White whale inserts from the '90s which are NOT 1/1 cards

[MansGame]

I have been spending a lot of time looking over my Albert Belle checklist and seeing which cards I need considering I'm getting very very close to having 90% of all cards recognized by Beckett for Albert Belle. Considering a vast majority of the ~300 cards out there that I need are tied up in either 1998 Tek Diffractors or 1999 Tek Golds, there isn't much left on the regular checklist pre-2011 when he was introduced back into the hobby.

All of this got me thinking... what are the "White Whale" '90s inserts which are NOT 1/1s but are those which you might value more than a true 1/1 from the '90s because of how SP they are or how tough they are to find or even how much collectors even question whether "their guy" is even out there to be acquired.

For me, here are my top 10 and was curious if any of y'all have others to add or think your top 10 would be any different...

(in chronological order)

1996 Ultra Home Run Kings Redemption Gold Medallion
1997 Bowman's Best Mirror Image Inverted Atomic Refractor
1997 Collector's Choice Crash the Game Instant Win
1997 Pinnacle Certified Mirror Black
1997 Studio Hard Hat Samples
1998 Bowman's Best Autographs Atomic Refractors
1998 Collector's Choice Crash the Game Instant Win
1998 Pacific Online Winners
1998 Stadium Club Triumvirate Illuminator
1999 Fleer Tradition Starting 9

Two which might be more player specific?

1998 Pinnacle Certified Mirror Red Test Issue
1998 Studio Media Test Issue

 

[Fandruw25]

That's a pretty good list. The only one I would swap out would be the 1998 Stadium Club Triumvirate Illuminator for the 1999 Topps MVP promotions. Hard to find, only 100 made and it's unknown how many were sent in.

I would also move the 97 mirror black and 98 pacific online winners under player specific unless you have seen copies or had it confirmed they exist.

 

[heavy_hitter]

1998 Bowman Chrome Golden Anniversary Refractors/5

 

[heavy_hitter]

1998 Pinnacle Performers Big Bang Seasonal Outburst parallels
1998 Flair Showcase Perfect 10
That Pacific Vinyl Wild set numbered to 10
1998 Bowman's Best Mirror Image Fusion Atomic Refractors/25
1999 UD Black Diamond Mystery Numbers Emerald parallels
1998 UD Collector's Choice Star Quest Home Run/100
1999 UD Choice Star Quest Gold/100
1996 Donruss Signature Century Marks/100
1998 Topps Star Luminaries parallel numbered to 5
1997 Pinnacle Certified Mirror Gold Team/25

 

[MansGame]

1998 Bowman Chrome Golden Anniversary Refractors/5

This is a really good one and one I considered for sure!

 

[MansGame]

1998 Pinnacle Performers Big Bang Seasonal Outburst parallels
1998 Topps Star Luminaries parallel numbered to 5
1997 Pinnacle Certified Mirror Gold Team/25

These were all considered as well, especially the Outburst... not even sure I know what I'm looking for there for Belle haha

 

[gracecollector]

1993 Topps Finest Refractor
1994 Topps ABCD Gold Winner Send-In Card
1996 Score Select Certified Mirror Gold
1996 Studio Silver Press Proof
1996 Pinnacle Aficionado First Pitch Preview
1997 Topps ProShooter Marbles Checklist Card
1998 Donruss Crusade Red
1998 Pacific Online Winners
1999 Fleer Brilliants 24 Karat Gold
1999 Fleer Starting 9

 

[MansGame]

1994 Topps ABCD Gold Winner Send-In Card
1998 Donruss Crusade Red

These two for sureeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

[smapdi]

One card I didn't realize I wanted so much until I was outbid on it last night is this one:

1999 Skybox Titanium Fusion Gold. That just looks flippin' sweet. So that's on my list.

Also:
1993 Leaf Autograph (I know these are not hard to find, I just never have acquired one)
1997 Ultra Starring Role
1997 Finest Embossed Refractor (3 of these were on ebay this summer, outbid on all of them)
1998 EX 2001 Essential Credentials Future #/93 and especially the Present or whatever it's called, which I think was #/8
1998 Bowman Chrome Gold Ref #/5
1999 Fleer Brilliants 24K #/24
1998 Crusades Purple and Red
1997 and 1998 Donruss Preferred Precious Metals
Gold Mirrors from Certified/Totally Certified

 

[RAZOR-Z]

PLAYER SPECIFIC: 1996 LEAF PREFERRED STEEL BRONZE PROTOTYPE #47

 

[BBCgalaxee]

Any 97 98 Donruss Executive stamped cards

 

[gracecollector]

PLAYER SPECIFIC: 1996 LEAF PREFERRED STEEL BRONZE PROTOTYPE #47

Thought these were most likely 1/1? Do you think there are multiples per player?

Been awhile since you bought this. Just wondering - do you regret the purchase or is it a PC favorite? Quite a chunk of change.

 

[RStadlerASU22]

Thought these were most likely 1/1? Do you think there are multiples per player?

Been awhile since you bought this. Just wondering - do you regret the purchase or is it a PC favorite? Quite a chunk of change.

I bought the Clark in 96/97 , sold/traded it last year. I wish I could have resisted moving , but it was too much to turn down. When I bought it, it was through the AOL boards and I could have bought a dozen or so of the players if I remember correctly, sadly I passed on others. I can't say I am 100% , but I believe some players they had available had at least 2 copies, but not everyone. That's all from thinking back and I can't be for certain. I don't recall anything they had being more than two copies.

Ryan

 

[VizquelCollector.com]

...

1998 Studio Media Test Issue

Does anyone have one of these, know much about them, can post a nice scan, etc?

 

[joey12508]

Sent from my iPhone using Freedom Card Board mobile app

 

[TNP777]

1997 Pinnacle Inside Diamond Edition
1997 Score Dodgers Team Collection Premier Club
1998 Score Team Collection Platinum

 

[Kid4hof03]

Dang Kevin! I've never seen that one before, hoped it didn't really exist

Sent from my iPhone using Freedom Card Board mobile app

 

[RStadlerASU22]

95 Score GR Redeemed w/ the holes punched in

Although trying to stay away from serial numbered cards in here , the Pacific Inaugural /20


Ryan

 

[joey12508]

Dang Kevin! I've never seen that one before, hoped it didn't really exist

Only bernie i ever seen. I thought maybe 10 were made. Has to be less.


Sent from my iPhone using Freedom Card Board mobile app

 

[MansGame]

95 Score GR Redeemed w/ the holes punched in

That's a bother good one!