able to hit over .400 for an entire MLB season.

With eight career batting titles to his name, there was no better hitter than Tony Gwynn during his era.

If anyone was going to hit .400, it was him, and the 1994 season looked like it was the best chance he would get.

After the season, Gwynn said, "When they finally pulled the plug on the season, you get kicked to the curb like everyone else. I'd be lying if I didn't say I wanted to make a crack at .400."

1994 Fleer #96 Frank Thomas

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $40

During the 1990s, Hall of Famer Frank Thomas was one of the last guys you wanted to see step into the box if you were an opposing pitcher.

Well, pitchers really didn't want to face Thomas at any point in his career, for that matter.

But from 1991-1997, Thomas was especially dominant at the plate, setting the record for most consecutive seasons (7) with a .300+ batting average,  20+ home runs, and more than 100 walks, RBIs, and runs scored.

Of those seven seasons, his 1994 campaign was arguably the most impressive since he kept the streak intact with just 399 at-bats.

For perspective, his next fewest at-bats during that streak came in 1995 when he had nearly 100 more at-bats with 493.

To put it simply, Thomas was brilliant in 1994, slashing .353/.487/.729 with 38 home runs, 101 RBIs, 106 runs scored and 109 walks with a blistering MLB-best and career-high OPS (1.217).

At the time of the strike, he was on a legitimate trajectory to potentially become the first player since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967 to win the Triple Crown.

Though he wouldn't win the honor unanimously as he did in 1993, Thomas rightfully took home his second-straight MVP award at the end of the season.

1994 Fleer #149 George Brett

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $40

After making his debut for the Kansas City Royals on August 2, 1973, George Brett was the heart and soul of the team for 21 seasons and the most iconic player in franchise history.

And then, on September 25, 1993, at a press conference, Brett announced that he would retire, citing a loss of joy for the game.

"The game became a job," Brett said. "It wasn't a game anymore. And baseball shouldn't be treated that way."

Over his legendary career, Brett earned himself a couple of exclusive spots in MLB history.

Brett remains just one of four players, along with Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Dave Winfield, to retire with more than 3,000 hits, more than 300 home runs, and a batting average above .300.

He's also the only player ever to win a batting title in three different decades, winning the crown in 1976 (.333), 1980 (.390), and 1990 (.329).

As big of a superstar and baseball legend as Brett was, some say that his exit from the game that year was primarily overshadowed by Nolan Ryan's retirement.

Regardless, there's no question that Brett remains one of the greatest third basemen ever to step on the field.

1994 Fleer #217 Kirby Puckett

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $40

If there were runners in scoring position for the Minnesota Twins during the 1994 MLB season and Kirby Puckett was at the plate, there was a good chance he would drive them home.

In just 439 at-bats, the Hall of Fame centerfielder paced the American League with a whopping 112 RBIs.

So, out of roughly every four at-bats that season, Puckett would drive in a run for the Twins.

For perspective on how hot he was in 1994, during Puckett's 1988 season when he set a career-high of 121 RBIs, it took him an MLB-best 657 at-bats to do so.

Unfortunately, they didn't turn all those runs into as many wins as the team would've liked, as Minnesota finished in fourth place in the AL Central with a disappointing 53-60 record.

Yet the fans still loved their Twins, and especially their Hall of Fame hero who had helped bring two World Series rings to the Metrodome in 1987 and 1991.

On the season, Puckett earned his seventh trip to the Midsummer Classic and a sixth Silver Slugger to add to his trophy case.

1994 Fleer Baseball Cards In Review

Overall, I think the 1994 Fleer baseball card set is simply a nice-looking set with a straightforward look and feel to it.

There's nothing fancy about it.

And, again, the lack of any major rookie cards keeps this set well under the radar for most collectors.

What it lacks in rookie cards, though, it more than makes up for in some great base cards of some of the biggest stars and Hall of Famers of the day.

There were only a couple of subsets:

• Super Star Specials (#706 - 713)
• Checklists (#714 - 720)

But there were a ton of inserts (twelve to be precise), including "Rookie Sensations", "Lumber Company", "All-Stars" and "Major League Prospects" to keep collectors interested.

Overall, collectors don't give this set much love but it still provides plenty of good memories and nostalgia from that era.