Description

1997 New Pinnacle is a 200-card set released in June 1997. Rather than issue a second series of Pinnacle Baseball, an entirely new set, complete with new checklist, new design, and new inserts was created. Although largely a lackluster product, New Pinnacle was the first baseball card set to randomly seed into packs the actual plates used to product the cards.

Distribution

Reviews

Insertion Ratios

Cards	Total Cards	Numbered To	Odds
Base	200	-	?
Museum Collection	200	-	1:9
Artist's Proof	200	-	1:39
Press Plates	289	eight-for-each	1:1250
Spellbound	50	-	1:19
Keeping the Pace	18	-	1:89
Interleague Encounter	10	-	1:240

Checklist

Promos

This Alex Rodriguez card was sent to dealers in the order forms.

81 Alex Rodriguez

Base Set

1 Ken Griffey, Jr.
2 Sammy Sosa
3 Greg Maddux
4 Matt Williams
5 Jason Isringhausen
6 Gregg Jefferies
7 Chili Davis
8 Paul O'Neill
9 Larry Walker
10 Ellis Burks
11 Cliff Floyd
12 Albert Belle
13 Javy Lopez
14 David Cone
15 Jose Canseco
16 Todd Zeile
17 Bernard Gilkey
18 Andres Galarraga
19 Chris Snopek
20 Tim Salmon
21 Roger Clemens
22 Reggie Sanders
23 John Jaha
24 Andy Pettitte
25 Kenny Lofton
26 Robb Nen
27 John Wetteland
28 Bobby Bonilla
29 Hideo Nomo
30 Cecil Fielder
31 Garret Anderson
32 Pat Hentgen
33 Dave Justice
34 Billy Wagner
35 Al Leiter
36 Mark Wohlers
37 Rondell White
38 Charles Johnson
39 Mark Grace
40 Pedro Martinez
41 Tom Goodwin
42 Manny Ramirez
43 Greg Vaughn
44 Brian Jordan
45 Mike Piazza
46 Roberto Hernandez
47 Wade Boggs
48 Scott Sanders
49 Alex Gonzalez
50 Kevin Brown
51 Bob Higginson
52 Ken Caminiti
53 Derek Jeter
54 Carlos Baerga
55 Jay Buhner
56 Tim Naehring
57 Jeff Bagwell
58 Steve Finley
59 Kevin Appier
60 Jay Bell
61 Ivan Rodriguez
62 Terrell Wade
63 Rusty Greer
64 Juan Guzman
65 Fred McGriff
66 Tino Martinez
67 Ray Lankford
68 Juan Gonzalez
69 Ron Gant
70 Jack McDowell
71 Tony Gwynn
72 Joe Carter
73 Wilson Alvarez
74 Jason Giambi
75 Brian Hunter
76 Michael Tucker
77 Andy Benes
78 Brady Anderson
79 Ramon Martinez
80 Troy Percival
81 Alex Rodriguez
82 Jim Thome
83 Denny Neagle
84 Rafael Palmeiro
85 Jose Valentin
86 Marc Newfield
87 Mariano Rivera
88 Alan Benes
89 Jimmy Key
90 Joe Randa
91 Cal Ripken, Jr.
92 Craig Biggio
93 Dean Palmer
94 Gary Sheffield
95 Ismael Valdes
96 John Valentin
97 Johnny Damon
98 Mo Vaughn
99 Paul Sorrento
100 Randy Johnson
101 Raul Mondesi
102 Roberto Alomar
103 Royce Clayton
104 Mark Grudzielanek
105 Wally Joyner
106 Wil Cordero
107 Will Clark
108 Chuck Knoblauch
109 Derek Bell
110 Henry Rodriguez
111 Edgar Renteria
112 Travis Fryman
113 Eric Young
114 Sandy Alomar, Jr.
115 Darin Erstad
116 Barry Larkin
117 Barry Bonds
118 Frank Thomas
119 Carlos Delgado
120 Jason Kendall
121 Todd Hollandsworth
122 Jim Edmonds
123 Chipper Jones
124 Jeff Fassero
125 Deion Sanders
126 Matt Lawton
127 Ryan Klesko
128 Mike Mussina
129 Paul Molitor
130 Dante Bichette
131 Bill Pulsipher
132 Todd Hundley
133 J.T. Snow
134 Chuck Finley
135 Shawn Green
136 Charles Nagy
137 Willie Greene
138 Marty Cordova
139 Eddie Murray
140 Ryne Sandberg
141 Alex Fernandez
142 Mark McGwire
143 Eric Davis
144 Jermaine Dye
145 Ruben Sierra
146 Damon Buford
147 John Smoltz
148 Alex Ochoa
149 Moises Alou
150 Rico Brogna
151 Terry Steinbach
152 Jeff King
153 Carlos Garcia
154 Tom Glavine
155 Edgar Martinez
156 Kevin Elster
157 Darryl Hamilton
158 Jason Dickson
159 Kevin Orie
160 Bubba Trammell RC
161 Jose Guillen
162 Brant Brown
163 Wendell Magee, Jr.
164 Scott Spiezio
165 Todd Walker
166 Rod Myers
167 Damon Mashore
168 Wilton Guerrero
169 Vladimir Guerrero
170 Nomar Garciaparra
171 Shannon Stewart
172 Scott Rolen
173 Bob Abreu
174 Danny Patterson
175 Andruw Jones
176 Brian Giles RC
177 Dmitri Young
178 Cal Ripken, Jr. EMW
179 Chuck Knoblauch EMW
180 Alex Rodriguez EMW
181 Andres Galarraga EMW
182 Pedro Martinez EMW
183 Brady Anderson EMW
184 Barry Bonds EMW
185 Ivan Rodriguez EMW
186 Gary Sheffield EMW
187 Denny Neagle EMW
188 Mark McGwire AURA
189 Ellis Burks AURA
190 Alex Rodriguez AURA
191 Mike Piazza AURA
192 Barry Bonds AURA
193 Albert Belle AURA
194 Chipper Jones AURA
195 Juan Gonzalez AURA
196 Brady Anderson AURA
197 Frank Thomas AURA
198 Vladimir Guerrero CL
199 Todd Walker CL
200 Scott Rolen CL

