1998 Finest
Description
1998 Finest is a 275-card set released in two series of 150 and 125 cards, respectively. Topps shed the fracturing scheme of the past two years, and went back to a simpler Finest base set. This would also be the last time all Finest base cards would be printed in equal quantities.
Distribution
Hobby: 24 packs per box, six cards per pack (MSRP: $5).
HTA: 12 packs per box, 13 cards per pack (MSRP: $10).
Reviews
Insertion Ratios
| Cards | Total Cards | Numbered To | Wax Odds | HTA Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base | 275 | - | ? | ? |
| No-Protector | 275 | - | 1:2 | 1:1 |
| Refractor | 275 | - | 1:12 | 1:5 |
| No-Protector Refractor | 275 | - | 1:24 | 1:10 |
| Power Zone (S1) | 20 | - | 1:72 | 1:32 |
| Centurions (S1) | 20 | 500 | 1:153 | 1:71 |
| Centurions Refractor (S1) | 20 | 75 | 1:1020 | 1:471 |
| Stadium Stars (S2) | 24 | - | 1:72 | 1:32 |
| The Man (S2) | 20 | 500 | 1:119 | 1:55 |
| The Man Refractor (S2) | 20 | 75 | 1:793 | 1:367 |
| Mystery Finest | 90 | - | 1:36 | 1:15 |
| Mystery Finest Refractor | 90 | - | 1:144 | 1:64 |
Checklist
Promos
- PP1 Nomar Garciaparra
- PP2 Mark McGwire
- PP3 Ivan Rodriguez
- PP4 Ken Griffey, Jr.
- PP5 Roger Clemens
Base Set
Series One
- 1 Larry Walker
- 2 Andruw Jones
- 3 Ramon Martinez
- 4 Geronimo Berroa
- 5 Dave Justice
- 6 Rusty Greer
- 7 Chad Ogea
- 8 Tom Goodwin
- 9 Tino Martinez
- 10 Jose Guillen
- 11 Jeffrey Hammonds
- 12 Brian McRae
- 13 Jeremi Gonzalez
- 14 Craig Counsell
- 15 Mike Piazza
- 16 Greg Maddux
- 17 Todd Greene
- 18 Rondell White
- 19 Kirk Rueter
- 20 Tony Clark
- 21 Brad Radke
- 22 Jaret Wright
- 23 Carlos Delgado
- 24 Dustin Hermanson
- 25 Gary Sheffield
- 26 Jose Canseco
- 27 Kevin Young
- 28 David Wells
- 29 Mariano Rivera
- 30 Reggie Sanders
- 31 Mike Cameron
- 32 Bobby Witt
- 33 Kevin Orie
- 34 Royce Clayton
- 35 Edgar Martinez
- 36 Neifi Perez
- 37 Kevin Appier
- 38 Darryl Hamilton
- 39 Michael Tucker
- 40 Roger Clemens
- 41 Carl Everett
- 42 Mike Sweeney
- 43 Pat Meares
- 44 Brian Giles
- 45 Matt Morris
- 46 Jason Dickson
- 47 Rich Loiselle RC
- 48 Joe Girardi
- 49 Steve Trachsel
- 50 Ben Grieve
- 51 Brian Johnson
- 52 Hideki Irabu
- 53 J.T. Snow
- 54 Mike Hampton
- 55 Dave Nilsson
- 56 Alex Fernandez
- 57 Brett Tomko
- 58 Wally Joyner
- 59 Kelvim Escobar
- 60 Roberto Alomar
- 61 Todd Jones
- 62 Paul O'Neill
- 63 Jamie Moyer
- 64 Mark Wohlers
- 65 Jose Cruz, Jr.
- 66 Troy Percival
- 67 Rick Reed
- 68 Will Clark
- 69 Jamey Wright
- 70 Mike Mussina
- 71 David Cone
- 72 Ryan Klesko
- 73 Scott Hatteberg
- 74 James Baldwin
- 75 Tony Womack
- 76 Carlos Perez
- 77 Charles Nagy
- 78 Jeromy Burnitz
- 79 Shane Reynolds
- 80 Cliff Floyd
- 81 Jason Kendall
- 82 Chad Curtis
- 83 Matt Karchner
- 84 Ricky Bottalico
- 85 Sammy Sosa
- 86 Javy Lopez
- 87 Jeff Kent
- 88 Shawn Green
- 89 Joey Cora
- 90 Tony Gwynn
- 91 Bob Tewksbury
- 92 Derek Jeter
- 93 Eric Davis
- 94 Jeff Fassero
- 95 Denny Neagle
- 96 Ismael Valdes
- 97 Tim Salmon
- 98 Mark Grudzielanek
- 99 Curt Schilling
- 100 Ken Griffey, Jr.
