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The 1998 Topps Tek Thread

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thelesquad

thelesquad

Well-known member
Dec 6, 2008
1,442
144
I am curious as to why Ryno didn't make the set. In a way I'm glad, but in a way it would have been a fun hunt.
 
RustyGreerFan

RustyGreerFan

Active member
Jun 10, 2010
2,496
4
Gastonia, NC
Now that we have 14 years to reflect on this release, we have the ability to Monday morning quarterback Topps for the decisions they made about what players they included and excluded. I don't really blame Topps. At the time (and really still to this day) there was a lot of pressure from collectors to include the hot prospects. This meant that some pretty popular players had to be excluded.

Taking into consideration careers and popularity with collectors, just think of how valuable unopened product would be in this scenario...

Remove the following 12 players:

AJ Hinch
Derek Bell
Richard Hidalgo
Brad Fullmer (although he seems to have at least one or two collectors)
Quinton McCracken
Mark Kotsay
Todd Dunwoody
Jeff King
Tony Clark
Jeromy Burnitz
Ellis Burks
Javy Lopez

(There are quite a few young guys that would be easy to cut in retrospect, but would have been awfully hard to cut at the time - Erstad, Grieve, Cruz Jr, TWalker, TLee, OHernandez, for example)

Add in the following 12 players:

Mariano Rivera
Rickey Henderson
Ryne Sandberg
Jose Canseco
Hideo Nomo
Wade Boggs
David Ortiz
Will Clark
Roy Halladay
Lance Berkman
John Smoltz
Fred McGriff

Some other guys w/ good careers or fan favorites (that played in 1997) left out in the cold - Cliff Lee, CCarpenter, Deion, Hoffman, Garret, SGreen, Gaetti, JCarter, Giambi, Hershiser, Eck, Pettitte, Daulton, and of course, Rusty Greer :mrgreen:

Actually, with how long and strong the Nomo craze lasted, would there be any unopened Tek left? :p

But seriously, instead of $160 a box, how much would this product be going for now?! :o
 
RustyGreerFan

RustyGreerFan

Active member
Jun 10, 2010
2,496
4
Gastonia, NC
I said earlier today it's funny how things run in bunches...

After picking up my first Derek Jeter Diffractor (thanks to a poor listing) after having not even seen one go at auction since I've been paying attention, I found two more.

Pattern 45 - I'll call this pattern Mitsubishi since it's got the Mitsubishi logo repeated over and over.

DerekJeterDiffractorPattern45.jpg


I was shocked to see it pop up on Sportsbuy. I rarely check Sportsbuy. I had to pay $38 after a painful $4.45 shipping fee, but I still think it's an okay price for Jeter. Some seller called Grandma's Sports Cards even though I don't think there's a grandma in the picture. They actually have a slogan on their seller page - "You can trust your Grandma!" Somehow that made me feel less comfortable with my purchase :mrgreen:

Pattern 3 - I can't think of a good name for this one.

DerekJeterDiffractorPattern3.jpg


I paid a ridiculous $60 for this one, but since it came in a lot of cards I figured I could resell the rest of the lot and make some of my money back.
 
T

tpeichel

Well-known member
Oct 10, 2008
15,639
119
I have a smattering of these through some trades. PM me if you need anything.

