The 1998 Topps Tek Thread

[SINFULONE]

I don't know why anyone is surprised Sandberg isn't in the set, he retired after '97.With so few players in the set, understandably they wanted current players in the set.

 

[SINFULONE]

I've noticed the '99 singles are way cheaper than '98.Too bad they didn't put an inserts in the '98 set as well.

 

[RustyGreerFan]

I don't know why anyone is surprised Sandberg isn't in the set, he retired after '97.With so few players in the set, understandably they wanted current players in the set.

I don't think anyone is surprised. That's how things were back then.

And I don't think card companies care what players are in any given set as long as it's what will sell. At the time, including retired players in sets was not as prevalent as it is now. It sure took them awhile to catch on to what collectors want - hot rookies AND popular players from the past in addition to today's players.

 

[RustyGreerFan]

I've noticed the '99 singles are way cheaper than '98.Too bad they didn't put an inserts in the '98 set as well.

Say what? :mrgreen:

 

[SINFULONE]

I don't think anyone is surprised. That's how things were back then.

And I don't think card companies care what players are in any given set as long as it's what will sell. At the time, including retired players in sets was not as prevalent as it is now. It sure took them awhile to catch on to what collectors want - hot rookies AND popular players from the past in addition to today's players.

There was a Sandberg fan on Page 2 who was curious why he wasn't in the set.

You can get a box of '99 for $85.Some '00 even went cheaper.

 

[Brewer Andy]

What is reasonable for the minor and semi stars in this product?$1 a card?

(I would say that sounds about right yeah but if your looking to max profit and in no hurry, I'd list all singles at $5/each just to see who really needs a certain pattern first. Then drop the rest to $1 after a few weeks. Someone who only needs a few more is likely gonna pay more than someone who still needs 50 patterns

 

[SINFULONE]

(I would say that sounds about right yeah but if your looking to max profit and in no hurry, I'd list all singles at $5/each just to see who really needs a certain pattern first. Then drop the rest to $1 after a few weeks. Someone who only needs a few more is likely gonna pay more than someone who still needs 50 patterns

You heard of Burbank Sports Cards?I have heard they are tough to deal, but they have a bunch of my player that are seemingly reasonable ($1 a card for minor star) that I'm thinking of scooping up if they still have them.Plus, I'd be able to combine shipping on all of them.

 

[thelesquad]

There was a Sandberg fan on Page 2 who was curious why he wasn't in the set.

You can get a box of '99 for $85.Some '00 even went cheaper.

Curiosity does not equal surprise. Yes, he retired after '97, but he was included in other '98 inserts (not a lot, but some).

 

[SINFULONE]

Curiosity does not equal surprise. Yes, he retired after '97, but he was included in other '98 inserts (not a lot, but some).

I would imagine those other '98 sets had more than 90 players in them though.

 

[RustyGreerFan]

Well, the kicker is the choice of players that Tek made. Guys like McCracken, Dunwoody, and Kotsay... what was their ceiling really? Meanwhile they're ignoring sure-fire HOFers like Sandberg, Rickey, and Boggs.

Yeah, minor stars for $1 is about right. I'm trying to get all the Buhners and I'm trying to do it for about a buck apiece. So I'm especially interested in lots. Burbank is a good way to go, especially if you put it together with an order for higher dollar cards because shipping is free @ $50. If you order, post when you gettem and let us know how you are doing on your set of your player. I'd also be curious to hear how the condition of the cards are because it can be so hit and miss with Tek and you can't see Burbank's cards ahead of time.

 

[DeliciousBacon]

Well, the kicker is the choice of players that Tek made. Guys like McCracken, Dunwoody, and Kotsay... what was their ceiling really? Meanwhile they're ignoring sure-fire HOFers like Sandberg, Rickey, and Boggs.

Hey now, Kotsay is still playing, so he didn't end up too bad!

 

[RustyGreerFan]

Ha! I almost said in my post, "no offense to db..."

 

[thelesquad]

I would imagine those other '98 sets had more than 90 players in them though.

Indeed, which answers my curiosity why he wasn't included.

 

[SINFULONE]

Well, the kicker is the choice of players that Tek made. Guys like McCracken, Dunwoody, and Kotsay... what was their ceiling really? Meanwhile they're ignoring sure-fire HOFers like Sandberg, Rickey, and Boggs.

Yeah, minor stars for $1 is about right. I'm trying to get all the Buhners and I'm trying to do it for about a buck apiece. So I'm especially interested in lots. Burbank is a good way to go, especially if you put it together with an order for higher dollar cards because shipping is free @ $50. If you order, post when you gettem and let us know how you are doing on your set of your player. I'd also be curious to hear how the condition of the cards are because it can be so hit and miss with Tek and you can't see Burbank's cards ahead of time.

Could be wrong on this, but weren't Dunwoody and Kotsay high draft picks back then?Wasn't it around '96 or '97 when Bowman rookie/prospect sets took off?If so, I can understand why they would want to sprinkle a few rookies in to sell the product.

That was one of my concerns with Burbank, they didn't have scans of any of the cards I wanted.I guess they have so many cards to list they don't have the time to scan the cheaper ones.With so many cards having factory defects, some scans sure would be nice.Did not know shipping was free over $50, thanks for the heads up.

 

[MansGame]

If anyone cares or has some 1998 Tek cards, I'm currently in search of the following patterns for Albert Belle (#47):

2, 8, 11, 13, 15, 19, 23, 25, 27, 29, 36, 37, 40, 42, 45, 46, 47, 49, 51, 52, 53, 55, 58, 59, 64, 65, 71, 78, 79, 81, 83, 84, 85, 90

 

[MansGame]

Back to the convo, does anyone else think it's easier to find the even # patterns over the odd # patterns? Sounds redic but when I started collecting the patterns, nearly every one I already had was even numbered and when looking at the 34 patterns I STILL need, 22 are odd # or nearly 66%, which is 2 out of every 3!

 

[DeliciousBacon]

Could be wrong on this, but weren't Dunwoody and Kotsay high draft picks back then?Wasn't it around '96 or '97 when Bowman rookie/prospect sets took off?If so, I can understand why they would want to sprinkle a few rookies in to sell the product.

Yup, Dunwoody was expected to be a star back then. Quinton McCracken was a Devil Ray, and 1998 was their first year, so I guess his presence makes sense (same with Travis Lee on the D'backs, although he was expected to be a star as well).

 

[RustyGreerFan]

Back to the convo, does anyone else think it's easier to find the even # patterns over the odd # patterns? Sounds redic but when I started collecting the patterns, nearly every one I already had was even numbered and when looking at the 34 patterns I STILL need, 22 are odd # or nearly 66%, which is 2 out of every 3!

Nope, I haven't noticed this. I just briefly looked at the recap of our box break and it looks pretty even between evens and odds.

 

[SINFULONE]

Yup, Dunwoody was expected to be a star back then. Quinton McCracken was a Devil Ray, and 1998 was their first year, so I guess his presence makes sense (same with Travis Lee on the D'backs, although he was expected to be a star as well).

I thought McCracken came up as a Rockie, guess the Devil Rays took him in the expansion draft.Did the Devil Rays not have more extablished players for Topps to print cards of then?I have old Beckett's from those years, I remember Lee and Cruz Jr. cards were red hot back then.I recall the Mariners getting ripped by a lot of writers and analysts for trading him for bullpen help back then.

 

[RustyGreerFan]

Pattern 39