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The 1998 Topps Tek Thread

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AK_Kid

New member
Nov 19, 2018
2
0
Hi everybody,

I’m hoping to get a little help here. I stumbled upon a 1998 Topps Tek Jeter #14 Pattern 56. I’m new to baseball collecting and can’t tell whether it is or is not a defractor. It shows rainbow reflection in the light like a Chrome refractor, but the semi-ovular photo background does not have a pattern to it that looks, to me, like cracked ice. Is there an easy way to know for sure whether this card is a defractor? I tried to attach a photo, but no dice. Thanks!
 

corockies

New member
Mar 23, 2013
1,213
0
Colorado
Extremely helpful. Thanks much.

Base:

be1a38d0d4a7dc6e8e2a8b5c171e1b8e0201993d.display.jpg
94942d52212f536fdbd50d98f6828b21b4d52370.display.jpg


Diffractor:

eac3b212fcde39f9fae1e1b10d13ab7073e813fe.display.jpg
f8ce7a909fce296071f6647ef2a771e5da2825de.display.jpg
 

theplasticman

Well-known member
Nov 21, 2008
4,131
243
[MENTION=2699]togaman[/MENTION] - drat... I missed the Darin Erstad's. :(

I'm still missing: 4, 29, 30, 33, 60, 68, 71, 81, 83, 86 + most diffractors.
 

u2me57

Well-known member
Mar 21, 2014
3,234
63
Hendersonville, Tn.
I finally found 2 of the last 3 cards I needed for my Thome set. COMC put about 6 new Thome's on ebay 2 weeks ago and patterns 17 and 24 were there! So, I only need pattern 90 to finish this awesome set.
 

nosterbor

Well-known member
Jun 20, 2010
6,093
427
Sunny Florida
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1998-Topps...h=item1eefab9691:g:V8wAAOSwcdxb~q2E:rk:2:pf:1

This Griffey p 35 "diffractor" is a base card. Seller is brand new to eBay (last Sunday), zero feedback. His original scans were blurred and dirty, backed by a patterned textile folded partly over the card. I asked him to post a clearer scan or picture, and he did. Clearly not a diffractor.

Rich

I contacted the seller and told him it was not a diffractor sorry., and this was his reply.

" Then why would a baseball card shop tell me it is!!!!!! I don't think he would lie.....if your not interested then move on "

*********
 

RustyGreerFan

Active member
Jun 10, 2010
2,496
4
Gastonia, NC
I just now saw this. I am pretty jealous right now LOL That pattern is one of the ones I've identified as often being less likely to have any of the many production faults such as spotting and centering issues. I'm not saying it's a super bargain, I'm just saying what a sweet 10.
 

corockies

New member
Mar 23, 2013
1,213
0
Colorado
I contacted the seller and told him it was not a diffractor sorry., and this was his reply.

" Then why would a baseball card shop tell me it is!!!!!! I don't think he would lie.....if your not interested then move on "

*********

I contacted the seller as well and gave him a base card and diffractor picture. He pulled the listing.
 

togaman

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2008
1,298
26
Houston
I have ~1450 1998 Topps TEKs to trade listed below Want List

Lets trade 1998 Topps TEK cards.

I can use these...Trade 1998 TEKs for 1998 TEKs only

So here are my current 1998 Topps TEK lists of Wants and Dupes to trade

I am looking for about 20-25 condition upgrades and any Pattern # 1s or especially unblemished Same Card #/Pattern # 1998 Topps Tek cards (Even if not on Want List below). Trade and sell at high Beckett. I have one dupe Diffractor (a Dunwoody 36 Pat # 63) to trade for any Diffractor I dont have for set # 2 and set # 3 Diffractor set below, No idea how many cards are made of each specific card#/pattern# diffractor but odd in that I had no duplicate Diffractors in around 350-400 other than 3 of Dunoody card 36 pattern # 63. There is no pattern # 49 diffractor of any player so there are a total of 8010 dffractor cards

My 1998 Topps TEK WANT LIST (as of April 9, 2019)

McGwire Card # 13 Pat # 13
Clemens Card # 21 Pat # 21
Dunwoody Card # 36 Pat 36
Ripken Card # 51 Pat # 51
Konerko Card # 63 Pat # 63
Mussina Card # 80 Pat # 35
Lankford Card # 90 Pat # 90 ------------------(need 2)

