Description

1998 Pinnacle is a 200-card set released in February 1998. Cards 1-157 were issued in three variations each, they have home, away or seasonal stats on the back and were all produced in equal quantities.

Distribution

Hobby/Retail: 18 packs per box, ten cards per pack (MSRP: $2.99)

Power Packs: 12 packs per box, 20 cards plus one oversized card per pack (MSRP: $4.99)

Reviews

Insertion Ratios

Cards	Total Cards	Numbered To	Wax Odds	Power Pack Odds
Base	200	-	?	?
Museum Collection	100	-	1:9	?
Artist's Proof	100	-	1:39	?
Power Pack Jumbos	24	-	N/A	1:1
Press Plates	284	eight for each	1:1250	?
Epix	24	-	1:21	?
Hit it Here	10	?	1:19	?
Spellbound	50	-	1:17	?

Checklist

Base Set

NOTE: Cards 1 - 157 are available in three different variations: Full, Home, and Away. One-third of the cards have the full career stats on the back, the other two-thirds have either career stats at Home and Away on the back. A set is considered complete with any card.

1 Tony Gywnn
2 Pedro Martinez
3 Kenny Lofton
4 Curt Schilling
5 Shawn Estes
6 Tom Glavine
7 Mike Piazza
8 Ray Lankford
9 Barry Larkin
10 Tony Womack
11 Jeff Blauser
12 Rod Beck
13 Larry Walker
14 Greg Maddux
15 Mark Grace
16 Ken Caminiti
17 Bobby Jones
18 Chipper Jones
19 Javy Lopez
20 Moises Alou
21 Royce Clayton
22 Darryl Kile
23 Barry Bonds
24 Steve Finley
25 Andres Galarraga
26 Denny Neagle
27 Todd Hundley
28 Jeff Bagwell
29 Andy Pettitte
30 Darin Erstad
31 Carlos Delgado
32 Matt Williams
33 Will Clark
34 Vinny Castilla
35 Brad Radke
36 John Olerud
37 Andruw Jones
38 Jason Giambi
39 Scott Rolen
40 Gary Sheffield
41 Jimmy Key
42 Kevin Appier
43 Wade Boggs
44 Hideo Nomo
45 Manny Ramirez
46 Wilton Guerrero
47 Travis Fryman
48 Chili Davis
49 Jeromy Burnitz
50 Craig Biggio
51 Tim Salmon
52 Jose Cruz, Jr.
53 Sammy Sosa
54 Hideki Irabu
55 Chan Ho Park
56 Robin Ventura
57 Jose Guillen
58 Deion Sanders
59 Jose Canseco
60 Jay Buhner
61 Rafael Palmeiro
62 Vladimir Guerrero
63 Mark McGwire
64 Derek Jeter
65 Bobby Bonilla
66 Raul Mondesi
67 Paul Molitor
68 Joe Carter
69 Marquis Grissom
70 Juan Gonzalez
71 Kevin Orie
72 Rusty Greer
73 Henry Rodriguez
74 Fernando Tatis
75 John Valentin
76 Matt Morris
77 Ray Durham
78 Geronimo Berroa
79 Scott Brosius
80 Willie Greene
81 Rondell White
82 Doug Drabek
83 Derek Bell
84 Butch Huskey
85 Doug Jones
86 Jeff Kent
87 Jim Edmonds
88 Mark McLemore
89 Todd Zeile
90 Edgardo Alfonzo
91 Carlos Baerga
92 Jorge Fabregas
93 Alan Benes
94 Troy Percival
95 Edgar Renteria
96 Jeff Fassero
97 Reggie Sanders
98 Dean Palmer
99 J.T. Snow
100 Dave Nilsson
101 Dan Wilson
102 Robb Nen
103 Damion Easley
104 Kevin Foster
105 Jose Offerman
106 Steve Cooke
107 Matt Stairs
108 Darryl Hamilton
109 Steve Karsay
110 Gary DiSarcina
111 Dante Bichette
112 Billy Wagner
113 David Segui
114 Bob Higginson
115 Jeffrey Hammonds
116 Kevin Brown
117 Paul Sorrento
118 Mark Leiter
119 Charles Nagy
120 Danny Patterson
121 Brian McRae
122 Jay Bell
123 Jamie Moyer
124 Carl Everett
125 Greg Colbrunn
126 Jason Kendall
127 Luis Sojo
128 Mike Lieberthal
129 Reggie Jefferson
130 Cal Eldred
131 Orel Hershiser
132 Doug Glanville
133 Willie Blair
134 Neifi Perez
135 Sean Berry
136 Chuck Finley
137 Alex Gonzalez
138 Dennis Eckersley
139 Kenny Rogers
140 Troy O'Leary
141 Roger Bailey
142 Yamil Benitez
143 Wally Joyner
144 Bobby Witt
145 Pete Schourek
146 Terry Steinbach
147 B.J. Surhoff
148 Esteban Loaiza
149 Heathcliff Slocumb
150 Ed Sprague
151 Gregg Jefferies
152 Scott Erickson
153 Jaime Navarro
154 David Wells
155 Alex Fernandez
156 Tim Belcher
157 Mark Grudzielanek
158 Scott Hatteberg
159 Paul Konerko
160 Ben Grieve
161 Abraham Nunez
162 Shannon Stewart
163 Jaret Wright
164 Derrek Lee
165 Todd Dunwoody
166 Steve Woodard
167 Ryan McGuire
168 Jeremi Gonzalez
169 Mark Kotsay
170 Brett Tomko
171 Bobby Estalella
172 Livan Hernandez
173 Todd Helton
174 Garrett Stephenson
175 Pokey Reese
176 Tony Saunders
177 Antone Williamson
178 Bartolo Colon
179 Karim Garcia
180 Juan Encarnacion
181 Jacob Cruz
182 Alex Rodriguez FV
183 Cal Ripken, Jr. / Roberto Alomar FV
184 Roger Clemens FV
185 Derek Jeter FV
186 Frank Thomas FV
187 Ken Griffey, Jr. FV
188 Mark McGwire GJ
189 Tino Martinez GJ
190 Larry Walker GJ
191 Brady Anderson GJ
192 Jeff Bagwell GJ
193 Ken Griffey, Jr. GJ
194 Chipper Jones GJ
195 Ray Lankford GJ
196 Jim Thome GJ
197 Nomar Garciaparra GJ
198 All-Star Home Run Derby Contestants CL
199 Tino Martinez CL
200 Jacobs Field CL