Parallels

Museum Collection

Artist's Proofs

Like they did in 1997 Pinnacle, the Artist's Proof parallel is fractured and features exclusive Dufex all-foil print technology in varying levels of scarcity. Unlike '97 Pinnacle, the colors used are Red, Blue and Green foil. The 125 Reds are the most common, 50 Blues are scarcer, and the 25 Greens represent the top stars with the most limited printing. Each card is stamped with the "Artist's Proof" seal.

For brevity's sake, the designated color of each Artist's Proof in listed in the base set checklist with either a "R" "B" or "G."

1 Ken Griffey, Jr. G
2 Sammy Sosa B
3 Greg Maddux G
4 Matt Williams B
5 Jason Isringhausen R
6 Gregg Jefferies R
7 Chili Davis R
8 Paul O'Neill R
9 Larry Walker R
10 Ellis Burks B
11 Cliff Floyd R
12 Albert Belle G
13 Javy Lopez R
14 David Cone R
15 Jose Canseco B
16 Todd Zeile R
17 Bernard Gilkey B
18 Andres Galarraga B
19 Chris Snopek R
20 Tim Salmon B
21 Roger Clemens B
22 Reggie Sanders R
23 John Jaha R
24 Andy Pettitte B
25 Kenny Lofton G
26 Robb Nen R
27 John Wetteland B
28 Bobby Bonilla R
29 Hideo Nomo G
30 Cecil Fielder R
31 Garret Anderson R
32 Pat Hentgen R
33 Dave Justice R
34 Billy Wagner R
35 Al Leiter R
36 Mark Wohlers R
37 Rondell White R
38 Charles Johnson R
39 Mark Grace R
40 Pedro Martinez R
41 Tom Goodwin R
42 Manny Ramirez B
43 Greg Vaughn R
44 Brian Jordan B
45 Mike Piazza G
46 Roberto Hernandez R
47 Wade Boggs B
48 Scott Sanders R
49 Alex Gonzalez R
50 Kevin Brown R
51 Bob Higginson B
52 Ken Caminiti B
53 Derek Jeter G
54 Carlos Baerga R
55 Jay Buhner B
56 Tim Naehring R
57 Jeff Bagwell G
58 Steve Finley R
59 Kevin Appier R
60 Jay Bell R
61 Ivan Rodriguez B
62 Terrell Wade R
63 Rusty Greer R
64 Juan Guzman R
65 Fred McGriff R
66 Tino Martinez R
67 Ray Lankford R
68 Juan Gonzalez G
69 Ron Gant R
70 Jack McDowell R
71 Tony Gwynn B
72 Joe Carter B
73 Wilson Alvarez R
74 Jason Giambi R
75 Brian Hunter R
76 Michael Tucker R
77 Andy Benes R
78 Brady Anderson B
79 Ramon Martinez R
80 Troy Percival B
81 Alex Rodriguez G
82 Jim Thome B
83 Denny Neagle R
84 Rafael Palmeiro B
85 Jose Valentin R
86 Marc Newfield R
87 Mariano Rivera B
88 Alan Benes R
89 Jimmy Key R
90 Joe Randa R
91 Cal Ripken, Jr. G
92 Craig Biggio R
93 Dean Palmer R
94 Gary Sheffield B
95 Ismael Valdes R