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

1998 Topps TEK Diffractor want list (Set # 3)
32 to go out of 90 to complete Diffractor set
1,3,6,7,9,10,13,14,15,16,17,23,26,27,39,43,44,45,4 7,50, 51,56,57,60,61,66,67,74,78,80,85,87

My only dupe 1998 TEK Diffractor to trade (for Diffractors only) is
Todd Dunwoody Card 36 Pat # 63

My 1998 TEK Condition Upgrade Want List (MUST be unblemished and Mint or Near Mint)

Ivan Rodriguez...Card # 5 Pat # 47
Dante Bichette….Card # 8 Pat # 36
Derek Jeter........Card # 14 Pat # 44
Brady Anderson..Card # 16 Pat # 34
David Justice......Card # 18 Pat # 25
Chipper Jones......Card # 19 Pat # 28
Tino Martinez.......Card # 25 Pat # 38
Curt Schilling........Card # 32 Pat # 7
Todd Dunwoody...Card # 36 Pat # 36
Paul O' Neill..........Card # 37 Pat # 24
Randy Johnson......Card # 39 Pat #s 11,21,27
Albert Belle...........Card # 47 Pat # 36
Jeromy Burnitz......Card # 48 Pat # 36
Ellis Burks.............Card # 53 Pat # 25
Paul Konerko........Card # 63 Pat # 8
Knoblauch............Card # 70 Pat # 36
Kevin Brown.........Card # 71 Pat # 36
Jeff Bagwell..........Card # 74 Pat # 78

1998 Topps TEK Pattern # 1 Want List (Set # 3) (78/90 so far)
4(John Olerud), 8(Dante Bichette), 11(Derek Jeter), 37(Paul O’Neill), 45(Kenny Lofton), 50(Greg Maddux), 51(Cal Ripken, Jr), 56(Raul Mondesi), 58(Tony Clark), 60(Juan Gonzalez), 62(Jose Cruz Jr), 67(Roberto Alomar)

1998 Topps TEK Pattern # 1 Want List (Set # 4) (46/90 so far)
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,11,13,14,15,17,18,21,23,28,30,36,3 7,38,42,45,48,50,51,53,56,58,59,60,61,62,63,64,67, 69,70,71,72,78,84,85,90

1998 Topps TEK Same Card #/ Pattern # Want List (Set # 4)…..(86/90 so far)
13p13(Mark McGwire), 21p21(Roger Clemens), 51p51(Cal Ripken, Jr), 63p63(Paul Konerko)

1998 Topps TEK Same Card #/ Pattern # Want List (Set # 5)….(69/90 so far)
2,7,9,13,14,15,21,23,27,30,33,39,41,49,51,63,64,66,67,78,90

1998 Topps TEK Pattern # 1 dupes (NOT selling these but WILL Trade these ONLY for Pattern #1s on Wants List above)
16(2),19(Chipper Jones-HOF),20(Jim Edmonds),27,32(Schilling),40(Rafael Palmeiro-2),44(2),47,49(Adrian Beltre),66(Manny Ramirez),75,82(2),83(3)

1998 Topps TEK Same Card # /Pattern # Dupes
(NOT selling these but WILL trade ONLY for Same Card #/Pattern# cards on Want Lists above)
8(Dante Bichette), 17(Vladamir Guerrero), 22(Mark Kotsay), 37(Paul O’Neill-2), 59(Travis Lee)

My Extra 1998 TEKs to trade or sell (at High Beckett). 1998 TEK for 1998 TEK only
Will Trade but ONLY for 1998 TEKs on my Want Lists above please.

