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The 1998 Topps Tek Thread

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MansGame

Active member
Sep 25, 2009
15,324
20
Dallas, TX
Can you imagine how the 1998 Tek craze would dry up if just one of the/you set collectors decided to exit? I'm being serious. I think most of the cards would be gobbled up by player collectors and attention would turn to diffractors and away from base cards. I think it would be funny to see honestly. I also would be interested to see how many of the entire set would sell if it were all put up one at a time.
 

togaman

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2008
1,298
26
Houston
That pretty much has already happened although efg exit has not really had any effect as I don't think anyone picked up the completed Caminitti or maybe it was Kevin Brown completed sets he was selling which is too bad. I think alot of the focus on the diffractors mainly started from collectors on FCB site has been because collectors trying to finish their base 90 card players took an interest in the diffractors out of boredom knowing there was one main Diffractor supplier who won't sell diffractor dupes but will trade his dupes if you find something on his shrinking want list. Pretty amazing there is such a demand after 17 years.

Today collectors have short attention and collection spans. The set builder has become a dieing breed as insert, GU, numbered, and redemption card marketing ploys by the card manufacturers have worked as I see guys going through box after box and case after case looking for that one or two (GET BACK MY MONEY) card(s) for their collections and dump the rest. Six months to a year later with al the different sets produced out there. As an example 2012 Bowman Platinum was hot-hot-hot with a beautiful inked background colors with Purple, Green#d to 399, Blue #d to 199, Gold #d to 50, and Red # to 25 Refractors (Absolutely beautiful cards). Now just 3 years later collectors have either finished whatever sets they started or gave up thinking that completing those sets was too expensive or not wiling to commit the time So a patient collector can now pick up #d to 50 and #d to 25 cards from time to time for a buck on ebay.

Im only interested in the TEKs hoping to find my last 14 for set# 2 and 36 for set # 3 diffractors, my final 6 for another Same card # / Pattern# set or for around 30 condition upgrades to my own master set (haven't knocked one off there in a year). So in the meantime if I can mitigate my own impatience and boredom by either trading off a few of my 1300 1998 TEK dupes while helping others with their set fixes then I will stay tuned in. Its all good.

I do have to say I really was happy to see PHIL P finish his IROD set with a Pattern # 33 I had for him. Believe it or not I really do enjoy helping set building collectors (who aren't irritating pests..lol). I just mailed out 16 Andre Galarraga's today with another 8 Paul Molitor's going out to another 98 TEK collector as soon as I receive payment. There still are alot of 98 TEK collectors who dont frequent FCB out there so if I can help anyone with TEKs that is something I do (except for 1-2-3s). I get emails all the time from new collectors some whose interest has been stirred by 2014 TEKs who decided to make a stab at the 1998 TEKs again...
 
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rinkrat38

Member
Oct 14, 2012
261
0
South Deerfield, Mass.
My first post on the FCB-1998 Topps Tek thread was on 10/14/2012 (page 18 on this list). At that time I had about 2700 1998 Tek diffractors. I've been collecting them since about 2000 when I started collecting the base 1998 Tek set of 8100 and had three kids playing on seven different ice hockey teams. As I posted back in October 2012, I know it is impossible for me to collect the whole diffractor set or even just all that have been released. It's a hobby to me, and probably settles down the level of OCD that all collectors seem to have. This thread that [MENTION=4682]RustyGreerFan[/MENTION] started in August 2012 was already flourishing when I first posted, discussed mostly 1998 Tek diffractors, and most of the people on the list had never heard of me before I posted to this thread.

