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The 1998 Topps Tek Thread

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onionring9

Active member
Administrator
Aug 7, 2008
3,490
12
First time in maybe more than two years that I've added a Belle diffractor but finally landed one. Pattern 42 and was mislabeled on eBay.

View attachment 59409

16th different diffractor, 17th overall.

Probably one of the other two sellers that I bought from, Congratulations!

Two mislabled diffractors. One win, one loss. I'll take it that as a straight up win! 43 down, 47 to go.

nd.jpg
d.jpg
 

togaman

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2008
1,298
26
Houston
One day I will find my second Big Mac diffractor as one of 14 cards I need for a second 90 card diffractor set

1998 Topps TEK Diffractor want list (Set # 2)…14 to go out of 90 to complete set 9,13,14,16,30,51,57,61,66,67,74,78,80,85

My only Big Mac is Pattern# 70 which was the number of HRS Big Mac hit that year I believe

43 of 90 is quite impressive.... even more Big Mac 98 TEK Diffractors than RR I believe
I wonder if that guy who was working on Justice set ever completed his Justice Diffractor set. I remember he had 70-80 of them

Probably one of the other two sellers that I bought from, Congratulations!

Two mislabled diffractors. One win, one loss. I'll take it that as a straight up win! 43 down, 47 to go.

nd.jpg
d.jpg
 

MansGame

Active member
Sep 25, 2009
15,324
20
Dallas, TX
That is so damn impressive. You have always been a collector I have marveled at with how deep your collection has gone and essentially doing what I do but at a much higher level given how much product McGwire has out there and continues to have out there, I couldn't do it. Not to mention I think you are over 90% of his cards and I have dreamed of that for Belle... getting really close. I'd be there no question if I could knock out more Tek cards.

Probably one of the other two sellers that I bought from, Congratulations!

Two mislabled diffractors. One win, one loss. I'll take it that as a straight up win! 43 down, 47 to go.

nd.jpg
d.jpg
 

togaman

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2008
1,298
26
Houston
Im starting to think that there are 10 or less of each specific card #/pattern # 1998 Topps TEK Diffractors. I have no idea how many the Colorado TEK collector guy has but almost half the diffractors I have in my personal 98 TEK collection in sets I am slowly slowly building are ones RR does not appear to have from a year or two old Want/Dupe list he sent me which make me think there are even fewer of each specific Diffractor than I suspected.

It still appears that Topps did not make or distribute any pattern # 49 diffractors of any of the 90 players but getting them to acknowledge this (or even know for that matter) has been a fruitless request for information.

If anyone Wants a Todd Dunwoody 36 pat 63 diffractor (my only dupe) I will trade it for any 1998 TEK diffractor I don't have for my 90 card diffractor sets # 2 and # 3 with 14 and 35 cards to go to complete, respectively...

1998 Topps TEK Diffractor want list (Set # 2)…14 to go out of 90 to complete set
9,13,14,16,30,51,57,61,66,67,74,78,80,85

1998 Topps TEK Diffractor want list (Set # 3)…35 to go out of 90 to complete set
1,3,6,7,9,10,13,14,15,16,17,23,26,27,30,34,36,39,43,44,45,47,50,51,56,57,60,61,66,67,74,78,80,85,87
 

RStadlerASU22

Active member
Jan 2, 2013
8,881
11
Some interesting 3 am last second bidding last night by two FCB members to drive the price sky high for the Bonds pattern # 63 diffractor. Sellers probably think that bidding wars for diffractors between 2 or 3 guys is the fair market value for diffractors and then they list $6.25 common diffractors for $ 25. I bought a Palmeiero pattern # 12 diffractor for $7 something plus postage which is way more than I usually pay as for me buying any diffractors I dont have cheap is part of the collecting fun....

Ever think that those involved in 3 AM snipe wars and adding a card they want to the collection is their definition of collecting fun??? It seems like they are paying market value, and you are the one who is not. You follow this post by saying you feel there could be less than 10 copies of each out there, but you want them for pennies???

Ryan
 

brian26

Member
Nov 12, 2010
679
10
Some interesting 3 am last second bidding last night by two FCB members to drive the price sky high for the Bonds pattern # 63 diffractor. Sellers probably think that bidding wars for diffractors between 2 or 3 guys is the fair market value for diffractors and then they list $6.25 common diffractors for $ 25. I bought a Palmeiero pattern # 12 diffractor for $7 something plus postage which is way more than I usually pay as for me buying any diffractors I dont have cheap is part of the collecting fun....

The constant internet creeper references to "FCB members" and "that RR guy" are a bit much. Please stop.
 

brian26

Member
Nov 12, 2010
679
10
Im starting to think that there are 10 or less of each specific card #/pattern # 1998 Topps TEK Diffractors. I have no idea how many the Colorado TEK collector guy has but almost half the diffractors I have in my personal 98 TEK collection in sets I am slowly slowly building are ones RR does not appear to have from a year or two old Want/Dupe list he sent me which make me think there are even fewer of each specific Diffractor than I suspected.

Another passive-agressive comment, "Hey, RR guy, I have a bunch of cards that you need, haha."