Ben Grieve Card # 1 Pat #s 15,20,27,30(2),43,51,58,61,63,67,69
Kerry Wood Card # 2 Pat #s 27,29
Barry Bonds Card # 3 Pat #s 6,7,20,56,85
Olerud Card # 4 Pat #s 33,41,42,46,54,71,74,76,78,90
Ivan Rodriguez (HOF) Card # 5 Pat #s 3,16,17,29,33,46(2),51,58,64,69,77,78(2),79
Frank Thomas (HOF) Card # 6 Pat # SOLD ALL
Bernie Williams Card # 7 Pat #s 5,20,24,26,39,49(2),52,59,69,73,84
Dante Bichette Card # 8 Pat #s 5,7,10,12,17,18,20,22,29,31,32,35,36(2),40,44(2),5 2(2),54,58(2),62,63,64,67,68,69,76,77,82,83(2),87, 88,89
Alex Rodriguez Card # 9 Pat # SOLD ALL
Tom Glavine (HOF) Card # 10 Pat #s 13(2),41,62(2),64,66,70,75,77,80,87,89(2)
Karros Card # 11 Pat #s 14,17,21,24,27,31,34,38,44,45,51(2),55,57,58,59(3) ,64,65,68,67,71,72(3),79,80,82(2),88
Craig Biggio (HOF) Card # 12 Pat #s 13,30(2),31,32,43,61,63,64,74,80,81,87
Mark McGwire Card # 13 Pat # SOLD ALL
Derek Jeter Card # 14 Pat #s 62,66,74
Nomar Garciaparra Card # 15 Pat #s 10,70
Brady Anderson Card # 16 Pat #s 9,14,22,26,28,29,31,32,42,47,48,51,52,58,68,73,85
Vladamir Guerrero (HOF) Card # 17 Pat #s 11,12,30,31,36,55,58,90
David Justice Card # 18 Pat # 78 SOLD ALL
Chipper Jones (HOF) Card # 19 Pat #s 8,9,44,73
Jim Edmunds Card # 20 Pat #s 2,3,4,7,8,10(2),21,22,27,31,33,34(2),35,36,42,49(3 ),50,51,52(3),54,55,58,59(3),60,62,69,70,75,76(4), 77,80(2),85(3),89
Roger Clemens Card # 21 Pat # SOLD ALL
Mark Kotsay Card # 22 Pat #s 3,(2)6,9,10,12,13,16,19,29(2),30,32,33(2),34(3),37 (2),38,40(2),41,42(42),44,46,48,54,56(2),57,59, 60,65,68,72(2),75,76,77,78,83,84,86(2),87(2),88(2) ,89
Tony Gwynn (HOF) Card # 23 Pat # SOLD ALL
Todd Walker Card # 24 Pat #s 2()2,4,5,7,13,15,18(2),19,22,25,30,34(2),37(2),39( 2),48,49,52,54(2),61,64,69,71,72,74,75,78(2),79,84 ,80,88
Tino Martinez Card # 25 Pat #s 33,74,84
Andruw Jones Card # 26 Pat #s 40,58,62,85,89
Sandy Alomar, Jr Card # 27 Pat # SOLD ALL
Sammy Sosa Card # 28 Pat #s 8(2),10,12,13,18,36,40,42,43,64
Gary Sheffield Card # 29 Pat #s 2,3,7,16,19,26,28,32,33(3),34,37,39(2),41,44(2),46 (2),57(2),64,68,71(2),77,81,83,85,86
Ken Griffey, Jr (HOF) Card # 30 Pat # SOLD ALL
Aramis Ramirez Card # 31 Pat #s 16(2),29,32,33,36,51,67,75,78,84,88
Curt Schilling Card # 32 Pat #s 3,4,14,17,22,25,28,33,38,40(2),47,51,57(2),61,66,6 8,73,82,84,87
Robin Ventura Card # 33 Pat #s 11,53,61,67
Larry Walker Card # 34 Pat #s 14,29,30,36,39,44 54,72,76,83,84
Darrin Erstad Card # 35 Pat # SOLD ALL
Todd Dunwoody Card # 36 Pat #s 2,5,7(2),10,14(2),15,17,18(2),20,22,25(2),29,30,34 (2),38(4),39,40(3),42,43,46(2),49,50(3),51(3),55(2 ),56(2),58,59,64,68(2),75(2),76,77, 81,82,89,90(3)
Paul O’Neill Card # 37 Pat # SOLD ALL
Vinnie Castilla Card # 38 Pat # 3(2),4,7(2),12,15,16,17,18(2),21,23,27(2),36(2),37 ,54,58,62(3),63,69(2),73,74,75(2),78,84,85,87,90
Randy Johnson (HOF) Card # 39 Pat # SOLD ALL
Rafael Palmeiro Card # 40 Pat #s 3,8,10,22,26,29,37,38,50,57,59,64,70,73(2),82,83,8 6,87
Pedro Martinez (HOF) Card # 41 Pat # 35,46
Derrek Bell Card # 42 Pat #s 5,8,9,14(3),17(1),20,21,26(3),28(2),29(4),30,32,33 (2),35(3),37(2),39,40,41,45(2),46,47,48,52(2),59,6 0,64,66,67,69,71(3),73,76(3),77,81,84(3),85,87(2), 88(2),89(2),90
Carlos Delgado Card # 43 Pat # 17,19,25*,29,36,60,66,79,80,85,90
Matt Williams Card # 44 Pat # 8,26,40,53,57,62,73,80,84,87,88,89
Kenny Lofton Card # 45 Pattern # 57
Edgar Renteria Card # 46 Pat # 8,10,15(2),16(2),24,27,29,34,39,41,47,48(2),53,54, 55(2),57,58, 59,60,62,63,70,71,75,77(2),83,89,90(2)
Albert Belle Card # 47 Pat #s 38,61,77
Jeromy Burnitz Card # 48 Pat #s 5,8(2),11,16,21,23,24,31,33,40,55,56,70,71,75,77,8 2,88