In the 2 1/2 years since I first posted on this list, I've added about 500 Tek diffractors to what is now my collection of 3200 different patterns. I thank the collectors on this list for their help, but about half the diffractors I've picked up were from purchasing the extensive 1998 Tek inventory of a Texas LCS. I have not yet had the chance to type out an inventory of all the 1998 base Tek cards I now have. I had maybe 1200 to 1500 base 1998 Teks before picking up that 3000- to 5000-card LCS inventory. I've sold many of those cards to collectors on this list at Beckett BV or below. I will do my best to get around to getting a computerized list of my 1998 Tek base card extras and post it. (I pledge to not repetitively post that list three or four times a week.) Until that's done, I invite anyone to send me a list of what they need for 1998 Tek base cards and I will get back to you with a list of what I have and the cost. I have extras of half or more of the cards of many of the players in the 1998 Tek series and would be pleased to help you with your collection. I am also looking to trade any of my duplicate 1998 Tek diffractors (list to follow). I would much prefer to trade than to sell diffractors. If you have ones that I need, I will trade in your favor. I think I'm pretty easy to deal with. I am willing to trade my duplicates for ones you have that are duplicates for me if I think I can eventually move them (not looking to trade for someone's extra Raul Mondesi, Tony Clark, Quinton McCracken, etc. diffractors). Contact me via PM or even better at e-mail [email protected].

BTW, I don't collect 1999 Teks, but have three mint boxes of 1999 Teks that are available at $75.00 each + shipping. First come, first served. Yours to crack, sell, or sit on for a few years!


RinkRat38 – 1998 Tek Diffractors to Trade


B. Grieve 1– 1, 18, 55, 63, 70, 74, 80
K. Wood 2–
B. Bonds 3–
J. Olerud 4– 12, 79, 84
I. Rodriguez 5– 40, 79
F. Thomas 6– 37
B. Williams 7– 18, 29, 38, 56, 79, 84
D. Bichette 8– 15, 25, 39, 63, 70, 74, 77
A. Rodriguez 9– 1,18
T. Glavine 10– 24, 56, 75, 87
E. Karros 11– 7, 78
C. Biggio 12– 4, 5
M. McGwire 13– 10, 28, 56, 70
D. Jeter 14– 3, 56, 70, 72
N. Garciaparra 15– 28
B. Anderson 16–
V. Guerrero 17– 42
D. Justice 18–
Ch. Jones 19– 4, 13, 17, 31
J. Edmonds 20– 15, 20, 43
R. Clemens 21– 1,12, 44, 55, 72, 77
M. Kotsay 22– 45, 52, 54, 56, 75, 86
T. Gwynn 23– 1, 9, 25, 52
T. Walker 24– 3, 87
T. Martinez 25– 10, 65
A. Jones 26–
S. Alomar 27– 6, 72
S. Sosa 28–
G. Sheffield 29– 10, 13, 40, 48, 65, 67
K. Griffey 30– 1
A. Ramirez 31– 80
C. Schilling 32– 1, 17, 27, 32, 42, 43, 51, 80
R. Ventura 33– 52, 67
L. Walker 34– 10, 15, 31, 59, 65
D. Erstad 35–
T. Dunwoody 36– 1, 15, 17, 38, 39, 63, 79
P. O’Neill 37– 31, 74
V. Castilla 38– 21, 42, 48, 52, 65
R. Johnson 39– 38, 45, 59
R. Palmeiro 40– 1, 10, 40, 63, 72
P. Martinez 41– 1, 20, 27, 42, 45, 48, 67, 77, 79
D. Bell 42– 11, 17, 63, 74
C. Delgado 43– 1, 9, 30, 40, 77
M. Williams 44– 54
K. Lofton 45– 1, 79
E. Renteria 46– 13, 18, 40, 66, 86
A. Belle 47– 1, 69
J. Burnitz 48– 32, 51, 79
A. Beltre 49– 12, 39, 51, 54, 55
G. Maddux 50– 5, 32, 65
C. Ripken 51– 48
J. Kendall 52– 70, 75, 80
E. Burks 53– 1, 26, 27, 31, 42, 84
P. Molitor 54– 39, 72, 75, 84
M. Alou 55– 38, 63, 65, 70
R. Mondesi 56– 7, 10, 20, 21, 30, 36, 37, 45, 50, 52, 59, 63, 72, 77, 84
B. Larkin 57–
T. Clark 58– 1, 6, 9, 11, 18, 20, 25, 37, 44, 48, 63, 65, 83, 88
T. Lee 59– 1, 15, 17, 29, 60
J. Gonzalez 60–
T. Glaus 61– 1, 4, 6, 40, 78
J. Cruz 62– 12, 25, 31, 37
P. Konerko 63– 29, 52
E. Martinez 64– 66, 70, 73, 81
J. Lopez 65– 10, 15, 28, 40, 42, 54, 87
M. Ramirez 66– 36, 46, 55, 58, 72, 74, 78, 79, 86
R. Alomar 67– 1
K. Caminiti 68– 31, 74
T. Helton 69–
C. Knoblauch 70– 15, 21, 31, 43, 55, 73, 78
K. Brown 71– 6, 21, 25, 37, 39, 48, 52, 63, 75
T. Salmon 72– 56, 63, 73, 80
O. Hernandez 73– 10, 12, 23, 58
J. Bagwell 74–
B. Jordan 75– 1, 13, 15, 27, 36, 39, 75, 85, 88
D. Lee 76– 1, 15, 18, 45, 55
B. Fullmer 77– 5, 52
M. Grace 78–
J. King 79– 17, 25, 59, 65, 77, 84
M. Mussina 80– 5, 73, 79
J. Buhner 81–
Q. McCracken 82– 1, 6, 15, 20, 32, 38, 61, 79
A.J. Hinch 83– 1, 10, 16, 45, 59, 84, 86
R. Hidalgo 84– 1, 12, 27, 66, 75
A. Galarraga 85–
M. Piazza 86– 1
M. Vaughn 87– 13, 21, 37, 66, 80
S. Rolen 88– 10, 85, 86
J. Thome 89–
R. Lankford 90– 59, 79

