1998 Topps Gold Label
Description
1998 Topps Gold Label is a 300-card, multi-fractured, multi-tiered, set released by Topps in October, 1998. Structured similarly to Fleer's Flair Showcase set, there are 100 players released on three different, repeating, levels, each with it's own design: Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3. The Class 1 cards are the easiest to find, while the Class 3s the toughest.
To distinguish between the Classes, each Class 1 card has the player's name stamped in gold foil and has a fielding pose in the background. Class 2 shows the player running with sparkling silver foil. The Class 3 have sparkling gold foil with a hitting or pitching photograph.
Distribution
Retail: 24 packs per box, three cards per pack (MSRP: $3).
Hobby: 24 packs per box, five cards per pack (MSRP: $5).
Reviews
Insertion Ratios
| Cards | Total Cards | Numbered To | Retail Odds | Hobby Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 Base | 100 | - | ? | ? |
| Class 1 Black | 100 | - | ? | 1:8 |
| Class 1 Red | 100 | 100 | ? | 1:99 |
| Class 2 | 100 | - | ? | 1:2 |
| Class 2 Black | 100 | - | ? | 1:16 |
| Class 2 Red | 100 | 50 | ? | 1:198 |
| Class 3 | 100 | - | ? | 1:4 |
| Class 3 Black | 100 | - | ? | 1:32 |
| Class 3 Red | 100 | 25 | ? | 1:396 |
| One to One | 900 | one of one | ? | 1:1085 |
| Home Run Race | 4 | - | N/A | 1:12 |
| Home Run Race Black | 4 | - | N/A | 1:48 |
| Home Run Race Red | 4 | 61 | N/A | 1:4055 |
Checklist
Promos
- PP1 Vinny Castilla
- PP2 Ken Griffey, Jr.
- PP3 Mike Piazza
Base Set
NOTES
- For brevity's sake, only one Class is listed below. The checklist for all three Classes is identical.
- Unlike in future years, the card's Class is not marked on the card. Class 1 cards have the player's name stamped in flat gold foil and feature either a fielding (batters) or follow-through (pitchers) background photo. Class 2 cards are foil-stamped in sparkling silver and have either a base running or wind-up photo. Class 3 cards are stamped in sparkling gold foil and have a swinging or delivery picture. The backs of all three classes are identical.
- 1 Kevin Brown
- 2 Greg Maddux
- 3 Albert Belle
- 4 Andres Galarraga
- 5 Craig Biggio
- 6 Matt Williams
- 7 Derek Jeter
- 8 Randy Johnson
- 9 Jay Bell
- 10 Jim Thome
- 11 Roberto Alomar
- 12 Tom Glavine
- 13 Reggie Sanders
- 14 Tony Gwynn
- 15 Mark McGwire
- 16 Jeromy Burnitz
- 17 Andruw Jones
- 18 Jay Buhner
- 19 Robin Ventura
- 20 Jeff Bagwell
- 21 Roger Clemens
- 22 Masato Yoshii RC
- 23 Travis Fryman
- 24 Rafael Palmeiro
- 25 Alex Rodriguez
- 26 Sandy Alomar, Jr.
- 27 Chipper Jones
- 28 Rusty Greer
- 29 Cal Ripken, Jr.
- 30 Tony Clark
- 31 Derek Bell
- 32 Fred McGriff
- 33 Paul O'Neill
- 34 Moises Alou
- 35 Henry Rodriguez
- 36 Steve Finley
- 37 Marquis Grissom
- 38 Jason Giambi
- 39 Javy Lopez
- 40 Damion Easley
- 41 Mariano Rivera
- 42 Mo Vaughn
- 43 Mike Mussina
- 44 Jason Kendall
- 45 Pedro Martinez
- 46 Frank Thomas
- 47 Jim Edmonds
- 48 Hideki Irabu
- 49 Eric Karros
- 50 Juan Gonzalez
- 51 Ellis Burks
- 52 Dean Palmer
- 53 Scott Rolen
- 54 Raul Mondesi
- 55 Quinton McCracken
- 56 John Olerud
- 57 Ken Caminiti
- 58 Brian Jordan
- 59 Wade Boggs
- 60 Mike Piazza
- 61 Darin Erstad
- 62 Curt Schilling
- 63 Dave Justice
- 64 Kenny Lofton
- 65 Barry Bonds
- 66 Ray Lankford
- 67 Brian Hunter
- 68 Chuck Knoblauch
- 69 Vinny Castilla
- 70 Vladimir Guerrero
- 71 Tim Salmon
- 72 Larry Walker
- 73 Paul Molitor
- 74 Barry Larkin
- 75 Edgar Martinez
- 76 Bernie Williams
- 77 Dante Bichette
- 78 Nomar Garciaparra
- 79 Ben Grieve
- 80 Ivan Rodriguez
- 81 Todd Helton
- 82 Ryan Klesko
- 83 Sammy Sosa
- 84 Travis Lee
- 85 Jose Cruz, Jr.
- 86 Mark Kotsay
- 87 Richard Hidalgo
- 88 Rondell White
- 89 Greg Vaughn
- 90 Gary Sheffield
- 91 Paul Konerko
- 92 Mark Grace
- 93 Kevin Millwood RC
- 94 Manny Ramirez
- 95 Tino Martinez
- 96 Brad Fullmer
- 97 Todd Walker
- 98 Carlos Delgado
- 99 Kerry Wood
- 100 Ken Griffey, Jr.
Parallels
All 300 base cards are available in the following parallels.
- Black
- Red (Class 1: serial-numbered to 100 copies, Class 2: serial-numbered to 50 copies, Class 3: serial-numbered to 25 copies)
One to One
Each card is also available in a "One to One" parallel. In addition, each Black and Red parallel is also available as a "One to One," meaning, that there are a total of nine One to One cards for each player. As the name suggests, each card is a one-of-one.
Inserts
Home Run Race
This four-card insert set is exclusive to Hobby packs.
Parallels include:
- Black
- Red (serial-numbered to 61 copies)
- HR1 Roger Maris
- HR2 Mark McGwire
- HR3 Ken Griffey, Jr.
- HR4 Sammy Sosa
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