1999 Metal Universe

Description

1999 Metal Universe was a 300-card set produced by Fleer/Skybox and released in January, 1999. For the first time since the brand was introduced in 1996, base card backgrounds were the same for every player and did not feature a space or fantasy comic book theme (Marvel Entertainment had put its Fleer/Skybox division on the market in late 1998, with the sale closing shortly after this product's release). Instead, card backgrounds all resembled a piece of sheet metal featuring the player's name. All cards are printed on embossed etched foil and were highly susceptible to chipping along the edges and were marked as "condition sensitive" by Beckett, just like the 1996-1998 sets.

In an effort to appeal to a non-traditional demographic, Fleer reoriented all their Skybox brands (E-X, Metal, Molten Metal, Skybox Premium, and Skybox Thunder) toward a younger audience. The language used on card backs has not aged well.

For the first time since 1996, Alex Rodriguez was not the frontman for the Metal Universe product - instead, highly-touted prospect at the time, J.D. Drew held that honor for the 1999 set.

Distribution

Although Hobby boxes were wrapped in plastic marked "Hobby Exclusive", Retail boxes were also distributed.

Hobby: 24 packs per box, 8 cards per pack (MSRP: $2.69).

Retail: 20 packs per box, 8 cards per pack.

In Hobby boxes, inserts were usually the 4th/middle card in the pack.

Insertion Ratios

Cards	Total Cards	Numbered To	Hobby Odds	Retail Odds
Base	300	-	?	?
Precious Metal Gems	300	50	?	N/A
Gem Masters	300	one-of-one	?	?
Neophytes	15	-	1:6	1:6
Boyz with the Wood	15	-	1:18	1:18
Planet Metal	15	-	1:36	1:36
Diamond Soul	15	-	1:72	1:72
Linchpins	10	-	1:360	1:360
J.D. Drew Autograph	1	35	?	?

Checklist

Promos

Regular

A six-card 5" X 10 1/2" sheet was distributed to dealers and the Hobby media to promote 1999 Metal Universe Baseball. Cards on the non-perforated sheet are exact copies of each player's base card, with the word "SAMPLE" replacing the card number. The players featured on this promo sheet were:

Albert Belle J.D. Drew Derek Jeter Mike Piazza Alex Rodriguez Sammy Sosa

Autographed

Fleer/Skybox had J.D. Drew signed 325 of the 6-card promo sheets and distributed them to attendees of the 14th annual Hawaii Trade Conference. Only the J.D. Drew card was autographed and each signed sheet was impressed with a Skybox autograph seal in the center (in between the Drew and Jeter cards). Some people have since cut this promo sheet to obtain the Drew autograph as a single card (see above picture).

Base Set

NOTE: Since the top of each card is embossed, a stack of '99 Metal Universe cards will tend to "lean."