- 101 Edgardo Alfonzo
- 102 Vinny Castilla
- 103 Jose Rosado
- 104 Scott Erickson
- 105 Alan Benes
- 106 Shannon Stewart
- 107 Delino DeShields
- 108 Mark Loretta
- 109 Todd Hundley
- 110 Chuck Knoblauch
- 111 Todd Helton
- 112 F.P. Santangelo
- 113 Jeff Cirillo
- 114 Omar Vizquel
- 115 John Valentin
- 116 Damion Easley
- 117 Matt Lawton
- 118 Jim Thome
- 119 Sandy Alomar, Jr.
- 120 Albert Belle
- 121 Chris Stynes
- 122 Butch Huskey
- 123 Shawn Estes
- 124 Terry Adams
- 125 Ivan Rodriguez
- 126 Ron Gant
- 127 John Mabry
- 128 Jeff Shaw
- 129 Jeff Montgomery
- 130 Justin Thompson
- 131 Livan Hernandez
- 132 Ugueth Urbina
- 133 Scott Servais
- 134 Troy O'Leary
- 135 Cal Ripken, Jr.
- 136 Quilvio Veras
- 137 Pedro Astacio
- 138 Willie Greene
- 139 Lance Johnson
- 140 Nomar Garciaparra
- 141 Jose Offerman
- 142 Scott Rolen
- 143 Derek Bell
- 144 Johnny Damon
- 145 Mark McGwire
- 146 Chan Ho Park
- 147 Edgar Renteria
- 148 Eric Young
- 149 Craig Biggio
- 150 Checklist 1-150
Series Two
- 151 Frank Thomas
- 152 John Wetteland
- 153 Mike Lansing
- 154 Pedro Martinez
- 155 Rico Brogna
- 156 Kevin Brown
- 157 Alex Rodriguez
- 158 Wade Boggs
- 159 Richard Hidalgo
- 160 Mark Grace
- 161 Jose Mesa
- 162 John Olerud
- 163 Tim Belcher
- 164 Chuck Finley
- 165 Brian Hunter
- 166 Joe Carter
- 167 Stan Javier
- 168 Jay Bell
- 169 Ray Lankford
- 170 John Smoltz
- 171 Ed Sprague
- 172 Jason Giambi
- 173 Todd Walker
- 174 Paul Konerko
- 175 Rey Ordonez
- 176 Dante Bichette
- 177 Bernie Williams
- 178 Jon Nunnally
- 179 Rafael Palmeiro
- 180 Jay Buhner
- 181 Devon White
- 182 Jeff D'Amico
- 183 Walt Weiss
- 184 Scott Spiezio
- 185 Moises Alou
- 186 Carlos Baerga
- 187 Todd Zeile
- 188 Gregg Jefferies
- 189 Mo Vaughn
- 190 Terry Steinbach
- 191 Ray Durham
- 192 Robin Ventura
- 193 Jeff Reed
- 194 Ken Caminiti
- 195 Eric Karros
- 196 Wilson Alvarez
- 197 Gary Gaetti
- 198 Andres Galarraga
- 199 Alex Gonzalez
- 200 Garret Anderson
- 201 Andy Benes
- 202 Harold Baines
- 203 Ron Coomer
- 204 Dean Palmer
- 205 Reggie Jefferson
- 206 John Burkett
- 207 Jermaine Allensworth
- 208 Bernard Gilkey
- 209 Jeff Bagwell
- 210 Kenny Lofton
- 211 Bobby Jones
- 212 Bartolo Colon
- 213 Jim Edmonds
- 214 Pat Hentgen
- 215 Matt Williams
- 216 Bobby Abreu
- 217 Jorge Posada
- 218 Marty Cordova
- 219 Ken Hill
- 220 Steve Finley
- 221 Jeff King
- 222 Quinton McCracken
- 223 Matt Stairs
- 224 Darin Erstad
- 225 Fred McGriff
- 226 Marquis Grissom
- 227 Doug Glanville
- 228 Tom Glavine
- 229 John Franco
- 230 Darren Bragg
- 231 Barry Larkin
- 232 Trevor Hoffman
- 233 Brady Anderson
- 234 Al Martin
- 235 B.J. Surhoff
- 236 Ellis Burks
- 237 Randy Johnson
- 238 Mark Clark
- 239 Tony Saunders
- 240 Hideo Nomo
- 241 Brad Fullmer
- 242 Chipper Jones
- 243 Jose Valentin
- 244 Manny Ramirez
- 245 Derrek Lee
- 246 Jimmy Key
- 247 Tim Naehring
- 248 Bob Higginson
- 249 Charles Johnson
- 250 Chili Davis
- 251 Tom Gordon
- 252 Mike Lieberthal
- 253 Billy Wagner
- 254 Juan Guzman
- 255 Todd Stottlemyre
- 256 Brian Jordan
- 257 Barry Bonds
- 258 Dan Wilson
- 259 Paul Molitor
- 260 Juan Gonzalez
- 261 Francisco Cordova
- 262 Cecil Fielder
- 263 Travis Lee
- 264 Kevin Tapani
- 265 Raul Mondesi
- 266 Travis Fryman
- 267 Armando Benitez
- 268 Pokey Reese
- 269 Rick Aguilera
- 270 Andy Pettitte
- 271 Jose Vizcaino
- 272 Kerry Wood
- 273 Vladimir Guerrero
- 274 John Smiley
- 275 Checklist 151-275
Parallels
Dual-Sided No-Protectors
Each of the 275 base cards is available as a "Dual-Sided No-Protector" parallel. The difference is that the "Peel And Remove Coating" is missing off card fronts, and BOTH sides of the card are printed on chromium stock. DSNP's are also available as Refractors.
