Revision as of 14:41, 29 May 2018

File:1996finest2.jpg

1996 Finest Series 2 box

Description

1996 Finest is a 359 card set issued in two series of 191 cards and 168 cards respectively. A protective film, designed to keep the card from scratching and to maintain original gloss, covers the front.

One of the most bizarrely structured products ever released, '96 Finest provides collectors with the opportunity to complete a number of sets within the set, each with a different degree of insertion. In Series One the set is sub-divided into four distinct themes: Phenoms, Intimidators, Gamers and Sterling. Within these themes, the cards are fractured into three levels of scarcity: Common (bronze trim), Uncommon (silver) and Rare (gold). For the first series, the breakdown for the player selection of common, uncommon and rare cards is completely random. There are 110 common, 55 uncommon (1:4 packs) and 26 rare cards (1:24 packs). Each card is sequentially-numbered twice: once by theme, and twice as part of the set as a whole. In addition to the cards' borders, each card will also have either "common," "uncommon", or "rare" written within the numbering box on the card backs to let collectors know which type of card they hold.

Series Two has another four themes also with common, uncommon and rare cards seeded at the same ratio. The four themes are: Franchise, Additions, Prodigies, and Sterling.

Series One Gold Refractor Lawsuit

As part of the sell sheet for 1996 Finest Series One, Topps claimed that no more than 150 copies of each Gold Refractor would be produced. Dr. Joseph Sentef managed to collect over 220 Greg Maddux Gold Refractors often paying as much as $900 for each card. Sentef sued Topps and settled out-of-court for an undisclosed figure.

Distribution

Hobby boxes contained 24 packs with 6 cards in each pack.

Reviews

Insertion Ratios

Cards	Total Cards	Numbered To	Odds
Bronze	220	-	6:1
Silver	91	-	1:4
Gold	48	-	1:24
Bronze Refractor	220	-	1:12
Silver Refractor	91	-	1:48
Gold Refractor	48	150	1:288

Checklist

Base Set

The base set is fractured into Bronze (B), Silver (S), and Gold (G) cards.

Series One

NOTE: There are 110 Bronze, 55 Silver (1:4), and 26 Gold (1:24) cards in Series One.