Creepy.
 

togaman

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2008
1,298
26
Houston
So here is current list of a few guys who are still chasing some TEKs

1998 TEK Collector Player Want Lists
Ben Grieve…Card #1…Pattern #s …4,5,7,10,12,31,33,46,55,59,90
Kerry Wood….Card # 2…Pattern s…2(2),3,4,9,19,20,25,30,31,40,46,50,51,63,64,67,71,72,75,81,82, 86,87,90
* Frank Thomas..Card # 6..Pattern #s ..1,4,6,79…….patrick182 & togaman (Pat #s 1,6)
* Bernie Williams..Card # 7...Pattern ….1(2),7,32,67,71,82,86..Kid4hof03 and togaman (Pat #s 1,7)
Plus 1,71,77,86 (joey12508)
* Brady Anderson...Card # 16...Pattern #s ... 1,39,54,62,80,83...watcher033 & togaman (Pat # 1)
* Tony Gwynn...Card # 23.. Pattern #s ..1,4,15,23,28,29,30,34,56,62,65,68,69,75,90 ....gwynn545 & togaman (Pat #s 1,23)
* Sandy Alomar, Jr....Card # 27..Patterns #s ....1,8,11,13,21,27(2),55,71,78,83,86...shadowking86 & togaman (Pat # 1,27)
* Paul O'Neill....Card # 37...Pattern #s ...1,90...Yanks2151 (Set # 2) & togaman (Pat # 1)
* Randy Johnson....Card # 39...Pattern #s ...39.... bigunitcards & togaman (Pat #s 1,39)
* Albert Belle...Card # 47...Pattern #s .... 1,2.........MansGame & togaman (Pat # 1)
* Jeremy Burnitz…. Card # 48 pattern # 1,48.....togaman (Pat #s 1,48)
* Greg Maddux…Card # 50..Pattern #s 1,4(2),9,11,18,24,37,46,67,69,81… . Kirby/Karen & togaman (Pat # 1)
* Ellis Burks....Card # 53....Pattern #s ...1,4,15,25,42,44,60,67,83,86... MetalAndy & togaman (Pat #s 1,53)
* Roberto Alomar…Card # 67..Pattern #s 1(2),2,5,11,13,21,23,32,49R,61,63R,64R,66, 67….nitaliano(Nick) & togaman (Pat # 1,67)
* Mike Mussina....Card # 80...Pattern #s … 62,87,89 (pmolse) and 1,35,90.......togaman
* Jay Buhner....Card # 81....Pattern #s .. 41,57,81...RustyGreerFan & togaman (Pat # 81)
* AJ Hinch....Card # 83...Pattern # 56,83........togaman
* Andres Galarraga..Card # 85..Pattern #s s..1,4,5,6,12,15,28,33,36,51,52,49,53,56,76,78,79,81,82,83,88,89,90
* Jim Thome...Card # 89...Pattern #s ....4,16,17,22,24,34,52,54,59,63,83,90.....u2me47
* Ray Lankford....Card # 90...Pattern # 1,90.......togaman
* Ray Lankford…..Card # 90 pattern #s 77…r116 (ray)
* Ray Lankford....Card # 90... Pattern #s 45,65,77,79,83…..George

If anyone on this list has picked up any send me email to [email protected] and let me know and I will upgrade . IF you want your list removed let me know and I will edit and delete.

If anyone has any on these want lists to help anyone with regular 98 TEKs then now is a good time to do so.
 
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togaman

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2008
1,298
26
Houston
Does Beckett still publish magazines or is it only digital? Assuming the ladder.

They still do a monthly Beckett for about $ 10. I guit buying it for the most part as very little changed other than the addition of a plethora of new releases and subsets
 

togaman

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2008
1,298
26
Houston
Going to a Tri-Star show here in Houston in a few minutes
Will take TEK lists along with me.

Dont go to many shows anymore but and the last couple I went to no dealers had any 98 TEKs but you never know
 
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onionring9

Active member
Administrator
Aug 7, 2008
3,490
12
That is so damn impressive. You have always been a collector I have marveled at with how deep your collection has gone and essentially doing what I do but at a much higher level given how much product McGwire has out there and continues to have out there, I couldn't do it. Not to mention I think you are over 90% of his cards and I have dreamed of that for Belle... getting really close. I'd be there no question if I could knock out more Tek cards.

Thanks for the kind words! Though I think I have a much, much easier time finding McGwires than you do Belles since people are more likely to try and cash in on him. And man, 89.7%, coooooome oooooooon almost there!!
 

onionring9

Active member
Administrator
Aug 7, 2008
3,490
12
Going to a Tri-Star show here in Houston in a few minutes
Will take TEK lists along with me.
Havent seen any TEKs and Eddie guy from Alvin emailed me saying he had no singles but would be at show

Dont go to many shows anymore but and the last couples I went to no dealers had any 98 TEKs but you never know

If you find any of these of McGwire, let me know (last of my wants for '98)!

diffractors (obviously)
pre-production pattern 86
any golds
 

togaman

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2008
1,298
26
Houston
So just got back from a few hours in afternoon at Tri-Star show in Houston and then to See Deadpool. None of the dealers had any 1998 TEKs nor was there any Eddie from Alvin to be found.
 
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togaman

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2008
1,298
26
Houston
What value or reliability is PSA if they slap the Diffraction or Diffractor on the label where seller then list card as Diffractors or Diffractions which are clearly NOT diffractors or ebay? Seems like a big Scam to me
 
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