1998 Topps Tek

Description

1998 Topps TEK (stylized in CAPS) is a massive 8100-card set released exclusively to Hobby outlets in October, 1998. This set consists of 90 cards all printed on acetate, with 90 patterns available for each player. Each card is sequentially-numbered twice: Card number and pattern number. At 8100 cards (90 players X 90 patterns), it is the largest set ever produced.

Diffractors, which are seeded 1 in every 6 packs, are parallels of every unique pattern. Because diffractors are not serial-numbered, it's unknown how many were made of pattern. Many collectors agree between 10 and 20 were made for each pattern, except for pattern 49.

Distribution

20 packs per box, 4 cards per pack (MSRP: $5).

Insertion Ratios

Cards	Total Cards	Numbered To	Hobby Odds
Base	90	-	4:1
Diffractors	90	-	1:6

Checklist

Promos

These three cards were produced by Topps to introduce and promote the Topps TEK concept. Each card has "Pre-Production" on the reverse side over top the sequential-number. These cards are skip-numbered; each player has 30 patterns. Gold Promo parallels have surfaced over the years and these are extremely rare, possibly less than 10 copies per player per pattern exist.

• 13 Mark McGwire
• 21 Roger Clemens
• 76 Raul Mondesi

Base Set

A complete master base set consists of 8100 cards (90 x 90).

A Mark Grace collector's fan site has displayed all 90 different background patterns. Please use this site as a visual guide to all 90 patterns.

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

Parallels

All 90 cards in all 90 background patterns are available in a Diffractor parallel.

NOTE: To date, Diffractors of pattern 49 have not emerged.