The 1998 Topps Tek Thread

[RustyGreerFan]

Thought I had a decent chance to snag a good deal on my first Diffractor since the seller didn't list it right, but someone bid the hell out of it.Was only at $5 with a day left.I only saw one Diffractor or am I missing something?Looks like the buyer got taken here.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150931886805?ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1435.l2649

That appears to be around the market price for a single Frank Diffractor. Kinda scary, huh?

 

[bustin_knuckles]

That appears to be around the market price for a single Frank Diffractor. Kinda scary, huh?

A couple of years ago Thomas' couldnt even sell for $30. I got my BGS 9.5 Thomas for $25 delivered. I guess I should've got more before the prices started getting pushed up. Seems like a lot of people are buying 90's inserts to flip, at least for Thomas I'm seeing this.

 

[rinkrat38]

I didn't join in the bidding for this as both cards (the base card and the diffractor) were duplicates for me, but this price is absurd. Maybe the bidders thought somehow they were getting two diffractors, but even so! I have 26 Thomas diffractors in my collection, and two more duplicates. Someone want to tell me they are worth $1500 ? I saw $75 for a Jeter diffractor not too long ago, and I see a guy asking $1000 for a couple of Griffey gold Teks. If anyone is buying cards at these prices as an "investment" they are out of their minds. Sounds like the Dutch Tulip bubble of the 1600's or today's price of gold.

That appears to be around the market price for a single Frank Diffractor. Kinda scary, huh?

 

[MansGame]

I didn't join in the bidding for this as both cards (the base card and the diffractor) were duplicates for me, but this price is absurd. Maybe the bidders thought somehow they were getting two diffractors, but even so! I have 26 Thomas diffractors in my collection, and two more duplicates. Someone want to tell me they are worth $1500 ? I saw $75 for a Jeter diffractor not too long ago, and I see a guy asking $1000 for a couple of Griffey gold Teks. If anyone is buying cards at these prices as an "investment" they are out of their minds. Sounds like the Dutch Tulip bubble of the 1600's or today's price of gold.

Lol!

 

[SINFULONE]

That appears to be around the market price for a single Frank Diffractor. Kinda scary, huh?

That still seems high for just one.I thought Jeter, Ripken, Griffey sold for that much?Didn't a McGwire only bring $25 not long ago.If the Diffractors were numbered to 10 I could see high prices, but no numbering only leads to more uncertainty and speculation.

Seller still didn't list properly, I didn't see it going that high.One of these days, through hell or high water I swear I am going to get a Diffractor in hand someway, somehow.

 

[SINFULONE]

Someone got a good deal on this.Did our Glaus collector on here steal this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-1998-Topps-Tek-Baseball-Singles-with-2-Clemens-Diffractor-/380499440027?pt=US_Baseball&hash=item589788b19b&nma=true&si=x5WY1lTX7mzW91%2FXtC9MS%2FGlXdE%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Wow, someone went $25 for this?WTH?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1998-Topps-...0786249508?pt=US_Baseball&hash=item43b4360b24

Someone got screwed on this.It's not even a Diffractor.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1998-Topps-...=&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

[SINFULONE]

A couple of years ago Thomas' couldnt even sell for $30. I got my BGS 9.5 Thomas for $25 delivered. I guess I should've got more before the prices started getting pushed up. Seems like a lot of people are buying 90's inserts to flip, at least for Thomas I'm seeing this.

With so many printing errors on these a BGS 9.5 has to be one tough find.Are you tempted to list it?That's got to be a $60 plus card, no?

 

[SINFULONE]

I didn't join in the bidding for this as both cards (the base card and the diffractor) were duplicates for me, but this price is absurd. Maybe the bidders thought somehow they were getting two diffractors, but even so! I have 26 Thomas diffractors in my collection, and two more duplicates. Someone want to tell me they are worth $1500 ? I saw $75 for a Jeter diffractor not too long ago, and I see a guy asking $1000 for a couple of Griffey gold Teks. If anyone is buying cards at these prices as an "investment" they are out of their minds. Sounds like the Dutch Tulip bubble of the 1600's or today's price of gold.

That's the only thing I can think of, buyer thought they were getting 2 Diffractors, but it was obvious looking at scan there was only one.What I don't understand was why the seller didn't list card as Diffractor.I too, saw the guy asking $1000 for those Griffey cards.It always makes me chuckle every time I see some seller list some rare prospect card with an astronomical BIN with the title "Buy now, huge investment potential!".After a certain point, the card is no longer an "investment".

 

[PadresFan86]

Diffractors are hard to come by. They don't pop up every day.

Sent from my HUAWEI-M920 using Sports Cards by Freedom Card Board.com

 

[elberson]

Just checking for a follow bonds collector but does anybody have and bonds diffractors or tek golds?

 

[RustyGreerFan]

Wow, someone went $25 for this?WTH?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1998-Topps-Tek-Diffractor-16-P-85-Brady-Anderson-HOT-/290786249508?pt=US_Baseball&hash=item43b4360b24

One of the fun things about Diffractors is that it helps you see where there is some big time competition for minor stars and commons because even the hardest hardcore collectors often don't have all the Diffractors of their guy. Brady Anderson is a great example.