ALOMAR,ROBERTO1998Topps Tek #67 Pattern 04
ALOU,MOISES1998Topps Tek #55 Pattern 89
ANDERSON,BRADY1998Topps Tek #16 Pattern 47
BELL,DEREK1998Topps Tek #42 Pattern 86
BELLE,ALBERT1998Topps Tek #47 Pattern 17
BELTRE,ADRIAN1998Topps Tek #49 Pattern 13
BICHETTE,DANTE1998Topps Tek #08 Pattern 88
BIGGIO,CRAIG1998Topps Tek #12 Pattern 23
BROWN,KEVIN1998Topps Tek #71 Pattern 06
BROWN,KEVIN1998Topps Tek #71 Pattern 31
BUHNER,JAY1998Topps Tek #81 Pattern 17
BURKS,ELLIS1998Topps Tek #53 Pattern 59
BURNITZ,JEROMY1998Topps Tek #48 Pattern 21
CAMINITI,KEN1998Topps Tek #68 Pattern 65
CASTILLA,VINNY1998Topps Tek #38 Pattern 05
CLARK,TONY1998Topps Tek #58 Pattern 75
CRUZ JR,JOSE1998Topps Tek #62 Pattern 74
DELGADO,CARLOS1998Topps Tek #43 Pattern 38
DUNWOODY,TODD1998Topps Tek #36 Pattern 57
EDMONDS,JIM1998Topps Tek #20 Pattern 49
ERSTAD,DARIN1998Topps Tek #35 Pattern 86
FULLMER,BRAD1998Topps Tek #77 Pattern 17
FULLMER,BRAD1998Topps Tek #77 Pattern 57
GLAUS,TROY1998Topps Tek #61 Pattern 69
GLAVINE,TOM1998Topps Tek #10 Pattern 55
GRIEVE,BEN1998Topps Tek #01 Pattern 13
GUERRERO,VLADIMIR1998Topps Tek #17 Pattern 73
HELTON,TODD1998Topps Tek #69 Pattern 15
HERNANDEZ,ORLANDO1998Topps Tek #73 Pattern 17
JONES,ANDRUW1998Topps Tek #26 Pattern 40
JORDAN,BRIAN1998Topps Tek #75 Pattern 31
KENDALL,JASON1998Topps Tek #52 Pattern 89
KING,JEFF1998Topps Tek #79 Pattern 60
KNOBLAUCH,CHUCK1998Topps Tek #70 Pattern 77
KONERKO,PAUL1998Topps Tek #63 Pattern 55
KOTSAY,MARK1998Topps Tek #22 Pattern 86
LANKFORD,RAY1998Topps Tek #90 Pattern 57
LANKFORD,RAY1998Topps Tek #90 Pattern 76
LEE,DEREK1998Topps Tek #76 Pattern 05
LOFTON,KENNY1998Topps Tek #45 Pattern 82
LOPEZ,JAVY1998Topps Tek #65 Pattern 56
MARTINEZ,PEDRO1998Topps Tek #41 Pattern 65
MCCRACKEN,QUINTON1998Topps Tek #82 Pattern 15
MOLITOR,PAUL1998Topps Tek #54 Pattern 31
MUSSINA,MIKE1998Topps Tek #80 Pattern 59
OLERUD,JOHN1998Topps Tek #04 Pattern 89
O'NEILL,PAUL1998Topps Tek #37 Pattern 02
O'NEILL,PAUL1998Topps Tek #37 Pattern 16
O'NEILL,PAUL1998Topps Tek #37 Pattern 46
O'NEILL,PAUL1998Topps Tek #37 Pattern 53
O'NEILL,PAUL1998Topps Tek #37 Pattern 68
PALMEIRO,RAFAEL1998Topps Tek #40 Pattern 65
PIAZZA,MIKE1998Topps Tek #86 Pattern 38
RENTERIA,EDGAR1998Topps Tek #46 Pattern 27
ROLEN,SCOTT1998Topps Tek #88 Pattern 60
SHEFFIELD,GARY1998Topps Tek #29 Pattern 15
SOSA,SAMMY1998Topps Tek #28 Pattern 43
VAUGHN,MO1998Topps Tek #87 Pattern 73
WALKER,TODD
1998Topps Tek #24 Pattern 06
WILLIAMS,BERNIE1998Topps Tek #07 Pattern 40
WILLIAMS,MATT1998Topps Tek #44 Pattern 09
WOOD,KERRY1998Topps Tek #02 Pattern 70
AA-All Items
[TH="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"] PLAYER [/TH]
[TH="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"] YEAR [/TH]
[TH="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"] DESCRIPTION [/TH]
 
RustyGreerFan

RustyGreerFan

Active member
Jun 10, 2010
2,496
4
Gastonia, NC
This is not a "feeler." I just sent the following email to FCB:

Name/Board Username - Eric A. Johnson/RustyGreerFan

Age: (must be 18 and over) - 38 tomorrow

Product to be broken - 1998 Topps Tek

Type of break (ex. pack/box/case) - one box break

How you plan on running the break. - I have broken the set into lots - see bottom of email. I am taking Lot 4.

Slot pricing? - $20 dlvd via PayPal only

When you want to start the break? - a week or less. Might fill up fast.

Where you are purchasing the product? - I have already purchased this sealed box on ebay and have it in hand.

Other - may I allow a small window for participants to "trade players" before the box break?

Lot 1
Astros - Biggio, Randy Johnson, DBell, Alou, Bagwell, Hidalgo
Braves - Glavine, Justice, Chipper, Andruw, Maddux, Javy Lopez, Galarraga

Lot 2
Cardinals - McGwire, BJordan, Lankford
Cubs - KWood, Sosa, Grace
Brewers - Burnitz
D-Rays – McCracken
Blue Jays - Clemens, Delgado, Cruz Jr
A's - Grieve, Hinch

Lot 3
Giants – Bonds
Indians - Sandy, Lofton, Manny, Thome
Reds - Larkin, Konerko
D-Backs - MWilliams, Travis Lee
Dodgers - Karros, Sheff, Beltre, Mondesi