• 1 Mark McGwire
• 2 Jim Edmonds
• 3 Travis Fryman
• 4 Tom Gordon
• 5 Jeff Bagwell
• 6 Rico Brogna
• 7 Tom Evans
• 8 John Franco
• 9 Juan Gonzalez
• 10 Paul Molitor
• 11 Roberto Alomar
• 12 Mike Hampton
• 13 Orel Hershiser
• 14 Todd Stottlemyre
• 15 Robin Ventura
• 16 Todd Walker
• 17 Bernie Williams
• 18 Shawn Estes
• 19 Richie Sexson
• 20 Kevin Millwood
• 21 David Ortiz
• 22 Mariano Rivera
• 23 Ivan Rodriguez
• 24 Mike Sirotka
• 25 Dave Justice
• 26 Carl Pavano
• 27 Albert Belle
• 28 Will Clark
• 29 Jose Cruz, Jr.
• 30 Trevor Hoffman
• 31 Dean Palmer
• 32 Edgar Renteria
• 33 David Segui
• 34 B.J. Surhoff
• 35 Miguel Tejada
• 36 Bob Wickman
• 37 Charles Johnson
• 38 Andruw Jones
• 39 Mike Lieberthal
• 40 Eli Marrero
• 41 Neifi Perez
• 42 Jim Thome
• 43 Barry Bonds
• 44 Carlos Delgado
• 45 Chuck Finley
• 46 Brian Meadows
• 47 Tony Gwynn
• 48 Jose Offerman
• 49 Cal Ripken, Jr.
• 50 Alex Rodriguez
• 51 Esteban Yan
• 52 Matt Stairs
• 53 Fernando Vina
• 54 Rondell White
• 55 Kerry Wood
• 56 Dmitri Young
• 57 Ken Caminiti
• 58 Alex Gonzalez
• 59 Matt Mantei
• 60 Tino Martinez
• 61 Hal Morris
• 62 Rafael Palmeiro
• 63 Troy Percival
• 64 Bobby Smith
• 65 Ed Sprague
• 66 Brett Tomko
• 67 Steve Trachsel
• 68 Ugueth Urbina
• 69 Jose Valentin
• 70 Kevin Brown
• 71 Shawn Green
• 72 Dustin Hermanson
• 73 Livan Hernandez
• 74 Geoff Jenkins
• 75 Jeff King
• 76 Chuck Knoblauch
• 77 Edgar Martinez
• 78 Fred McGriff
• 79 Mike Mussina
• 80 Dave Nilsson
• 81 Kenny Rogers
• 82 Tim Salmon
• 83 Reggie Sanders
• 84 Wilson Alvarez
• 85 Rod Beck
• 86 Jose Guillen
• 87 Bob Higginson
• 88 Gregg Olson
• 89 Jeff Shaw
• 90 Masato Yoshii
• 91 Todd Helton
• 92 David Dellucci
• 93 Johnny Damon
• 94 Cliff Floyd
• 95 Ken Griffey, Jr.
• 96 Juan Guzman
• 97 Derek Jeter
• 98 Barry Larkin
• 99 Quinton McCracken
• 100 Sammy Sosa
• 101 Kevin Young
• 102 Jay Bell
• 103 Jay Buhner
• 104 Jeff Conine
• 105 Ryan Jackson
• 106 Sidney Ponson
• 107 Jeromy Burnitz
• 108 Roberto Hernandez
• 109 A.J. Hinch
• 110 Hideki Irabu
• 111 Paul Konerko
• 112 Henry Rodriguez
• 113 Shannon Stewart
• 114 Tony Womack
• 115 Wilton Guerrero
• 116 Andy Benes
• 117 Jeff Cirillo
• 118 Chili Davis
• 119 Eric Davis
• 120 Vladimir Guerrero
• 121 Dennis Reyes
• 122 Rickey Henderson
• 123 Mickey Morandini
• 124 Jason Schmidt
• 125 J.T. Snow
• 126 Justin Thompson
• 127 Billy Wagner
• 128 Armando Benitez
• 129 Sean Casey
• 130 Brad Fullmer
• 131 Ben Grieve
• 132 Robb Nen
• 133 Shane Reynolds
• 134 Todd Zeile
• 135 Brady Anderson
• 136 Aaron Boone
• 137 Orlando Cabrera
• 138 Jason Giambi
• 139 Randy Johnson
• 140 Jeff Kent
• 141 John Wetteland
• 142 Rolando Arrojo
• 143 Scott Brosius
• 144 Mark Grace
• 145 Jason Kendall
• 146 Travis Lee
• 147 Gary Sheffield
• 148 David Cone
• 149 Jose Hernandez
• 150 Todd Jones
• 151 Al Martin
• 152 Ismael Valdes
• 153 Wade Boggs
• 154 Garret Anderson
• 155 Bobby Bonilla
• 156 Darryl Kile
• 157 Ryan Klesko
• 158 Tim Wakefield
• 159 Kenny Lofton
• 160 Jose Canseco
• 161 Doug Glanville
• 162 Todd Hundley
• 163 Brian Jordan
• 164 Steve Finley
• 165 Tom Glavine
• 166 Al Leiter
• 167 Raul Mondesi
• 168 Desi Relaford
• 169 Bret Saberhagen
• 170 Omar Vizquel
• 171 Larry Walker
• 172 Bob Abreu
• 173 Moises Alou
• 174 Mike Caruso
• 175 Royce Clayton
• 176 Bartolo Colon
• 177 Marty Cordova
• 178 Darin Erstad
• 179 Nomar Garciaparra
• 180 Andy Ashby
• 181 Dan Wilson
• 182 Larry Sutton
• 183 Tony Clark
• 184 Andres Galarraga
• 185 Ray Durham
• 186 Hideo Nomo
• 187 Steve Woodard
• 188 Scott Rolen
• 189 Mike Stanley
• 190 Jaret Wright
• 191 Vinny Castilla
• 192 Jason Christiansen
• 193 Paul Bako
• 194 Carlos Perez
• 195 Mike Piazza
• 196 Fernando Tatis
• 197 Mo Vaughn
• 198 Devon White
• 199 Ricky Gutierrez
• 200 Charlie Hayes
• 201 Brad Radke
• 202 Rick Helling
• 203 John Smoltz
• 204 Frank Thomas
• 205 David Wells
• 206 Roger Clemens
• 207 Mark Grudzielanek
• 208 Chipper Jones
• 209 Ray Lankford
• 210 Pedro Martinez
• 211 Manny Ramirez
• 212 Greg Vaughn
• 213 Craig Biggio
• 214 Rusty Greer
• 215 Greg Maddux
• 216 Rick Aguilera
• 217 Andy Pettitte
• 218 Dante Bichette
• 219 Damion Easley
• 220 Matt Morris
• 221 John Olerud
• 222 Chan Ho Park
• 223 Curt Schilling
• 224 John Valentin
• 225 Matt Williams
• 226 Ellis Burks
• 227 Tom Goodwin
• 228 Javy Lopez
• 229 Eric Milton
• 230 Paul O'Neill
• 231 Magglio Ordonez
• 232 Derrek Lee