5 Roberto Hernandez B
8 Terry Pendleton B
12 Ken Caminiti B
15 Dan Miceli B
16 Chipper Jones B
17 John Wetteland B
19 Tim Naehring B
21 Eddie Murray B
23 Kevin Appier B
24 Ken Griffey, Jr. B
26 Brian McRae B
27 Pedro Martinez B
28 Brian Jordan B
29 Mike Fetters B
30 Carlos Delgado B
31 Shane Reynolds B
32 Terry Steinbach B
34 Mark Leiter B
36 David Segui B
40 Fred McGriff B
44 Glenallen Hill B
45 Brady Anderson B
47 Jim Thome B
48 Frank Thomas B
49 Chuck Knoblauch B
50 Lenny Dykstra B
53 Tom Pagnozzi B
55 Ricky Bones B
56 Dave Justice B
57 Steve Avery B
58 Robby Thompson B
61 Tony Gwynn B
63 Denny Neagle B
67 Robin Ventura B
70 Kevin Seitzer B
71 Ramon Martinez B
75 Brian L. Hunter B
76 Alan Benes B
80 Ozzie Guillen B
82 Benji Gil B
85 Todd Hundley B
87 Pat Hentgen B
89 Chuck Finley B
92 Derek Jeter B
93 Paul O'Neill B
94 Darrin Fletcher B
96 Delino DeShields B
97 Tim Salmon B
98 John Olerud B
101 Tim Wakefield B
103 Dave Stevens B
104 Orlando Merced B
106 Jay Bell B
107 John Burkett B
108 Chris Hoiles B
110 Dave Nilsson B
111 Rod Beck B
113 Mike Piazza B
114 Mark Langston B
116 Rico Brogna B
118 Tom Goodwin B
119 Bryan Rekar B
120 David Cone B
122 Andy Pettitte B
123 Chili Davis B
124 John Smoltz B
125 Heathcliff Slocumb B
126 Dante Bichette B
128 Alex Gonzalez B
129 Jeff Montgomery B
131 Denny Martinez B
132 Mel Rojas B
133 Derek Bell B
134 Trevor Hoffman B
136 Darren Daulton B
137 Pete Schourek B
138 Phil Nevin B
139 Andres Galarraga B
140 Chad Fonville B
144 J.T. Snow B
146 Barry Bonds B
147 Orel Hershiser B
148 Quilvio Veras B
149 Will Clark B
150 Jose Rijo B
152 Travis Fryman B
154 Alex Fernandez B
155 Wade Boggs B
156 Troy Percival B
157 Moises Alou B
158 Javy Lopez B
159 Jason Giambi B
162 Mark McGwire B
163 Eric Karros B
166 Mickey Tettleton B
167 Barry Larkin B
169 Ruben Sierra B
170 Bill Swift B
172 Chad Curtis B
173 Dean Palmer B
175 Bobby Bonilla B
176 Greg Colbrunn B
177 Jose Mesa B
178 Mike Greenwell B
181 Doug Drabek B
183 Wilson Alvarez B
184 Marty Cordova B
185 Hal Morris B
187 Carlos Garcia B
190 Marquis Grissom B
4 Marty Cordova G
6 Tony Gwynn G
9 Albert Belle G
18 Kirby Puckett G
20 Karim Garcia G
25 Cal Ripken, Jr. G
33 Hideo Nomo G
39 Ryne Sandberg G
42 Jeff Bagwell G
51 Jason Isringhausen G
64 Mo Vaughn G
66 Dante Bichette G
74 Mark McGwire G
81 Kenny Lofton G
83 Jim Edmonds G
90 Mike Mussina G
100 Jeff Conine G
102 Johnny Damon G
105 Barry Bonds G
117 Jose Canseco G
135 Ken Griffey, Jr. G
141 Chipper Jones G
145 Greg Maddux G
164 Jay Buhner G
186 Frank Thomas G
191 Checklist G
1 Greg Maddux S
2 Bernie Williams S
3 Ivan Rodriguez S
7 Barry Larkin S
10 Ray Lankford S
11 Mike Piazza S
37 Gregg Jefferies S
38 Bill Pulsipher S
13 Larry Walker S
14 Matt Williams S
22 Tim Salmon S
35 Edgar Martinez S
46 Roger Clemens S
43 Jim Abbott S
41 Shawn Green S
52 Rondell White S
54 Dennis Eckersley S
59 Hideo Nomo S
60 Gary Sheffield S
62 Will Clark S
65 Bret Boone S
68 Rafael Palmeiro S
69 Carlos Baerga S
72 Tom Glavine S
73 Garret Anderson S
77 Randy Johnson S
78 Jeff King S
79 Kirby Puckett S
84 Cecil Fielder S
86 Reggie Sanders S
88 Ryan Klesko S
91 John Valentin S
95 Manny Ramirez S
99 Vinny Castilla S
109 Carlos Perez S
112 Craig Biggio S
115 Juan Gonzalez S
121 Ray Durham S
127 C.J. Nitkowski S
130 Raul Mondesi S
142 Lee Smith S
143 Joe Carter S
151 Mo Vaughn S
153 Frank Rodriguez S
160 Steve Finley S
161 Jeff Bagwell S
165 Cal Ripken, Jr. S
168 Lyle Mouton S
171 Sammy Sosa S
174 John Franco S
179 Greg Vaughn S
180 Mark Wohlers S
182 Paul O'Neill S
188 Albert Belle S
189 Mark Grace S

Series Two

There are 110 Bronze, 36 Silver, and 22 Gold cards in Series Two.