Parallels

Museum Collection

Museum Collection is a 100-card, all-Dufex, partial parallel. Each card is also available as an Artist's Proof.

PP1 Tony Gwynn
PP2 Pedro Martinez
PP3 Kenny Lofton
PP4 Curt Schilling
PP5 Shawn Estes
PP6 Tom Glavine
PP7 Mike Piazza
PP8 Ray Lankford
PP9 Barry Larkin
PP10 Tony Womack
PP11 Jeff Blauser
PP12 Rod Beck
PP13 Larry Walker
PP14 Greg Maddux
PP15 Mark Grace
PP16 Ken Caminiti
PP17 Bobby Jones
PP18 Chipper Jones
PP19 Javy Lopez
PP20 Moises Alou
PP21 Royce Clayton
PP22 Darryl Kile
PP23 Barry Bonds
PP24 Steve Finley
PP25 Andres Galarraga
PP26 Denny Neagle
PP27 Todd Hundley
PP28 Jeff Bagwell
PP29 Andy Pettitte
PP30 Darin Erstad
PP31 Carlos Delgado
PP32 Matt Williams
PP33 Will Clark
PP34 Brad Radke
PP35 John Olerud
PP36 Andruw Jones
PP37 Scott Rolen
PP38 Gary Sheffield
PP39 Jimmy Key
PP40 Wade Boggs
PP41 Hideo Nomo
PP42 Manny Ramirez
PP43 Wilton Guerrero
PP44 Travis Fryman
PP45 Craig Biggio
PP46 Tim Salmon
PP47 Jose Cruz, Jr.
PP48 Sammy Sosa
PP49 Hideki Irabu
PP50 Jose Guillen
PP51 Deion Sanders
PP52 Jose Canseco
PP53 Jay Buhner
PP54 Rafael Palmeiro
PP55 Vladimir Guerrero
PP56 Mark McGwire
PP57 Derek Jeter
PP58 Bobby Bonilla
PP59 Raul Mondesi
PP60 Paul Molitor
PP61 Joe Carter
PP62 Marquis Grissom
PP63 Juan Gonzalez
PP64 Dante Bichette
PP65 Shannon Stewart
PP66 Jaret Wright
PP67 Derrek Lee
PP68 Todd Dunwoody
PP69 Steve Woodard
PP70 Ryan McGuire
PP71 Jeremi Gonzalez
PP72 Mark Kotsay
PP73 Brett Tomko
PP74 Bobby Estalella
PP75 Livan Hernandez
PP76 Todd Helton
PP77 Garrett Stephenson
PP78 Pokey Reese
PP79 Tony Saunders
PP80 Antone Williamson
PP81 Bartolo Colon
PP82 Karim Garcia
PP83 Juan Encarnacion
PP84 Jacob Cruz
PP85 Alex Rodriguez FV
PP86 Cal Ripken, Jr. / Roberto Alomar FV
PP87 Roger Clemens FV
PP88 Derek Jeter FV
PP89 Frank Thomas FV
PP90 Ken Griffey, Jr. FV
PP91 Mark McGwire GJ
PP92 Tino Martinez GJ
PP93 Larry Walker GJ
PP94 Brady Anderson GJ
PP95 Jeff Bagwell GJ
PP96 Ken Griffey, Jr. GJ
PP97 Chipper Jones GJ
PP98 Ray Lankford GJ
PP99 Jim Thome GJ
PP100 Nomar Garciaparra GJ

Power Pack Jumbos

These over-sized (3 1/2" X 5") cards were distributed at a rate of one per special Pinnacle "Power Pack". Power Packs were released about a month after the regular wax packs. The twenty-four jumbo cards parallel a selection of regular issue cards including the Field of Vision and Goin' Jake subsets. Besides the obvious disparity in size, the cards also differ in from their base card counterparts with their "x of 24" numbering on back.