Rich [email protected]
 

George_Calfas

Well-known member
Aug 22, 2008
36,264
30
Urbana
[MENTION=2699]togaman[/MENTION] which member is Ray Schneider collecting Lankford?

I will dig out my double to see if he could fill his needs.
My Lankford needs are:
 
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togaman

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2008
1,298
26
Houston
Not sure if he is member here. Those 98 TEK list is not related to just FCB members

He needed pattern #s 4 and # 77 and I can use Lankford Pattern #s 1 and 90 (2)

Let me know if you have any of those patterns and I will contact him..email me at [email protected]
Will also revise your want List.
 

togaman

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2008
1,298
26
Houston
Sorry I do not. I have about 75 doubles and those two haunt me too.

Waiting to hear back from someone who might have another one of your Lankford patterns. Will let you know. I contacted the other guy as well via email regarding pat# 4 and gave him your email address so you two can work something out.. Do you have any OTHER 1998 TEKs. Unless I'm mistaken I seem to recall you were also picking off some of the same card # / pattern # TEKs as well of other players
 

togaman

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2008
1,298
26
Houston
Do you mean those are number of card you have in those player or are all of those Same Card # pattern Number like Card# 13 pattern# 13

If all are same card # pattern # I can use 2 McGwires, and one Q McCracken SC/SP #

I could use the Jordan Diffractor Pattern # 63 but my only remaining dupe diffractor is a Dunwoody36 pattern # 63



Six Jordan's
Five Big Mac
Five Rolen
Four McCracken

Extra Jordan diffractor pattern 63
 

George_Calfas

Well-known member
Aug 22, 2008
36,264
30
Urbana
Jordan 25 29 38 55 77 85
Mac 6 26 62x2 70
Rolen 11 51 56 59 78
McCracken 8 32 58 59

I have no use for Dunwoody but could use a Lankford Diff from Rinkrat
 

togaman

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2008
1,298
26
Houston
Jordan 25 29 38 55 77 85
Mac 6 26 62x2 70
Rolen 11 51 56 59 78
McCracken 8 32 58 59

I have no use for Dunwoody but could use a Lankford Diff from Rinkrat

I see no... same card # / pattern# dupes Must have mistaken you with someone else who was snagging those