193 Will Clark B
194 Paul Molitor B
195 Kenny Rogers B
196 Reggie Sanders B
199 Raul Mondesi B
200 Lance Johnson B
201 Alvin Morman B
203 Jack McDowell B
204 Randy Myers B
205 Harold Baines B
206 Marty Cordova B
207 Rich Hunter B RC
208 Al Leiter B
209 Greg Gagne B
210 Ben McDonald B
212 Terry Adams B
213 Paul Sorrento B
214 Albert Belle B
215 Mike Blowers B
216 Jim Edmonds B
217 Felipe Crespo B
219 Shawon Dunston B
220 Jimmy Haynes B
221 Jose Canseco B
222 Eric Davis B
224 Tim Raines B
225 Tony Phillips B
226 Charlie Hayes B
227 Eric Owens B
228 Roberto Alomar B
233 Kenny Lofton B
236 Mark McGwire B
237 Jay Buhner B
238 Craig Biggio B
240 Barry Bonds B
244 Ron Gant B
245 Paul Wilson B
246 Todd Hollandsworth B
247 Todd Zeile B
248 Dave Justice B
250 Moises Alou B
251 Bob Wolcott B
252 David Wells B
253 Juan Gonzalez B
254 Andres Galarraga B
255 Dave Hollins B
257 Sammy Sosa B
258 Ivan Rodriguez B
259 Bip Roberts B
260 Tino Martinez B
262 Mike Stanley B
264 Butch Huskey B
265 Jeff Conine B
267 Mark Grace B
268 Jason Schmidt B
269 Otis Nixon B
271 Kirby Puckett B
273 Andy Benes B
275 Mike Piazza B
276 Rey Ordonez B
278 Gary Gaetti B
280 Robin Ventura B
281 Cal Ripken, Jr. B
282 Carlos Baerga B
283 Roger Cedeno B
285 Terrell Wade B
286 Kevin Brown B
287 Rafael Palmeiro B
288 Mo Vaughn B
292 Bob Tewksbury B
297 T.J. Mathews B
298 Manny Ramirez B
299 Jeff Bagwell B
301 Wade Boggs B
303 Steve Gibralter B
304 B.J. Surhoff B
306 Royce Clayton B
307 Sal Fasano B
309 Gary Sheffield B
310 Ken Hill B
311 Joe Girardi B
312 Matt Lawton B RC
314 Julio Franco B
315 Joe Carter B
316 Brooks Kieschnick B
318 Heathcliff Slocumb B
319 Barry Larkin B
320 Tony Gwynn B
322 Frank Thomas B
323 Edgar Martinez B
325 Henry Rodriguez B
326 Marvin Benard B
329 Ugueth Urbina B
331 Roger Salkeld B
332 Edgar Renteria B
333 Ryan Klesko B
334 Ray Lankford B
336 Justin Thompson B
339 Mark Clark B
340 Ruben Rivera B
342 Matt Williams B
343 Francisco Cordova B
344 Cecil Fielder B
348 Mark Grudzielanek B
349 Ron Coomer B
351 Rich Aurilia B RC
352 Jose Herrera B
356 Tony Clark B
358 Dan Naulty B
359 Checklist B
192 Chipper Jones G
197 Roberto Alomar G
198 Dennis Eckersley G
202 George Arias G
232 Hideo Nomo G
243 Chris Snopek G
249 Tim Salmon G
266 Matt Williams G
270 Randy Johnson G
279 Paul Molitor G
290 Cecil Fielder G
294 Livan Hernandez G RC
300 Marty Janzen G RC
308 Ron Gant G
321 Ryan Klesko G
324 Jermaine Dye G
330 Jason Giambi G
335 Edgar Martinez G
338 Rey Ordonez G
347 Sammy Sosa G
354 Juan Gonzalez G
355 Craig Biggio G
211 Ernie Young S
218 Fred McGriff S
223 Kimera Bartee S
229 Rickey Henderson S
230 Sterling Hitchcock S
231 Bernard Gilkey S
234 Ryne Sandberg S
235 Greg Maddux S
239 Todd Stottlemyre S
241 Jason Kendall S
242 Paul O'Neill S
256 Devon White S
261 Chuck Knoblauch S
263 Wally Joyner S
272 Andy Fox RC
274 Sean Berry S
277 Benito Santiago S
284 Chad Mottola S
289 Dante Bichette S
291 Dwight Gooden S
293 Kevin Mitchell S
295 Russ Davis S
296 Chan Ho Park S
302 Larry Walker S
305 Ken Griffey, Jr. S
313 Billy Wagner S
317 Mike Grace S RC
327 Kenny Lofton S
328 Derek Bell S
337 Gary Sheffield S
341 Mark Grace S
345 Andres Galarraga S
346 Brady Anderson S
350 Derek Jeter S
353 Jay Buhner S
357 Tino Martinez S

Parallels

Each base card is available in a Refractor parallel.

@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 <sql2wiki database="carddb">
-SELECT num,player,info FROM cards WHERE (year = 1996) AND (setname = 'Finest) AND (num < 192)
+SELECT num,player,info FROM cards WHERE (year = 1996) AND (setname = 'Finest') AND (num < 192)
 </sql2wiki>
 ===Series Two===
@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 <sql2wiki database="carddb">
-SELECT num,player,info FROM cards WHERE (year = 1996) AND (setname = 'Finest) AND (num > 191)
+SELECT num,player,info FROM cards WHERE (year = 1996) AND (setname = 'Finest') AND (num > 191)
 </sql2wiki>