Completed master set – one last look at 1998 Topps

Once I completed the Topps Milestone set (see previous post), that meant I’d notched the master set for 1998 Topps.

This was a missing link type year – and there were some major obstacles!  I’ve now finished everything Topps from 1980 to 2001!  This also means I’ve finished off the second full decade of “Master Sets” that I’m doing!

Info about my base set:

How I put the base set together:

• 265 cards from series 1 hobby box
• 188 cards from series 2 hobby box
• 48 cards from trades
• 2 cards from an eBay lot

Card that completed my set: #160 – Derek Jeter

Best card (my opinion): #146 – Jose Guillen

Check out this link to see the rest of the base set post.

My “Master” Set Info:

685 cards – 503 “base”, 176 “insert”, 6 “other”

• Insert sets:  Rookie Class, Etch-A-Sketch, Mystery Finest Interleague, Mystery Finest Bordered, Flashback, Clout Nine, Hall Bound, Focal Point, Baby Boomers, Milestone, Clemente Tribute, Roberto Clemente Reprints, Roberto Clemente Finest
• Promo sets:  Pre-Production

Toughest card to track down:  Milestone #MS3 – Dennis Eckersley

There were a number of difficult cards to track down – so many of these insert sets were easier to find Chrome versions.  And for both Milestone and Hall Bound – I thought I had the finishing card coming my way until it got here and I realized it was the Chrome version.  Baby Boomers and the Flashback set were also similarly difficult.  But I’ll go with the one that took me the longest to track down – which was this card.

How I put the additional sets together:

• Promos – all 6 cards from eBay (as a set)
• Inserts – 17 cards from boxes, 4 from trades, 1 from a card show, 91 from COMC, 32 from Beckett’s Marketplace, 28 from Sportlots, 3 from eBay

Other product bests

Completed insert set – 1998 Topps Milestone

1998 had some tough insert sets – and I’ve now knocked them all off their pedestal!

Info about the set:

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Set description:  This was a retail-only set in 1998 Topps series 2.  This set focused on career milestones that these individual players were close to at the end of the 1997 season.  The front has an action photo and a larger posed photo over a blue foil cloud background.  The back discusses the milestones that player could reach in 1998.

Set composition:  10 cards, 1:36 odds (1998 Topps series 2 retail)

Hall of Famers:  6.  Eckersley, Griffey Jr., Gwynn, Maddux, Ripken, Thomas

The other 4 guys all had some level of steroid implications.

How I put the set together:

• 5 cards from COMC
• 3 cards from Beckett’s marketplace
• 1 card from Sportlots
• 1 card from eBay

Like the series 1 retail-only insert set from 1998 (Baby Boomers) – I didn’t get any from actual card packs, makes me sad 😦

Thoughts on the set:  This is a nice insert set, I like themes that these sets had around this time frame and it’s a very pretty design.  Reminds me of some mid-90s Upper Deck insert sets I also really liked.  This would have been fun to collect in 1998.

Card that completed my set:  #MS3 – Dennis Eckersley

I bought this from Beckett Marketplace on Black Friday.  I was looking for this card for what seemed like forever quite a while – the 2nd to last card I bought was in 2017.  In fact, at one point I thought I had this card and realized it was the Topps Chrome version (which are much more easy to find compared to the base Topps set).

Best card (my opinion):  #MS6 – Ken Griffey Jr.

Easy pick, this is the winner hands down!  Griffey with the backwards cap!

My Favorite Reds card:  There are none, though Griffey would be a Red!

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Here’s a scan of the set – front and back.

Any other tidbits:  Here’s the milestone predicted for the 1998 season for each player:

• Barry Bonds – MLB’s first 400 HR, 400 SB player (reached in 1998)
• Roger Clemens – 3,000 strikeouts (reached in 1998)
• Dennis Eckersley – 1,070 Games pitched – all-time leader (he passed Hoyt Wilhelm with the final appearance of his 1998 season and career – but Jesse Orosco passed him the next  season)
• Juan Gonzalez – 300 HR (reached in 1998)
• Ken Griffey Jr. – 300 HR (reached in 1998)
• Tony Gwynn – 9th batting title to pass Honus Wagner for NL mark (never reached) and 3,000 hits (reached but not in 1998)
• Greg Maddux – 200 wins and 2,000 strikeouts (both reached in 1998)
• Mark McGwire – 400 HR and 1,000 RBI (both reached in 1998)
• Cal Ripken Jr. – 400 HR and 1,000 XBH (both reached but not in 1998)
• Frrank Thomas – tie Joe DiMaggio for 2nd with 8 straight 100 RBI to start their career (full seasons

Rickey Henderson got to 2,000 runs in 1998 and was just the 6th person to reach that mark – he should have made this set!  Especially since the Thomas one was kind of a reach.