One of 24 promo cards were issued to dealers and retail wholesalers. The cards are identical to the regular Power Pack Jumbos, with the exception of word "SAMPLE" printed on the front.

1 Alex Rodriguez FV
2 Cal Ripken / Roberto Alomar FV
3 Roger Clemens FV
4 Derek Jeter FV
5 Frank Thomas FV
6 Ken Griffey, Jr. FV
7 Mark McGwire GJ
8 Tino Martinez GJ
9 Larry Walker GJ
10 Brady Anderson GJ
11 Jeff Bagwell GJ
12 Ken Griffey, Jr. GJ
13 Chipper Jones GJ
14 Ray Lankford GJ
15 Jim Thome GJ
16 Nomar Garciaparra GJ
17 Mike Piazza
18 Andruw Jones
19 Greg Maddux
20 Tony Gwynn
21 Larry Walker
22 Jeff Bagwell
23 Chipper Jones
24 Scott Rolen

Press Plates

The actual press plates used in the manufacturing of the 1998 Pinnacle set was randomly inserted into packs. Unlike most "Plate" sets to come, four plates for both the front AND the back of each card were inserted. In addition to the 200 base cards, plates for the 24 Epix, 10 Hit It Here and 50 Spellbound inserts were also included.

Uncut

Uncut is a six-card jumbo-sized set measures approximately 13 5/16" by 18 11/16" and is actually a very large Dufex version of the Pinnacle Field of Vision subset (cards numbered from 182 to 187). Cards were distributed in mass-retail chains in one-card packs with an SRP of $9.99.

A version of the Frank Thomas Uncut card was issued to dealers as a promo.

Inserts

Epix

See 1998 Pinnacle Epix.

Hit It Here

This 10-card, etched-foil, set had a unique serial-number on the back. As part of a contest, if any of the ten players hit for the cycle on the opening day of the 1998 season, Pinnacle would draw a number at random. The person hold the card of that player with the drawn number would win $1,000,000.

While the cards are serial-numbered, Pinnacle never fully disclosed the production run for the set. It has been estimated that 20,000 Hit It Here cards were produced.

One promo card was inserted into dealer sell sheets. The cards are identical to the pack-inserted cards except for the word "SAMPLE" printed on both sides.

1 Larry Walker
2 Ken Griffey, Jr.
3 Mike Piazza
4 Frank Thomas
5 Barry Bonds
6 Albert Belle
7 Tino Martinez
8 Mark McGwire
9 Juan Gonzalez
10 Jeff Bagwell

Hit It Here Gold

In 2018, a gold version of Ken Griffey, Jr. surfaced on the market. While regular Hit It Here inserts featured a dufex and red-colored foil front design, this version had clear and distinct gold-colored foil instead (i.e., was not a printing error/shading issue). The back of the Griffey has the same appearance as regular HIH inserts and is serially numbered 02680.

Only the Griffey has emerged on the secondary market as gold versions of the other 9 players in the set have not surfaced nor are known to exist. However, considering the card making process that usually involves 100-card sheets featuring all players in a set or insert set together consecutively, there is speculation that gold versions of the other 9 players also exist.

It is not known why a parallel gold version exists.

Spellbound

1 Mark McGwire M
2 Mark McGwire C
3 Mark McGwire G
4 Mark McGwire W
5 Mark McGwire I
6 Mark McGwire R
7 Mark McGwire E
8 Roger Clemens R
9 Roger Clemens O
10 Roger Clemens C
11 Roger Clemens K
12 Roger Clemens E
13 Roger Clemens T
14 Frank Thomas B
15 Frank Thomas I
16 Frank Thomas G
17 Frank Thomas H
18 Frank Thomas U
19 Frank Thomas R
20 Frank Thomas T
21 Scott Rolen R
22 Scott Rolen O
23 Scott Rolen L
24 Scott Rolen E
25 Scott Rolen N
26 Ken Griffey, Jr. G
27 Ken Griffey, Jr. R
28 Ken Griffey, Jr. I
29 Ken Griffey, Jr. F
30 Ken Griffey, Jr. F
31 Ken Griffey, Jr. E
32 Ken Griffey, Jr. Y
33 Larry Walker W
34 Larry Walker A
35 Larry Walker L
36 Larry Walker K
37 Larry Walker E
38 Larry Walker R
39 Nomar Garciaparra N
40 Nomar Garciaparra O
41 Nomar Garciaparra M
42 Nomar Garciaparra A
43 Nomar Garciaparra R
44 Cal Ripken, Jr. C
45 Cal Ripken, Jr. A
46 Cal Ripken, Jr. L
47 Tony Gwynn T
48 Tony Gwynn O
49 Tony Gwynn N
50 Tony Gwynn Y