1998 Pinnacle Epix

Description

1998 Pinnacle Epix is a multi-tiered, multi-fractured, 72-card, cross-brand insert set. Randomly inserted in 1998 Pinnacle packs at the rate of one in 21, 1998 Score packs at 1:61 and 1998 Zenith packs at 1:11, the 24 players included in this set were featured on four different cards to commemorate (in ascending order of scarcity) their greatest play, game, season and moment. Each card was specific to a particular brand. To obtain all the cards for each player in this fractured insert set, one had to open Pinnacle, Score and Zenith packs. A final selection of Epix cards was slated for inclusion in 1998 Pinnacle Certified, but the manufacturer went bankrupt before that product shipped.

Each card is available in three different colors: Orange, Purple, and Emerald. Approximately 70% of all Epix are Orange, 20% Purple, and 10% Emerald. According to Pinnacle Brands, only 30 copies of each Emerald Season card were produced although the cards are not serial-numbered.

Printing plates for some cards also exist but it is unclear how these were distributed.

A second set of "All-Star Epix" inserts, separate from the regular Epix set, was released in packs of 1998 Score Rookie/Traded and 1998 Pinnacle Plus.

Checklist

Cards marked with an "S" were inserted into 1998 Score packs. Cards marked with a "P" were inserted into 1998 Pinnacle packs. Cards marked with a "Z" were inserted into 1998 Zenith packs. Cards marked with a "C" were scheduled for insertion into packs of 1998 Pinnacle Certified, but were never released.

NOTES:

• All Zenith Epix cards were embedded inside a 5" X 7" jumbo card, which had to be torn open to reveal the smaller, standard-sized card.
• 1998 Score All-Star Edition packs do not contain Epix cards.
• Each 1998 Score and Pinnacle wrapper deceptively states that there is an "EPIX INSIDE." The actual insertion ratios are stated above.

Promo

In September 1997 Pinnacle Brands distributed promo cards, available in all three colors, previewing the upcoming 1998 Epix inserts. There is no player depicted and the front merely has Pinnacle's "Icon" logo. Like the regular Epix inserts, the Orange promo is the easiest to find and the Emerald the scarcest.

The back of the promo card incorrectly states that the first series of Epix inserts would be released in October 1997. The first batch of Epix would not be released until December.

• E1 Ken Griffey, Jr. S
• E2 Juan Gonzalez S
• E3 Jeff Bagwell S
• E4 Ivan Rodriguez S
• E5 Nomar Garciaparra S
• E6 Ryne Sandberg S
• E13 Alex Rodriguez Z
• E14 Cal Ripken, Jr. Z
• E15 Chipper Jones Z
• E16 Roger Clemens Z
• E17 Mo Vaughn Z
• E18 Mark McGwire Z
• E19 Mike Piazza P
• E20 Andruw Jones P
• E21 Greg Maddux P
• E22 Barry Bonds P
• E23 Paul Molitor P
• E24 Eddie Murray P
• E7 Frank Thomas C
• E8 Derek Jeter C
• E9 Tony Gwynn C
• E10 Albert Belle C
• E11 Scott Rolen C
• E12 Barry Larkin C

• E1 Ken Griffey, Jr. P
• E2 Juan Gonzalez P
• E3 Jeff Bagwell P
• E4 Ivan Rodriguez P
• E5 Nomar Garciaparra P
• E6 Ryne Sandberg P
• E7 Frank Thomas S
• E8 Derek Jeter S
• E9 Tony Gwynn S
• E10 Albert Belle S
• E11 Scott Rolen S
• E12 Barry Larkin S
• E19 Mike Piazza Z
• E20 Andruw Jones Z
• E21 Greg Maddux Z
• E22 Barry Bonds Z
• E23 Paul Molitor Z
• E24 Eddie Murray Z
• E13 Alex Rodriguez C
• E14 Cal Ripken, Jr. C
• E15 Chipper Jones C
• E16 Roger Clemens C
• E17 Mo Vaughn C
• E18 Mark McGwire C

• E1 Ken Griffey, Jr. Z
• E2 Juan Gonzalez Z
• E3 Jeff Bagwell Z
• E4 Ivan Rodriguez Z
• E5 Nomar Garciaparra Z
• E6 Ryne Sandberg Z
• E7 Frank Thomas P
• E8 Derek Jeter P
• E9 Tony Gwynn P
• E10 Albert Belle P
• E11 Scott Rolen P
• E12 Barry Larkin P
• E13 Alex Rodriguez S
• E14 Cal Ripken, Jr. S
• E15 Chipper Jones S
• E16 Roger Clemens S
• E17 Mo Vaughn S
• E18 Mark McGwire S
• E19 Mike Piazza C
• E20 Andruw Jones C
• E21 Greg Maddux C
• E22 Barry Bonds C
• E23 Paul Molitor C
• E24 Eddie Murray C

• E7 Frank Thomas Z
• E8 Derek Jeter Z
• E9 Tony Gwynn Z
• E10 Albert Belle Z
• E11 Scott Rolen Z
• E12 Barry Larkin Z
• E13 Alex Rodriguez P
• E14 Cal Ripken, Jr. P
• E15 Chipper Jones P
• E16 Roger Clemens P
• E17 Mo Vaughn P
• E18 Mark McGwire P
• E19 Mike Piazza S
• E20 Andruw Jones S
• E21 Greg Maddux S
• E22 Barry Bonds S
• E23 Paul Molitor S
• E24 Eddie Murray S
• E1 Ken Griffey, Jr. C
• E2 Juan Gonzalez C
• E3 Jeff Bagwell C
• E4 Ivan Rodriguez C
• E5 Nomar Garciaparra C
• E6 Ryne Sandberg C