Completed insert set – 1998 Topps Baby Boomers

I finished up a really tough set recently with the Baby Boomers insert set from 1998.  A lot of these late 90’s insert sets are really tough – but there are Chrome versions that would be easier and this was no different.  I’d search for the card I needed, see it on COMC or another site in Topps Chrome but not the flagship card I actually needed.  I finally saw the elusive Justin Thompson on eBay at the start of this year, and the rest, as they say – was history!

Info about the set:

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Set description:  The cards have a firework background behind the player photo, and feature young stars in-the-making.  It’s a set with some pretty good names – Jeter, Nomar, Helton, Rolen.  The premise is that these are younger guys who are going to be the next super-studs.  They got some really right, some mostly right, a few not really correct.

Set composition:  15 cards, 1:36 odds (1998 Topps series 1 retail)

Hall of Famers:  11.  Jeter, Rolen, Guerrero

2 more could be added someday – Helton and Andruw Jones

How I put the set together:

• 7 cards from COMC
• 2 cards from Beckett’s marketplace
• 4 card from Sportlots
• 2 card from eBay

I didn’t get any from actual card packs, makes me sad 😦

Thoughts on the set:  It’s a pretty good insert set, I like themes they stick to and sets that are 15 cards as opposed to 50.  This would have been fun to chase back in 1998.

Card that completed my set:  #BB14 – Justin Thompson

I was looking for this card for quite a while – I was down to this and the Jeter after 2019.  The Jeter was findable on eBay because he’s Jeter, but this was one of those cards that you could find 20 Chrome versions but none of the regular.  I just didn’t see the regular version.  But I finally got it finished up when I saw it one the Bay!

Best card (my opinion):  #BB4, BB10 – Jose Cruz Jr., Vladimir Guerrero (Sr.)

A set like this – it’s pretty cool to have multi-generational family members included.  Jose Cruz Jr. was a stud prospect who did have a very nice MLB career.  Vlad obviously became a Hall of Famer and now his son has maybe even more potential than his dad!

My Favorite Reds card:  There are none, though Scott Rolen and Jose Guillen had some good years with the club later on!

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Here’s a scan of the set – front and back.

Any other tidbits:  Nothing I can think of, but…

I do wish I could do the completed master set post now – but I still need one more card to finish off the 1998 Master Set.  I still need the Milestone insert card for Dennis Eckersley – which, funny – I have accidentally purchased the Chrome version in the past!

Well, I did think of something – sounds like this is a set their bringing attention to for the current year Topps Archives product, so that’s kind of neat.

Completed insert set – 1998 Topps HallBound

I finished up a set recently through a COMC purchase.  I’ve been looking for this damn Paul Molitor card forever; I actually bought the chrome version on accident about 2 years ago!  Parallel confusion is no fun!

Info about the set:

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Set description:  These are die-cut glossy and shiny cards with a Cooperstown background with players that Topps determined were clearly bound for enshrinement there.  This was in the heart of the steroids era, before people really had much of an inkling of what was going on – so I bet this would have been pretty predictive if not for that.

Set composition:  15 cards, 1:36 odds (1998 Topps series 1 hobby)

Hall of Famers:  11.  Molitor, Gwynn, Boggs, Eckersley, Ripken, Maddux, Rickey, Griffey, Thomas, Piazza, Johnson

Basically, they were right on 11 guys, and 3 of the others are clear steroid holdouts.

How I put the set together:

• 1 card from series 1 hobby box
• 11 cards from COMC
• 2 cards from Beckett’s marketplace
• 1 card from Sportlots

Thoughts on the set:  Really cool set, something that Topps should do every 5-7 years or so!  It’s particularly interesting given the era.  Love the design.