Caught on the Fly

This 15-card subset, which was based on a column in The Sporting News, highlighted a variety of stars in the game on nearly blank silver foil background and a COTF logo that featured a cartoon fly.

• 233 Ken Griffey, Jr.
• 234 Randy Johnson
• 235 Alex Rodriguez
• 236 Darin Erstad
• 237 Juan Gonzalez
• 238 Derek Jeter
• 239 Tony Gwynn
• 240 Kerry Wood
• 241 Cal Ripken, Jr.
• 242 Sammy Sosa
• 243 Greg Maddux
• 244 Mark McGwire
• 245 Chipper Jones
• 246 Barry Bonds
• 247 Ben Grieve

Building Blocks

This 25-card subset highlighted top young players in the game that clubs could build around for success in the future. Each card in this subject featured an etched foil block design that accented the player's team colors.

• 248 Ben Davis
• 249 Robert Fick
• 250 Carlos Guillen
• 251 Mike Frank
• 252 Ryan Minor
• 253 Troy Glaus
• 254 Matt Anderson
• 255 Josh Booty
• 256 Gabe Alvarez
• 257 Gabe Kapler
• 258 Enrique Wilson
• 259 Alex Gonzalez
• 260 Preston Wilson
• 261 Eric Chavez
• 262 Adrian Beltre
• 263 Corey Koskie
• 264 Robert Machado
• 265 Orlando Hernandez
• 266 Matt Clement
• 267 Luis Ordaz
• 268 Jeremy Giambi
• 269 J.D. Drew
• 270 Cliff Politte
• 271 Carlton Loewer
• 272 Aramis Ramirez

MLPD

This 25-card subset featured some of the most "prominent and dominant players" in the game at the time and were printed on gold foil.

• 273 Ken Griffey, Jr.
• 274 Randy Johnson
• 275 Alex Rodriguez
• 276 Darin Erstad
• 277 Scott Rolen
• 278 Juan Gonzalez
• 279 Jeff Bagwell
• 280 Mike Piazza
• 281 Derek Jeter
• 282 Travis Lee
• 283 Tony Gwynn
• 284 Kerry Wood
• 285 Albert Belle
• 286 Sammy Sosa
• 287 Mo Vaughn
• 288 Nomar Garciaparra
• 289 Frank Thomas
• 290 Cal Ripken, Jr.
• 291 Greg Maddux
• 292 Chipper Jones
• 293 Ben Grieve
• 294 Andruw Jones
• 295 Mark McGwire
• 296 Roger Clemens
• 297 Barry Bonds

Checklists

• 298 Ken Griffey, Jr.
• 299 Kerry Wood
• 300 Alex Rodriguez

Parallels

Precious Metal Gems

Precious Metal Gems fully paralleled the 300-card base set (including all subsets and checklists) and were again exclusive to Hobby packs. Each Precious Metal Gems card was finished with a gold holographic foil and was serial-numbered to 50. Due to the already condition-sensitive nature of the etched foil, combined with the holographic finish, Precious Metal Gems from 1999 were notorious for edge chipping.