Adrian Beltre Card # 49 Pat # 16(2),17,19,27,32,35(2),77,84,90
Greg Maddux (HOF) Card # 50 Pat # 28(2),29,41
Cal Ripken, Jr (HOF) Card # 51 Pat # SOLD ALL 7/9/18
Kendall Card # 52 Pat # 9,10,38,41,81
Ellis Burks Card # 53 Pat #s 5,8,19,23,27(2),29,31,33,36,41,47,50(2),61,65,68,6 9,78(2),89,90
Paul Molitor (HOF) Card # 54 Pat # 23,87
Moises Alou Card # 55 Pat # 2,6,7(2),8,10,13,14,16,17(2),21(2),22,27,28,30,33, 34,36(2),46(3),47(2),48,51,56,59,64,65(3),67(2),71 ,73,74,75(2),77(2),84,87
Raul Mondesi Card # 56 Pat # 5(2),7,10,14,23,25,28,29,30,38,43(2),58,61(2),64,6 5,67,68,74,78,82(2),86(3),89,90
Barry Larkin Card # 57 Pat # SOLD ALL
Tony Clark Card # 58 Pat #s 73,88
Travis Lee Card # 59 Pat #s 4,8,17,19,22,23,24,29(2),30,36(2),41,45,48,49(2),5 1,58(2),60,61,62,72,76,77,78,79,88
Juan Gonzalez Card #s 60 Pat # 10,42,47,50,62,63,70,71,87(2)
Troy Glaus (RC) Card # 61 Pat #s 14,20,24,31,37,40,44,59(2),69,77,80
Jose Cruz, Jr Card # 62 Pat # 2,14,13,18,19,32(2),48,76,88,89
Paul Konerko Card # 63 Pat # 2,13,21,22,25,28,32,33,34,35,39,41,43,56(2),59,61, 69,71,75,76,79,84,85,86
Edgar Martinez Card # 64 Pat # SOLD ALL
Javy Lopez Card # 65 Pat #s 6,20,27,29,37(2),39,48,55,56,59,76
Manny Ramirez Card # 66 Pat # 7,8,10,14,18,27,29,33,35,43,46,47(2),56,57,59,61,7 3,79,80,87
Roberto Alomar (HOF) Card # 67 Pat #s 14,43,47,73,85
Ken Caminiti Card # 68 Pat # 10,14,17,23(2),26,28,37,42,43(2),46,47,48,50,52,57 (2),60,63,64,73,76,77,83,87,88,89
Todd Helton Card # 69 Pat # 43,47,73
Chuck Knoblauch Card # 70 Pat # 6,9(2),22(2),26,27,31,38,43,47,50,69,73,77,78,82,9 0
Kevin Brown Card # 71 Pat # 2.7,9,15,17,19(2),21(2),23,24,29,32,33(2),34(2),35 (2),36,37,41,44(2),49,52,53,56(2),57,63,65(2),68(2 ),74,78(2),80(3),81,82(2),84(2),89(2)
Tim Salmon Card # 72 Pat # 11,18,19,27,29,30,33,50,55,74(2),76,88,90(2)
Orlando Hernandez (RC) Card # 73 Pat # 2,3,5,7,9,10,11,17,22,26,27.28,29,30,32,33,34,35,3 6,37,39(32),43,44,46,50,51,52,54,55(2),58)3),59(2) ,60(3),61,62,64(2),66,67,75,81,86,88(3)
Jeff Bagwell (HOF) Card # 74 Pat # SOLD ALL
Brian Jordan Card # 75 Pat # 7,12,13,14(3),17,22,23,24(2),26(2),28,29,30(2),31, 34(2),44(2),47,48,49,60(3),61(3),65,68,73,76(2),78 ,80,81(2),84,85,88
Derrek Lee Card # 76 Pat # 5(3),7,8,11,13,14(2),15,16,17(3),19,22,23,24,26,27 (3),29,30,31(2),32,33,35(2),37(2),38,39,45,47,52,5 5(2),64,69,70,79(2),82,87(5),88,89(2),90
Brad Fullmer Card # 77 Pat # 3,12,14(2),15,26(2),27,31,33(2),34,35,36,39,40,41, 44,50,51,58,63,65,70,71,73,78,79,84(2),85,86,87,88 ,90(2)
Mark Grace Card # 78 Pat # SOLD ALL
Jeff King Card # 79 Pat # 2,7,14(2),15,16,26,31,33(2),37,39.41(3),42,47,49(2 ),50,54(5),56,58,60,63,65,69(2),73,78,83,84,85(2), 89
Mike Mussina Card # 80 Pat # 23,70
Jay Buhner Card # 81 Pat # 73,75(2),77,85
Quinten McCracken Card # 82 Pat # 8,24,29(2),32,34,35,36,40,42(3),46,47(4),49,50,52, 53,54,56,57,63,67,73,75,84,88
AJ Hinch Card # 83 Pat # 2,4,6,8,9,13,17,20,22,24(2),28,30,32(3),34(2),37,3 9,49,50,53,54(2),56(3),57,58(2),59,62,63(2),67,69( 3),73,74(2),76,77(2),79(2),80(2),81(2),82(2),84,88 (2),90(2)
Richard Hidalgo Card # 84 Pat # 2,7,14,15,16,17(4),22(2),23,26,27,28,31(2),32,33(2 ),34,35,41,42(3),44(3),48(2), 50,52,53,54,56(2),57(2),58,64(2),69,70(2),72,73(2) ,75(2),77,78(2),86,89(2),90
Andres Galarraga Card # 85 Pat # 7,16,31,56(3)
Mike Piazza (HOF) Card # 86 Pat # 80
Mo Vaughn Card # 87 Pat # 8,16,23,25,43,48,52,57,58,69(2),72)2),77,78,85(4)
Scott Rolen Card # 88 Pat # 23,24,66
Jim Thome (HOF) Card # 89 Pat # 5,6,12,38,51,78
Ray Lankford Card # 90 Pat # 17,30,63,70,75,89(2)
 