Card that completed my set:  #HB1 – Paul Molitor

As mentioned, I accidentally bought the Chrome version of this card a while ago.  And just hadn’t seen the regular version.  But I finally got it finished up!

Best card (my opinion):  #HB8 – Rickey Henderson

For reasons I’ll get to below.

My Favorite Reds card:  There are none, though Barry Larkin would have obviously given them an increase in percentage correct here…

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Here’s a scan of the set – front and back.

Any other tidbits:  The Rickey Henderson card is the only Topps card depicting him in an Angels uniform and (counting the parallels), the only card of his from 1998.  He wasn’t in the base set for some odd reason – probably a numbers crunch and something of a pure oversight by Topps employees – but made the insert set.

Completed insert set – 1998 Topps Roberto Clemente Finest

I got caught up on all of my completed insert set posts last year.  Then I started posting at a far lesser clip, and I’ve finished off a few more sets.  The Clemente insert set is one of them.

Info about the set:

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Set description:  Clemente was the 3rd historic player honored with a reprint set (after Mickey Mantle in ’96 and Willie Mays in ’97).  Clemente was a good choice, as 1998 marked 25 years since his tragic death.  This set had reprints of the full run of his base Topps cards during his career.  Reprints of his 19 regular cards from 1955-1973 were issued across both series.  The 10 odd years come in series 1, while the 9 even years come in series 2.  There is a gold Clemente logo, created just for this set.  There was a chrome version and a regular – this is the finest version, which came one every other box.

Set composition:  19 cards, 1:72 odds (1998 Topps series 1, 2)

Hall of Famers:  1 – just Clemente.  None of his multi-player cards are included.

How I put the set together:

I got none from the boxes I bought.  I did actually get one refractor – just no regular finest versions.

• 17 cards from COMC
• 1 card from Beckett Marketplace
• 1 card from Sportlots

Card that completed my set:  #13 – 1967 Topps

I bought the last cards I needed from Sportlots a few weeks ago.

Thoughts on the set:  Retro sets are everywhere you look these days, but in 1998 there weren’t that many, and they were almost all reprints.  I like the Finest versions of these cards.  And, to be honest, I kind of wish Topps would abandon the shotgun approach and go back to individual players.  They do something similar with jumbo cards available online.  I think they could do some stuff like all the Griffey Topps cards, or even all the Willie McCovey Topps cards.  With the finest versions, it would do well.

Best card (my opinion):  #19 – 1973 Topps

I have to go with the same thing I did for the regular set.  The 1972 card is probably my favorite photo, but the 1973 card is great as well.  And there’s something awesome about seeing exactly 3,000 hits on the back of the card.

My Favorite Reds card:  There are none (obviously).

Here’s the scans of the whole set.

1998 Topps parallels – Barry Larkin – no more hunting left to do!!!

I just got the SuperChrome Refractor of Barry Larkin, which finished off the parallels for 1998.  Most of the post below has already been read, but with the new card I want to tidy up this post with all the pictures.

1998 Topps

Card I selected:  #302 – Barry Larkin

In 1998 I picked a player from my favorite team, only my 2nd Cincinnati in these parallel attempts.  There were a few more cards to get in 1998 – Topps went back to inserting a parallel in the base set called “Minted in Cooperstown”, and they had a special factory set made to sell at both parks of the 2 expansion teams.  There were 2 jumbo cards again – the Topps SuperChrome and its refractor version.  And Opening Day made its debut offering.

I’m back to not having the full complement of these cards.  I’m missing the Opening Day card, which I’ll be able to get pretty easily someday.  More difficult is the SuperChrome Refractor for Larkin, which I feel will be very difficult to come by.  I’ve never even seen it for sale.  So while I hope to redo this post someday, it may be a while.

# of cards (including the Topps card):  9

The parallel sets in 1998 include:

• Minted in Cooperstown
• Inaugural Diamondbacks
• Inaugural Devil Rays
• Opening Day
• Chrome
• Chrome Refractors
• SuperChrome
• SuperChrome Refractors

Scans:

1998 Topps #302

1998 Topps Minted in Cooperstown #302

This parallel set was called “Minted in Cooperstown”.  The cards have a bronze Hall of Fame stamp on them – and all the cards were printed in Cooperstown using a portable press.  The back is exactly the same as the regular card.