96 John Valentin R
97 Johnny Damon R
98 Mo Vaughn G
99 Paul Sorrento R
100 Randy Johnson B
101 Raul Mondesi B
102 Roberto Alomar B
103 Royce Clayton R
104 Mark Grudzielanek R
105 Wally Joyner R
106 Wil Cordero R
107 Will Clark B
108 Chuck Knoblauch B
109 Derek Bell R
110 Henry Rodriguez R
111 Edgar Renteria R
112 Travis Fryman R
113 Eric Young R
114 Sandy Alomar R
115 Darin Erstad B
116 Barry Larkin B
117 Barry Bonds B
118 Frank Thomas G
119 Carlos Delgado R
120 Jason Kendall R
121 Todd Hollandsworth R
122 Jim Edmonds R
123 Chipper Jones G
124 Jeff Fassero R
125 Deion Sanders B
126 Matt Lawton R
127 Ryan Klesko R
128 Mike Mussina R
129 Paul Molitor B
130 Dante Bichette R
131 Bill Pulsipher R
132 Todd Hundley B
133 J.T. Snow R
134 Chuck Finley R
135 Shawn Green R
136 Charles Nagy R
137 Willie Greene R
138 Marty Cordova R
139 Eddie Murray R
140 Ryne Sandberg R
141 Alex Fernandez R
142 Mark McGwire G
143 Eric Davis R
144 Jermaine Dye R
145 Ruben Sierra R
146 Damon Buford R
147 John Smoltz B
148 Alex Ochoa R
149 Moises Alou R
150 Rico Brogna R
151 Terry Steinbach R
152 Jeff King R
153 Carlos Garcia R
154 Tom Glavine R
155 Edgar Martinez B
156 Kevin Elster R
157 Darryl Hamilton R
158 Jason Dickson R
159 Kevin Orie R
160 Bubba Trammell R
161 Jose Guillen B
162 Brant Brown R
163 Wendell Magee, Jr. R
164 Scott Spiezio R
165 Todd Walker B
166 Rod Myers R
167 Damon Mashore R
168 Wilton Guerrero B
169 Vladimir Guerrero G
170 Nomar Garciaparra B
171 Shannon Stewart R
172 Scott Rolen R
173 Bob Abreu R
174 Danny Patterson R
175 Andruw Jones G
176 Brian Giles R
177 Dmitri Young R
178 Cal Ripken, Jr. G
179 Chuck Knoblauch B
180 Alex Rodriguez G
181 Andres Galarraga R
182 Pedro Martinez R
183 Brady Anderson R
184 Barry Bonds B
185 Ivan Rodriguez B
186 Gary Sheffield B
187 Denny Neagle B
188 Mark McGwire B
189 Ellis Burks R
190 Alex Rodriguez G
191 Mike Piazza G
192 Barry Bonds B
193 Albert Belle G
194 Chipper Jones G
195 Juan Gonzalez G
196 Brady Anderson B
197 Frank Thomas G
198 Vladimir Guerrero R
199 Todd Walker R
200 Scott Rolen R

Press Plates

These "cards" are the authentic aluminum plates that transfer the ink to the cardboard for each individual card back and front. Each plate displays an authentication seal on the back and is autographed by Pinnacle Chairman and CEO, Jerry Meyer.