Last edited:

MansGame

Active member
Sep 25, 2009
15,324
20
Dallas, TX
New Years 2019 bump for 1998 Topps TEK collectors

Been a while since I picked up a diffractor. Not sure I am even averaging one a year. I am having a lot of recent luck on the 99 side.

That said, some 98 boxes are up. We should club up and buy it and bust. Comes out to $5 a player spot and you’d be banking on the diffractors.


Sent from my iPhone using Freedom Card Board
 

bstanwood

Well-known member
Sep 24, 2016
3,666
332
Mystic, CT
Been a while since I picked up a diffractor. Not sure I am even averaging one a year. I am having a lot of recent luck on the 99 side.

That said, some 98 boxes are up. We should club up and buy it and bust. Comes out to $5 a player spot and you’d be banking on the diffractors.


Sent from my iPhone using Freedom Card Board

I'd be interested in a trade for break, I still need a fair amount of base for my Biggio and Mo Vaughn sets as well
 

onionring9

Active member
Administrator
Aug 7, 2008
3,490
12
Been a while since I picked up a diffractor. Not sure I am even averaging one a year. I am having a lot of recent luck on the 99 side.

That said, some 98 boxes are up. We should club up and buy it and bust. Comes out to $5 a player spot and you’d be banking on the diffractors.


Sent from my iPhone using Freedom Card Board

Wouldn't mind gambling for some mcgwire if someone does this. I don't have the time to organize something like that right now unfortunately.
 

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