Gem Masters

Gem Masters also fully paralleled the 300-card base set (including all subsets and checklists) and represented the first "one-of-one" or "masterpiece" (stylized after the Flair Showcase brand) for the Metal Universe brand. Cards were printed on a holographic, miniature-oval pattern design that repeated throughout the cardfront. On the back, each card was stamped "THE ONLY ONE OF ONE GEM MASTERS" in holographic foil.

Inserts

Neophytes

This 15-card set highlighted some of the best young players in the game on a silver foil, radiant circle design.

• 1 NP Troy Glaus
• 2 NP Travis Lee
• 3 NP Scott Elarton
• 4 NP Ricky Ledee
• 5 NP Richard Hidalgo
• 6 NP J.D. Drew
• 7 NP Paul Konerko
• 8 NP Orlando Hernandez
• 9 NP Mike Caruso
• 10 NP Mike Frank
• 11 NP Miguel Tejada
• 12 NP Matt Anderson
• 13 NP Kerry Wood
• 14 NP Gabe Alvarez
• 15 NP Adrian Beltre

Boyz with the Wood

This 15-card set highlighted some of the best hitters in the game. Uniquely, there were two "forms" of the card: the first form of the card featured the player against a orange-flamed background - a collector could keep the card in this original packed-out form or fold the card into a second form that featured a different-colored flame background.

• 1 BW Ken Griffey, Jr.
• 2 BW Frank Thomas
• 3 BW Jeff Bagwell
• 4 BW Juan Gonzalez
• 5 BW Mark McGwire
• 6 BW Scott Rolen
• 7 BW Travis Lee
• 8 BW Tony Gwynn
• 9 BW Mike Piazza
• 10 BW Chipper Jones
• 11 BW Nomar Garciaparra
• 12 BW Derek Jeter
• 13 BW Cal Ripken, Jr.
• 14 BW Andruw Jones
• 15 BW Alex Rodriguez

Planet Metal

This 15-card set featured some of the biggest names in the game at the time on a holographic gold die-cut design that resembled planet Earth.

• 1 PM Alex Rodriguez
• 2 PM Andruw Jones
• 3 PM Cal Ripken, Jr.
• 4 PM Chipper Jones
• 5 PM Darin Erstad
• 6 PM Derek Jeter
• 7 PM Frank Thomas
• 8 PM Travis Lee
• 9 PM Scott Rolen
• 10 PM Nomar Garciaparra
• 11 PM Mike Piazza
• 12 PM Mark McGwire
• 13 PM Ken Griffey, Jr.
• 14 PM Juan Gonzalez
• 15 PM Jeff Bagwell

Diamond Soul

This 15-card set featured some of the best players in the game on a multi-colored, lenticular surface.

• 1 DS Cal Ripken, Jr.
• 2 DS Alex Rodriguez
• 3 DS Chipper Jones
• 4 DS Derek Jeter
• 5 DS Frank Thomas
• 6 DS Greg Maddux
• 7 DS Juan Gonzalez
• 8 DS Ken Griffey, Jr.
• 9 DS Kerry Wood
• 10 DS Mark McGwire
• 11 DS Mike Piazza
• 12 DS Nomar Garciaparra
• 13 DS Scott Rolen
• 14 DS Tony Gwynn
• 15 DS Travis Lee

Linchpins

This ten-card set featured players that were considered to be the foundation his team. Each card had yellow-orange background resembling sparks flying from metal welding and a unique die-cutting design that created pin-shaped holes throughout the card.

• 1 LP Mike Piazza
• 2 LP Mark McGwire
• 3 LP Kerry Wood
• 4 LP Ken Griffey, Jr.
• 5 LP Greg Maddux
• 6 LP Frank Thomas
• 7 LP Derek Jeter
• 8 LP Chipper Jones
• 9 LP Cal Ripken, Jr.
• 10 LP Alex Rodriguez

Autographs

J.D. Drew Autograph

In an unannounced bonus, J.D. Drew autographed 35 copies of his promo card for random insertion into packs. Each autograph is hand numbered in the bottom center of the card, embossed with an Skybox autograph seal, and sequentially-numbered "SAMPLE" on the back.

NOTE: This card is not to be confused with the Sample Sheet autograph (see above).

• SAMPLE J.D. Drew 35

Metal Universe
1996 - 1997 - 1998 - 1999 - 2000
Other Metal Brands: 1999 Skybox Molten Metal