Unlike similar inserts that would come along in later years, each card has eight press plates for each of the four colors used in printing the front AND the back. All cards from both the 200-card base set AND the three insert sets were inserted into packs.

A collector who put together any combination of the four press plates from the same card front or back could return the plates to Pinnacle by August 22, 1997 and receive a "bounty" of $35,000. A sliding reward scale was imposed with a $30,000 bounty for plates received by August 29, 1997, $25,000 for those received by September 5, 1997, and $20,000 for those received after September 5 but before December 31, 1997. It is unknown if anyone managed to collect any of the bounties.

Inserts

Spellbound

This 50-card set features color action player photos superimposed over one of the letters of the player's name and printed on etched-foil cards. The completed set for each star player spells both the player's name and the word "Spellbound." The Players names are all spelled out individually per card. After each card number the letter signified on the card is noted.

AB1 Albert Belle B
AB2 Albert Belle E
AB3 Albert Belle L
AB4 Albert Belle L
AB5 Albert Belle E
AJ1 Andruw Jones A
AJ2 Andruw Jones N
AJ3 Andruw Jones D
AJ4 Andruw Jones R
AJ5 Andruw Jones U
AJ6 Andruw Jones W
AR1 Alex Rodriguez A
AR2 Alex Rodriguez L
AR3 Alex Rodriguez E
AR4 Alex Rodriguez X
CJ1 Chipper Jones C
CJ2 Chipper Jones H
CJ3 Chipper Jones I
CJ4 Chipper Jones P
CJ5 Chipper Jones P
CJ6 Chipper Jones E
CJ7 Chipper Jones R
CR1 Cal Ripken, Jr. R
CR2 Cal Ripken, Jr. I
CR3 Cal Ripken, Jr. P
CR4 Cal Ripken, Jr. K
CR5 Cal Ripken, Jr. E
CR6 Cal Ripken, Jr. N
FT1 Frank Thomas F
FT2 Frank Thomas R
FT3 Frank Thomas A
FT4 Frank Thomas N
FT5 Frank Thomas K
IR1 Ivan Rodriguez P
IR2 Ivan Rodriguez U
IR3 Ivan Rodriguez D
IR4 Ivan Rodriguez G
IR5 Ivan Rodriguez E
KG1 Ken Griffey, Jr. J
KG2 Ken Griffey, Jr. U
KG3 Ken Griffey, Jr. N
KG4 Ken Griffey, Jr. I
KG5 Ken Griffey, Jr. O
KG6 Ken Griffey, Jr. R
MP1 Mike Piazza P
MP2 Mike Piazza I
MP3 Mike Piazza A
MP4 Mike Piazza Z
MP5 Mike Piazza Z
MP6 Mike Piazza A

Keeping The Pace

This 18-card set is printed on dot matrix holographic foil.

1 Juan Gonzalez
2 Greg Maddux
3 Ivan Rodriguez
4 Ken Griffey, Jr.
5 Alex Rodriguez
6 Barry Bonds
7 Frank Thomas
8 Chuck Knoblauch
9 Derek Jeter
10 Roger Clemens
11 Kenny Lofton
12 Tony Gwynn
13 Troy Percival
14 Cal Ripken, Jr.
15 Andy Pettitte
16 Hideo Nomo
17 Randy Johnson
18 Mike Piazza

Interleague Encounter

This 10-card set features a double-front design with a top AL star player on one side with a top NL mega-star on the filpside and the date of the first interleague match-up of the two teams.

8 Alex Rodriguez / Hideo Nomo
6 Derek Jeter / Vladimir Guerrero
3 Ken Griffey, Jr. / Tony Gwynn
2 Andruw Jones / Brady Anderson
1 Albert Belle / Brian Jordan
4 Cal Ripken / Chipper Jones
5 Mike Piazza / Ivan Rodriguez
7 Greg Maddux / Mo Vaughn
9 Juan Gonzalez / Barry Bonds
10 Frank Thomas / Jeff Bagwell