1998 Topps Inaugural Diamondbacks #302

1998 Topps Inaugural Devil Rays #302

Just as they’d done in the expansion year of 1993, Topps also produced 2 special factory sets for sale at both the Diamondbacks’ and Devil Rays’ team stores.  The cards are stamped with a logo of the respective team.  The back is exactly the same as the regular card.

1998 Topps Opening Day #198

Topps issued the first “Opening Day” set in 1998.  This 165 card set was retail only, and features the same photos from the base set.  The border is silver instead of the gold that the base Topps cards have, and there is an Opening Day logo instead of the Topps logo.  Naturally, the back has a different number and it has a silver background unlike the gold in the regular Topps set.

1998 Topps Chrome #302

Topps Chrome was back for the 3rd year.  This time it was a full version of all 503 cards in the regular Topps set, released in 2 series.  The front of the card reproduces the base set using Topps chromium technology and of course the logo is the Topps Chrome logo.  The back of the card is the same as the regular set except for the logo, slightly different copyright wording, and hollow block letters spelling “REFRACTOR” that are filled in when the card is a refractor.

1998 Topps Chrome Refractor #302

Inserted every 12 packs of Topps Chrome were refractors. A plastic diffraction effect that gives refractors a colorful, reflective shine.  The block letters mentioned above are filled in on the back so you can tell it’s a refractor on the back as well.

1998 Topps SuperChrome #6

1998 Topps SuperChrome Refractor #6

Topps came out with giant jumbo cards that were their own product called SuperChrome.  These cards came in 3-card packs that retailed for $4.99.  The front is the same as Topps Chrome except there’s a SuperChrome logo and the cards are 4-⅛” by 5-¾”.  The number on the back is different since it’s a smaller set.  There’s also a refractor version, which came 1 in 12 packs just like regular-sized ones, the refractor wording is on the back like the regular-size refractors.

The “Rainbow”:

Any sets I didn’t get:  That’s all of them you could get.

Other cards I would have liked to do:  The Jim Edmonds card (making an overhead catch) and Tom Glavine’s card (running the bases in a jacket) are very cool.  Also, A-Rod had a notable card since it was his first Topps card.  Finally, getting Sosa or McGwire in the year they had the historic home run chase would have been cool.  I was limited to the 36 guys in the SuperChrome set, and since I really like this Larkin, that was my choice!

Hopefully I can find that SuperChrome refractor someday!

Completed insert set – 1998 Topps Focal Point

As I mentioned a couple of posts ago, grabbing one of my Elusive Eight cards finished off a 1998 insert set for me.

Info about the set:

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Set description:  These cards show current stars with a colorful raised foil background that reminds me of something Upper Deck would put in its SP product.  The right side contains close-up cutouts of portions of that picture.  The back has a write-up of the player.

Set composition:  15 cards, 1:36 odds (1998 Topps series 2)

Hall of Famers:  5.  Cal Ripken, Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, Mike Piazza, Greg Maddux.

Vlad Guerrero could join them next year.

How I put the set together:

• 1 card from a trade
• 11 cards from COMC
• 1 card from Beckett’s marketplace
• 2 cards from Sportlots

I didn’t get any from the 1998 s2 box I opened – I don’t remember being too frustrated at the time but from the odds I should have pulled one.  I pulled 2 Mystery Finest from that box – which are also supposed to be 1 per box – so can’t complain.

Thoughts on the set:  This and the Flashback set are up there as my favorite inserts from 1998 Topps.  In general, I liked the stuff they were doing from the late 90’s much better than today.  The background effects are cool – kind of like the rookie subset in 1995 Upper Deck SP rookie cards and/or Pinnacle’s Dufex effect.  15 cards is a good amount, as well.  Not too many, but not too easy either.

Card that completed my set:  #FP11 – Chuck Knoblauch

 

I got this card from COMC a couple of months ago.

