1998 Pinnacle Performers Swing for the Fences

[h=3]Swing for the Fences[/h] Similar to the promotion in 1997 Pinnacle X-Press, Swing for the Fences was a 75-card game, consisting of 50 players and 25 "point" cards. Collectors who found the player cards of the 1998 AL and NL home run champs, and collected enough point cards to match their respective player's league-leading HR total could then exchange their cards and receive a special 10-pack of "upgraded" Swing for the Fences cards. Unlike the previous year's set, the upgraded Swing cards were supposed to have been distributed directly to Hobby dealers -- collectors need not send in their winning cards directly to Pinnacle. However, Pinnacle went out of business before the end of the 1998 season and the cards were never distributed.
The first 1000 entries would also receive a special autographed Swing for the Fences Upgrade card of Texas Rangers star Juan Gonzalez. All winners would also be entered into a drawing for a trip for two to the 1999 All-Star Game in Boston.
Pinnacle Brands' bankruptcy in the Fall of 1998 wiped away the contest, and many of the Upgraded cards (which were printed on a matrix holographic-foil background) began to flood the secondary market. It does not appear that any of the Juan Gonzalez Autographed Upgrades were produced.
1 Brady Anderson
2 Albert Belle
3 Jay Buhner
4 Jose Canseco
5 Tony Clark
6 Jose Cruz
7 Jim Edmonds
8 Cecil Fielder
9 Travis Fryman
10 Nomar Garciaparra
11 Juan Gonzalez
12 Ken Griffey, Jr.
13 Dave Justice
14 Travis Lee
15 Edgar Martinez
16 Tino Martinez
17 Rafael Palmeiro
18 Manny Ramirez
19 Cal Ripken, Jr.
20 Alex Rodriguez
21 Tim Salmon
22 Frank Thomas
23 Jim Thome
24 Mo Vaughn
25 Bernie Williams
26 Fred McGriff
27 Jeff Bagwell
28 Dante Bichette
29 Barry Bonds
30 Ellis Burks
31 Ken Caminiti
32 Vinny Castilla
33 Andres Galarraga
34 Vladimir Guerrero
35 Todd Helton
36 Todd Hundley
37 Andruw Jones
38 Chipper Jones
39 Eric Karros
40 Ryan Klesko
41 Ray Lankford
42 Mark McGwire
43 Raul Mondesi
44 Mike Piazza
45 Scott Rolen
46 Gary Sheffield
47 Sammy Sosa
48 Larry Walker
49 Matt Williams
50 Wild Card


[h=3]Swing for the Fences Shop Exchange Cards[/h] This 12-card set was created as a promotional tie-in for hobby shop owners, and was first released at the 1998 All-Star Game FanFest (which was sponsored by Pinnacle). Cards were subsequently distributed to shop owners, nationwide, in 10-card packs.
Collectors who purchased three packs of 1998 Pinnacle Performers could take the wrappers to their local participating Hobby store and receive a card. Those who purchased an entire box would get a 10-card cello pack. The cards parallel the standard Swing for the Fences inserts found in packs, except for the upgraded 20 pt. stock, silver "Matrix foil" background (similar to that year's Epix inserts) and lack of numbering on the card back.
The Matrix foil used is similar to the Swing for the Fences Upgraded cards. For help in properly identifying the Shop Exchange and the Upgraded cards, the website "Frank Thomas Collector" has compiled this visual guide.
Jeff Bagwell
Barry Bonds
Nomar Garciaparra
Juan Gonzalez
Ken Griffey, Jr.
Chipper Jones
Mark McGwire
Mike Piazza
Cal Ripken, Jr.
Alex Rodriguez
Scott Rolen
Frank Thomas


[h=2]Autographs & Game-Used[/h] [h=3]Juan Gonzalez Swing for the Fences Autographed Ball[/h] Randomly inserted into packs, in lieu of a Swing for the Fences card, was a coupon good for a Major League Baseball autographed by Texas Rangers star Juan Gonzalez. Due to the Pinnacle Brands bankruptcy later that summer, the Juan Gonzalez balls were never redeemed. It is unclear is Gonzalez ever signed any baseballs for this promotion.
Juan Gonzalez EXCH