.None of the collectors whose lists I have need those and I believe from an old list I have.. Richard has that Jordan # 63 pattern diffractor
 

togaman

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2008
1,298
26
Houston
Who is the Richindeals7 on ebay who keeps listing $2-3 cards like Roberto Alomar for $8.99. It would be nice if there were an EASY way to block specific EBAY sellers so you didnt have to waste time to go through their inflated ebay listings when doing a search. There is a custom way to do it but you have to do it every time you do a search. I'd like to be able to block my view of ANY FUTURE listings (like you can IGNORE pesty member here) from numerous ebay sellers like Richindeals7 as an example. Even the second or two it takes to pass over their overpriced listings is wasting too much time
 

gamecockfanatic

Active member
Jun 17, 2009
945
25
Gamecock Country
Who is the Richindeals7 on ebay who keeps listing $2-3 cards like Roberto Alomar for $8.99. It would be nice if there were an EASY way to block specific EBAY sellers so you didnt have to waste time to go through their inflated ebay listings when doing a search. There is a custom way to do it but you have to do it every time you do a search. I'd like to be able to block my view of ANY FUTURE listings (like you can IGNORE pesty member here) from numerous ebay sellers like Richindeals7 as an example. Even the second or two it takes to pass over their overpriced listings is wasting too much time

you can.....you just do an advanced search.....use the filters near the bottom to exclude listings from as many specific sellers as you like and then save the search....same filter also allows you to show items from ONLY the sellers yu choose as well....
 

togaman

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2008
1,298
26
Houston
you can.....you just do an advanced search.....use the filters near the bottom to exclude listings from as many specific sellers as you like and then save the search....same filter also allows you to show items from ONLY the sellers yu choose as well....

I didn't realize you could save name of sellers I thought you had to do it every time you did a search. Now to find the name of that guy who list commons 98 TEK diffractors for $ 29.99 and the TEK box ladies who list them for $ 499 and banish him/her/them to never never land .

Just did it and that worked great! No more richindeals7 ($29.99 diffractors) , bettyandmaxine ($499 TEK box) and a host of other overpriced sellers (IMO) who wont clog up my computer screen when I do specific searches . Thank you. Maybe that Burbank group is next but they actually arent that bad.
 
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Gwynn545

Well-known member
Aug 29, 2008
5,526
44
North Seattle
I didn't realize you could save name of sellers I thought you had to do it every time you did a search. Now to find the name of that guy who list commons 98 TEK diffractors for $ 29.99 and the TEK box ladies who list them for $ 499 and banish him/her/them to never never land .

Just did it and that worked great! No more richindeals7 ($29.99 diffractors) , bettyandmaxine ($499 TEK box) and a host of other overpriced sellers (IMO) who wont clog up my computer screen when I do specific searches . Thank you. Maybe that Burbank group is next but they actually arent that bad.

You are going to be sooo mad when bettyandmaxine does their annual Indio California Grapes of Wrath 75% Off Sale, where all of their auctions are relisted at 75% of the original price...
 

togaman

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2008
1,298
26
Houston
You are going to be sooo mad when bettyandmaxine does their annual Indio California Grapes of Wrath 75% Off Sale, where all of their auctions are relisted at 75% of the original price...

Im sure someone on this site will convey to the universe the 75% off TEK sale. lol Keep in mind I really dont need any more. Im just in it for a few condition upgrades (30 or so) and some same select same card # / pattern # and Pattern# 1 TEKs

Even at 75% off $125 is way more than I would fork out for a box whose cards I most likely already have. I would be very curious to find out whomever those two people were supposedly paid $ 300 for a couple boxes of TEKs from that shop in Virginia and what they got out of those boxes

Plus supposedly someone made an offer that Indio, California based BM accepted for that $499 box. Hmm ... wonder who?
 
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togaman

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2008
1,298
26
Houston
Picked up a 1998 Topps TEK new diffractor for $1.00 today for my 3rd Diffractor set ...... A Jason Kendall 52 pattern # 65. First dent in Diffractor set # 3 for a while. 35 to go
 

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