Lot 4
M's - A-Rod, Griffey, Edgar, Buhner
Rangers - Pudge, Juan Gone
Marlins - Kotsay, Dunwoody, Renteria, DLee
Expos - Vlad, Fullmer

Lot 5
Orioles - Brady, Palmeiro, Ripken, RAlomar, Mussina
Padres - Gwynn, Caminiti, KBrown
Phils - Schilling, Rolen
Pirates - Aramis, Kendall
Royals - JKing

Lot 6
Yanks - Bernie, Jeter, Tino, O'Neill, OHernandez
Red Sox - Nomar, Pedro Martinez, Mo
Rockies - Dante, LWalker, Vinny, Burks, Helton

Lot 7

White Sox - Frank, Ventura, Belle
Mets - Olerud, Piazza
Angels - Edmonds, Erstad, Glaus, Salmon
Twins - TWalker, Molitor, Knoblauch
Tigers - TClark
 
MansGame

MansGame

Well-known member
Sep 25, 2009
15,334
34
Dallas, TX
RustyGreerFan said:
This is not a "feeler." I just sent the following email to FCB:

Name/Board Username - Eric A. Johnson/RustyGreerFan

Age: (must be 18 and over) - 38 tomorrow

Product to be broken - 1998 Topps Tek

Type of break (ex. pack/box/case) - one box break

How you plan on running the break. - I have broken the set into lots - see bottom of email. I am taking Lot 4.

Slot pricing? - $20 dlvd via PayPal only

When you want to start the break? - a week or less. Might fill up fast.

Where you are purchasing the product? - I have already purchased this sealed box on ebay and have it in hand.

Other - may I allow a small window for participants to "trade players" before the box break?

Lot 1
Astros - Biggio, Randy Johnson, DBell, Alou, Bagwell, Hidalgo
Braves - Glavine, Justice, Chipper, Andruw, Maddux, Javy Lopez, Galarraga

Lot 2
Cardinals - McGwire, BJordan, Lankford
Cubs - KWood, Sosa, Grace
Brewers - Burnitz
D-Rays – McCracken
Blue Jays - Clemens, Delgado, Cruz Jr
A's - Grieve, Hinch

Lot 3
Giants – Bonds
Indians - Sandy, Lofton, Manny, Thome
Reds - Larkin, Konerko
D-Backs - MWilliams, Travis Lee
Dodgers - Karros, Sheff, Beltre, Mondesi

Lot 4
M's - A-Rod, Griffey, Edgar, Buhner
Rangers - Pudge, Juan Gone
Marlins - Kotsay, Dunwoody, Renteria, DLee
Expos - Vlad, Fullmer

Lot 5
Orioles - Brady, Palmeiro, Ripken, RAlomar, Mussina
Padres - Gwynn, Caminiti, KBrown
Phils - Schilling, Rolen
Pirates - Aramis, Kendall
Royals - JKing

Lot 6
Yanks - Bernie, Jeter, Tino, O'Neill, OHernandez
Red Sox - Nomar, Pedro Martinez, Mo
Rockies - Dante, LWalker, Vinny, Burks, Helton

Lot 7

White Sox - Frank, Ventura, Belle
Mets - Olerud, Piazza
Angels - Edmonds, Erstad, Glaus, Salmon
Twins - TWalker, Molitor, Knoblauch
Tigers - TClark
Click to expand...

Would this include ALL hits of the player? Including inserts and diffractors?

In any case, I might be the taker of Lot 7 with Belle included...
 
RustyGreerFan

RustyGreerFan

Active member
Jun 10, 2010
2,496
4
Gastonia, NC
MansGame said:
Would this include ALL hits of the player? Including inserts and diffractors?

In any case, I might be the taker of Lot 7 with Belle included...
Click to expand...

Right - all there is in 1998 Tek is base and diffractors. You would get all base and diffractors of the teams/players in your lot.
 
RustyGreerFan

RustyGreerFan

Active member
Jun 10, 2010
2,496
4
Gastonia, NC
Here's one I traded to PadresFan

Pattern 21 - I call this one "Static"

attachment.php


This is one of the few where the bright field is caught in the background. As you can see it really illuminates the Diffractor effect. Too bad more aren't like this one.

Compare it to this empty background... you can barely even tell it's a Diffractor. What a waste.

Pattern 6

attachment.php
 
Last edited:
DeliciousBacon

DeliciousBacon

Well-known member
Apr 23, 2011
3,444
95
Warwick, RI
Just found three base 1998 Teks in a box that I don't need, anyone want to claim them?

81 Jay Buhner Pattern 48
11 Eric Karros Pattern 70
70 Chuck Knoblauch Pattern 40
 
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