Best card (my opinion):  #FP2 – Nomar Garciaparra

 

This was the photo crop that I thought best fit into the design of the set.  He’s jumping in the air about to throw out a runner.  Topps focused in on his glove, grip on the ball and his feet in the air.  Cal Ripken’s card was a close 2nd.

My Favorite Reds card:  There are none.

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Here’s a scan of the full set – front and back.

Any other tidbits:  I find the break down of the photos is interesting in a set like this:

• 7 batters in mid-swing
• 3 batters starting down the first base line
• 2 pitchers mid-stride
• 1 fielder throwing
• 1 fielder in ready position
• 1 catcher cocking back to throw out a base stealer

A little detective work – 1998 Topps Kevin Polcovich

I have done this a couple other times, and it’s always fun.  I love when I can figure out the exact play that is depicted in an action shot.  The card that I thought was the best action shot in 1998 Topps – well, it’s one of those cards!

Kevin Polcovich is far from a memorable name, however this is a really cool card.  It’s a great action shot – better than the 1998 Stadium Club card that is clearly taken half of a second later.  But the other cool thing is – it was doable to figure out the specific play this card depicts.  To figure out when the photo was taken.

It was fairly easy to narrow down for a number of reasons.  First, the player sliding into second – Larry Walker – is clearly identifiable.  Second, Polcovich didn’t have a long career.  He played for the Pirates in 1997 and 1998.  Since this is a 1998 series 1 set – I know it’s from 1997.  That’s a Rockies road uni and a Pittsburgh home uniform – so it was clearly in Pittsburgh.  So just find a game at 3 Rivers where Polcovich either turned a double play or forced out Walker on second.

Polcovich played in 4 such games in 1997, in a series from July 31st to August 3rd in Pittsburgh.  Walker, who was the MVP that year, naturally played in all 4 of those games.  This picture came from the game on August 2nd – it’s the only possibly play that fits with this picture.  Walker was a stone cold killer in that series – he went 3 for 4 with a walk in this particular game.

The play in question occurred in the top of the 4th.  Walker led off with a single, then Andres Galarraga grounded into a force out from Tony Womack to Polcovich.  They didn’t get Galarraga at first.

The Pirates actually won this game, 6-5, despite Walker’s epic performance.  Walker was often viewed as a “Coors Field” MVP, but this series sure argues against that.  In Three Rivers (4 games), he went 10-16 with 2 walks, 4 homers and 3 doubles.  Pretty good, no?

Completed set – 1998 Topps

I caught up with almost all of my completed insert set posts.  I didn’t plan on getting into a hole of 40-50 sets, but I did and now I’m through almost all of it.  Now onto the really fun stuff – I’ve finished off 2 base Topps sets, which is awesome.

For this one, I haven’t finished off the “Master Set” yet – though I’m only a few insert cards away from that.  So it’s just the “complete set” post for now.  This is 1998 Topps.

Info about my set:

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How I put the set together:

• 265 cards from the series 1 hobby box
• 188 cards from the series 2 hobby box
• 48 cards from trades
• 2 cards from eBay

Card that completed my set:  #160 – Derek Jeter (from an eBay lot)

I got this and Vinny Castilla’s card back as part of eBay lot in September of last year – so almost a year ago!

Set composition:  503 cards (433 individual ML player cards*, 16 Prospects, 10 Expansion Team, 12 Draft Picks, 4 Checklists, 1 Tribute, 10 Season Highlights, 7 World Series Highlights, 10 Interleague Play)

*The 433 individual player cards include 10 All-Star Rookies

Representation of ’97 MLB season:

8 of the Expansion Team cards are dual-player, and the Prospect cards all have 3 players on them.  9 players were in the set twice after being shown with their new team in series 2.  Doing the math, that’s 490 players represented in the set (433+48+18-9).

Of the 48 guys in the Prospect cards, 8 played in MLB in 1997 – meaning 40 didn’t.  The 2 guys on the single-player Expansion Team cards – Brian Anderson and Tony Saunders – played MLB in 1997 – but the other 16 didn’t.  3 more guys had regular cards but didn’t play in 1997 (all were expansion players).  That leaves 431 players who played in the majors.

The 431 players represent 38.4% out of the 1,123 players who played in MLB in 1997.