 

[RustyGreerFan]

With so many printing errors on these a BGS 9.5 has to be one tough find.Are you tempted to list it?That's got to be a $60 plus card, no?

That's why I was really surprised the Ripken PSA 10 sold for "just" $75.

 

[rinkrat38]

Someone got a good deal on this.Did our Glaus collector on here steal this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-1998-Topps-Tek-Baseball-Singles-with-2-Clemens-Diffractor-/380499440027?pt=US_Baseball&hash=item589788b19b&nma=true&si=x5WY1lTX7mzW91%2FXtC9MS%2FGlXdE%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Wow, someone went $25 for this?WTH?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1998-Topps-Tek-Diffractor-16-P-85-Brady-Anderson-HOT-/290786249508?pt=US_Baseball&hash=item43b4360b24

Someone got screwed on this.It's not even a Diffractor.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1998-Topps-Tek-Diffractors-Pattern-60-23-Tony-Gwynn-Padres-B32900-/360490842416?pt=US_Baseball&hash=item53eeedb930&nma=true&si=x5WY1lTX7mzW91%2FXtC9MS%2FGlXdE%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I bagged the group of seven cards with the Glaus diffractor in the group. Number 35 in my collection of Glaus diffractors. Really surprised to get it that cheap ($4.25), with another six base cards thrown in. Very clear from the scan that it was a diffractor. Just as clear that the Gwynn "diffractor" was a base card. If I don't know the seller, I look real, real close at the scan. Guess a lot of folks aren't looking closely at the scans. Whoever bought the Gwynn "diffractor" should be able to get a refund, but might not even know the difference. Glad I already had one of the Anderson p. 85 diffractors. I would have been easily outbid. Sky's the limit for some folks.

 

[DeliciousBacon]

I bagged the group of seven cards with the Glaus diffractor in the group. Number 35 in my collection of Glaus diffractors. Really surprised to get it that cheap ($4.25), with another six base cards thrown in. Very clear from the scan that it was a diffractor. Just as clear that the Gwynn "diffractor" was a base card. If I don't know the seller, I look real, real close at the scan. Guess a lot of folks aren't looking closely at the scans. Whoever bought the Gwynn "diffractor" should be able to get a refund, but might not even know the difference. Glad I already had one of the Anderson p. 85 diffractors. I would have been easily outbid. Sky's the limit for some folks.

That's an awesome price on a card that I'd kill a random stranger for. I only have 1 Glaus Diffractor, and it cost me $16...I can't even dream of having 35!

 

[rinkrat38]

One of the fun things about Diffractors is that it helps you see where there is some big time competition for minor stars and commons because even the hardest hardcore collectors often don't have all the Diffractors of their guy. Brady Anderson is a great example.

I saw Carl Tompkins, "togaman", one of the other five or six of us that has all 8100 of the '98 Tek base card set, post on one of the boards that he did not believe that anyone has collected all 90 diffractor patterns of any player. I believe the same thing. There are real hardcore player collectors collecting diffractors of Bonds (Jeff Mazur), Justice (Stu Thomas), Grace (Brad Wackerlin) that have been after these cards for a decade, have web sites set up for this sole pursuit, and are still a good 15 or 20 or more cards away from all 90 diffractors. I've traded with all three of these guys for what they need. Don't know of anyone closer. Don't know who the Brady Anderson collector is, but he has no dollar limit on his bidding. Maybe it's Brady in his retirement years! I've been collecting diffractors of the old Red Sox players (different laundry for some of them in the Tek series), some of them since 1999 or 2000, and the only ones I'm even halfway to 90 patterns with are Clemens (51 patterns) and Manny Ramirez (53 patterns). 'Course I'm using a shotgun trying to collect all players in the series, not a scoped rifle like these player collectors. Also have 40 diffractor patterns of Nomar, 40 of Bichette, 41 of Schilling, 36 of Pedro, 36 of Ellis Burks, and 31 of Mo Vaughn. Only 36 diffractors of Pedro is what kills me. I started collecting with Pedro cards before I even knew what Teks were.

 

[elberson]

I found a few Roberto alomar's in a box, if anybody collects or needs?









98 tek roberto alomar extra**** 6..14..15..17..18..29..30..32..33..37..44..45..46..54..64..65..66..69..84

 

[elberson]

Any have any Ivan Rodriguez? I'm checking for an eBay friend

Looking for patterns. 12,15,42,80,81

 

[braves3331]

Hello everyone!

Looking for David Justice Card# 18, see my sig for patterns I already have. Anyone have any they're looking to sell? I'd be interested in duplicates as well.

Also have a couple of duplicate diffractors I can trade for other diffractors of his.

 

[aceecards]

wow i got a open box of these somehwere down in my vault.

I dont remember getting anything rare or good for tha matter

 

[Brewer Andy]

wow i got a open box of these somehwere down in my vault.

I dont remember getting anything rare or good for tha matter

Better check again, diffractors are easily missed and all it takes is one collector who really needs a base pattern to make a quick buck