I’m changing up how I do these master set posts a little bit. In the past, I’ve basically reposted my base card set and added a “master set” section at the end of that post. That seems a little silly in this case – I just posted about the 1994 Topps base set. So I don’t need the repeat, I’ll just link to the completed set post.
OK, enough with the administrative stuff – I finished up the master set to 1994 Topps. I’ve now completed all my Topps master sets through 1994!
I’m going to give myself the proverbial pat on the back, I’m gonna toot my own horn, I’ll grandstand, gloat and shout a little cock-a-doodle-doo. I kind of assumed this would either be the last “master set” I’d finish, or I wouldn’t even finish it at all. There were 2 major obstacles here. The first was the Topps Spanish Legends set. I had been 2 cards short for what seemed like forever (probably only 3 years – but still). I finally finished that up with an eBay purchase.
The other, even more challenging portion was the Darren Dreifort Topps Golden Spikes promo. I probably didn’t even need to consider that part of the master set (and the same could be said for the Spanish Legends set). But both of those seemed affiliated to 1994 Topps flagship to me, so I kept my eyes open. When I finally got the Dreifort – I was ecstatic! So enough gasconading! Without further ado, here’s the info for this master set.
Info about my base set:
How I put the base set together:
- 307 cards from series 1 wax box
- 259 cards from series 2 wax box
- 222 cards from trades
- 2 cards I already had from back in the day
- 1 card from a card show
- 1 card from Sportlots
Card that completed my set: #379 – Mark McLemore
Best card (my opinion): #180 – George Brett
Check out this link to see the rest of the base set post.
My “Master” Set Info:
1,005 cards – 792 “base”, 132 “update”, 62 “insert”, 19 “other”
- Update set: Traded
- Insert sets: Black Gold, Leyendas, Traded Finest
- Promo sets: Pre-Production, Factory Pre-Production, Golden Spikes
How I put the additional sets together:
- Traded & Finest Traded – factory set from a card show
- Promos – all 19 cards from eBay
- Black Gold – 2 from wax boxes (1 each series), 3 from trades, 39 from Sportlots
- Leyendas – 3 from Sportlots, 5 from COMC, 2 from eBay
Update set composition: 132 cards (107 players*, 19 Draft Picks, 1 Prospects card, 2 Anatomy of a Trade, 2 Sandberg Tribute, 1 checklist)
*Paul Shuey’s card has the Future Star design
In the update set not in the base set: 50 players (including the 4 players on the Prospect card)
Total in base and update sets: 812 different players, 53 draft picks
Other product bests
Highest book value in the Update set: #112T – Paul Konerko RC
A borderline Hall of Famer is the biggest rookie card in the set.
Most notable card from the Update set: #42T – Pedro Martinez / Delino DeShields AT
I have to think that in 1994, the “anatomy of the trade” card for the Delino DeShields and Pedro Martinez wasn’t viewed as much more than an anomaly. But this became a pretty big deal, and since I just finished reading Pedro’s biography, it was poignant to me. The back points out how both teams were trying to replace something they’d lost. The Expos replaced on Martinez for another, as they were losing ace Denny. The Dodgers lost Jody Reed to free agency and needed to replace him. The trade was viewed as a bit of a steal by LA; it sure didn’t turn out that way.
By the way, Dennis Martinez and Jody Reed are cards #7 and #57, respectively, in the ’94 Topps Traded set.
Most notable insert card: Traded Finest #7 – Frank Thomas
There isn’t a lot of insert sets to choose from, and I don’t think of any of them blow you away as iconic for the hobby. The Finest insert cards in the Traded factory set do seem the most significant. In 1994, Topps was coming fresh off of the gold mine they created with Topps Finest in 1993, and they were starting to branch the brand out to be more than just its own product; they inserted the cards in other sets.
Best Insert card (my opinion): Traded Finest #1 – Greg Maddux
The Traded Finest insert set isn’t just moderately significant; it’s the coolest one out of the 3 total insert sets, in my opinion. Man, for the days when there were 3 total insert sets between Topps and Topps Traded! Anyway, they put Greg Maddux batting on his card. That wins this award!
Lifetime Topps project 
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