Earliest active player from this set:  #21 – Roberto Clemente, #200 – Dennis Eckersley (active players)

Just like 1997 Topps, there are two answers to this.  And just like 1997 Topps, Eck is the earliest active player.  He made his debut on April 12, 1975, pitching the last 1.2 innings of a 1-run Cleveland loss to Milwaukee.  Eckersley beats out Denny Martinez, who debuted in 1976.

Clemente is the earliest (and only) retired player – making his debut on April 17, 1955.

Last active player from this set:  

UPDATED THIS POST A FEW YEARS LATER:

#254 – Adrian Beltre

Both Bartolo Colon and Beltre played through the end of the 2018 season on the Texas Rangers, but Beltre technically played at a later date.  Then 45 – Colon’s last start was September 5th – a game which he lost to finish with a 7-12 record (247-188 for his career), and his last game was an inauspicious relief appearance of a 13-0 loss to Seattle where he gave up 4 runs.

Beltre played in game 162 for the Mariners that year on September 30th.  He went 1-for-2 with a single before being replaced after his 2nd at bat (a deep fly ball out against Roenis Elias).

Originally:

#254 – Adrian Beltre, #257 – David Ortiz, #504 – Alex Rodriguez, #360 – Bartolo Colon (all still active)

That’s quite a list.  Bartolo was the only one of these guys with a card in 1997, so he’s joined by these 3 in 1998 (for now).  A-Rod got his first Topps card in 1998 after not signing a contract with the company.  Beltre and Ortiz are in the prospect set.  It will be interesting to see who keeps going.  Ortiz has said he’s going to retire, but the other 3 plan to play next year if possible.

Player with the most cards in the set:  5 players with 3 cards:

Matt Williams is in the World Series subset and has 2 regular cards.  Gary Sheffield has cards in the World Series and Interleague subsets, Juan Gonzalez has a card in both interleague subsets, and Nomar Garciaparra and Tino Martinez were in the Season Highlight and Interleague subsets (in addition to their regular card).

The other 4 guys have an Interleague and is basically only 1 subset, with 10 season highlights cards.

Matt Williams – #12, #439, #280 (World Series)

Gary Sheffield – #166, #279 (World Series), #483 (Interleague Preview)

Tino Martinez – #284, #269 (Season Highlight), #483 (Interleague Preview)

Nomar Garciaparra – #335, #268 (Season Highlight), #481 (Interleague Preview)

Juan Gonzalez – #30, #273(Interleague Highlight), #482 (Interleague Preview)

First Card and the Hundreds: #1 – Tony Gwynn, #100 – Mike Piazza, #200 – Dennis Eckersley, #300 – Roger Clemens, #400 – Delino DeShields, #500 – Dustin Carr / Luis Cruz EXP

Highest book value:  #257 – David Ortiz / Richie Sexson / Daryle Ward

The first Topps card for Ortiz slightly outpaces the A-Rod first Topps card below.  According to Beckett.

Most notable card: #504 – Alex Rodriguez

After refusing to sign a deal with Topps for the first 4-5 years of his career, A-Rod was a late addition and Topps snuck him in as the last card in the set.

Best card (my opinion):  #146 – Jose Guillen

Really cool card with Clemente’s statue in the background.  It goes particularly well because Clemente was the “retired player du jour” honored in the set.  Guillen is from the Dominican Republic, whereas Clemente was from Puerto Rico.  But the Caribbean connection is cool

Second best card (also my opinion):  #287 – Brian Jordan

I had a tough time picking these top few cards.  I was between the Guillen card above, this card and the A-Rod card, which I feel is pretty high on the iconic scale.  I just love this card – Jordan hadn’t played football in a long time at this point, but it’s indicative of the creativity in some of the shots for this set.  For “best card” – I had to put the Guillen above because of the Clemente factor.  But I think this is a better/cooler pose in and of itself.

Best subset card:  #479 – Ken Griffey Jr. / Mike Piazza INTP

The two guys who just went into the HOF together.  I was just there – and one thing that was cool was that Griffey and Piazza had incredible chemistry together.  Was really fun – I’m naturally a huge Griffey fan but I came away a Piazza fan after going to Cooperstown last month.

Favorite action photo:  #79 – Kevin Polcovich

There aren’t a ton of really great action shots in this set, but I got it down to two cards I was considering for this.  Todd Helton’s card was the one that didn’t make the cut.  Helton’s card features him following through on a swing on a day game.  The shadow effects are really cool in the batters box.  But this card of Polcovich – whose career was certainly forgettable compared to Helton’s – shows him levitating over a cloud of dust, after trying to turn a DP!

Favorite non-action photo:  #287 – Brian Jordan

As mentioned above – I think if you consider the pose alone, this card is a bit cooler than the Clemente card.

My Favorite Reds card:  #240 – Pete Rose Jr.

The only way a Pete Rose could get into a Topps set since 1989.  I also really like the Barry Larkin card.

Other Notable Cards:  Here’s some of the other cards I considered for some of the “accolades” up above.

Completed insert set – 1998 Topps Interleague Mystery Finest

This set takes a concept Topps had used in 1996, another it had used in 1997 and merged them.  The idea of Mystery Finest cards first came around in 1995 in football, and had its first baseball application in 1996.  There weren’t any Mystery Finest cards in 1997, but there were cards made in honor of the beginning of interleague play.  This 1998 set combined those two “Finest” themes for the 1998 Topps Interleague Mystery Finest set.  That’s a mouthful!

Info about the set:

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Set description:  These cards have Finest-based technology, but when you pulled the cards, the fronts have a black coating.  There are 4 players on the back from 2 teams who played in interleague play in 1997, with a write-up about how they did in the series.  One of those 4 guys is the mystery player on the front – you need to peel the coating to figure out which player you have.  After you’ve peeled, the fronts have a silver background with stars in the design and the background faded.  The player’s name is on the bottom.  There are 20 cards – so only 5 matchups available.

Set composition:  20 cards, 1:36 odds (1998 Topps series 1)

Hall of Famers:  6. Cal Ripken, Greg Maddux, Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Mike Piazza, Frank Thomas.

How I put the set together:

• 1 cards from my series 1 hobby box
• 9 cards from Beckett’s Marketplace
• 7 cards from COMC
• 3 cards from Sportlots

Card that completed my set: #ILM-16 – Tim Salmon

I got this card from Sportlots in December, 2015, when I was going a bit crazy with Black Friday sales.

Thoughts on the set:  I’m usually a little bit wary with inserts in flagship that have the same name and technology as another Topps product.  But aside from that, this is a cool idea with the Mystery Finest.  When I opened my series 1 box from 1998, I got to peel a card.  It was like a little more fun after I was done opening packs.  The interleague info is interesting, and the design, while not my favorite, isn’t bad.  like the design, I like matching up players from two different leagues.  I like that the theme was very relevant at the time – Inter-league play was about to start.  In its first year, inter-league play matched up teams from the parallel division – so you’d have true rivals on these cards.  Remember when inter-league play first came out how awesome that was?  Cincinnati is matched up with Cleveland in the battle of Ohio.  Baltimore was matched up with Philadelphia – a natural rivalry 2 hours away!  Kansas City versus St. Louis – a rematch of the 1985 I-70 series!  Dodgers versus the Angels for LA supremacy!  And of course – Yankees versus the Mets!

Best card (my opinion): #ILM-20 – Albert Belle

I sometimes forget Belle played for the White Sox, and was a helluva 1-2 punch with the Big Hurt.  I like this card.

My Favorite Reds card:  There are none.

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Here are both sides of the cards.  You can tell by the scan, the KC / St. Louis card is actually a refractor.  I ordered a regular card and got that, but I didn’t feel like sending it back to the seller for a rarer version 🙂

Any other tidbits:  Here is a list of guys in both this set and the 1997 Interleague Finest set.  That’s 8 out of a possible 10, with the Yankees and Rockies being the teams with cards in the 1998 set who had different players in the 1997 set.  And Albert Belle was the Indians’ guy in 1997.

• Frank Thomas
• Sammy Sosa
• Tim Salmon
• Mike Piazza
• Todd Hundley
• Ken Griffey Jr.
• Chipper Jones
• Cal Ripken
• Albert Belle (Indians in 1997)