Refractors
All 275 base cards are available as Refractors.
NOTE: ALL Refractors in 1998 Finest (base and inserts) are sequentially-numbered with an "R" suffix.
Oversize
These sixteen, 3" X 5" cards were inserted into every third box as a box topper. Each card is sequentially-numbered "X of 8." We have arbitrarily assigned an "A" prefix for Series One and a "B" prefix for Series Two cards. Each is also available in a Refractor parallel.
- A1 Mark McGwire
- A2 Cal Ripken, Jr.
- A3 Nomar Garciaparra
- A4 Mike Piazza
- A5 Greg Maddux
- A6 Jose Cruz, Jr.
- A7 Roger Clemens
- A8 Ken Griffey, Jr.
- B1 Frank Thomas
- B2 Bernie Williams
- B3 Randy Johnson
- B4 Chipper Jones
- B5 Manny Ramirez
- B6 Barry Bonds
- B7 Juan Gonzalez
- B8 Jeff Bagwell
Inserts
Power Zone
Each of these 20 Series One inserts is printed with "flop ink," which changes color from purple to blue when viewed at a different angle.
- P1 Ken Griffey, Jr.
- P2 Jeff Bagwell
- P3 Jose Cruz, Jr.
- P4 Barry Bonds
- P5 Mark McGwire
- P6 Jim Thome
- P7 Mo Vaughn
- P8 Gary Sheffield
- P9 Andres Galarraga
- P10 Nomar Garciaparra
- P11 Rafael Palmeiro
- P12 Sammy Sosa
- P13 Jay Buhner
- P14 Tony Clark
- P15 Mike Piazza
- P16 Larry Walker
- P17 Albert Belle
- P18 Tino Martinez
- P19 Juan Gonzalez
- P20 Frank Thomas
Centurions
Randomly inserted in Series One packs, cards from this 20-card set are each serial-numbered on back to 500 copies. Unfortunately, an unknown quantity of unnumbered Centurions made their way into the secondary market in 1999. It’s believed that these cards were quality control extras. To further compound this situation, some unscrupulous parties attempted to serial-number the cards. The fake cards have flat gold foil numbering. The real cards have bright foil numbering.
This set is also available in a Refractor parallel, serial-numbered to 75 copies.
- C1 Andruw Jones
- C2 Vladimir Guerrero
- C3 Nomar Garciaparra
- C4 Scott Rolen
- C5 Ken Griffey, Jr.
- C6 Jose Cruz, Jr.
- C7 Barry Bonds
- C8 Mark McGwire
- C9 Juan Gonzalez
- C10 Jeff Bagwell
- C11 Frank Thomas
- C12 Paul Konerko
- C13 Alex Rodriguez
- C14 Mike Piazza
- C15 Travis Lee
- C16 Chipper Jones
- C17 Larry Walker
- C18 Mo Vaughn
- C19 Livan Hernandez
- C20 Jaret Wright
Stadium Stars
This 24-card, Series Two set features a selection of the majors top hitters set against an attractive holographic stadium background.
- SS1 Ken Griffey, Jr.
- SS2 Alex Rodriguez
- SS3 Mo Vaughn
- SS4 Nomar Garciaparra
- SS5 Frank Thomas
- SS6 Albert Belle
- SS7 Derek Jeter
- SS8 Chipper Jones
- SS9 Cal Ripken, Jr.
- SS10 Jim Thome
- SS11 Mike Piazza
- SS12 Juan Gonzalez
- SS13 Jeff Bagwell
- SS14 Sammy Sosa
- SS15 Jose Cruz, Jr.
- SS16 Gary Sheffield
- SS17 Larry Walker
- SS18 Tony Gwynn
- SS19 Mark McGwire
- SS20 Barry Bonds
- SS21 Tino Martinez
- SS22 Manny Ramirez
- SS23 Ken Caminiti
- SS24 Andres Galarraga
Stadium Stars Oversize
These six 3" X 5" oversize cards were randomly seeded into Series Two HTA boxes at the rate of 1:24.
- 1 Ken Griffey, Jr.
- 2 Alex Rodriguez
- 3 Nomar Garciaparra
- 4 Frank Thomas
- 5 Mike Piazza
- 6 Mark McGwire
The Man
Each of these rather gaudy looking cards are exclusive to Series Two packs and serial-numbered to 500 copies. Unlike the Series One Centurions, it does not appear that surplus The Mans were "backdoored."
This set is also available in a Refractor parallel, serial-numbered to 75 copies.
- TM1 Ken Griffey, Jr.
- TM2 Barry Bonds
- TM3 Frank Thomas
- TM4 Chipper Jones
- TM5 Cal Ripken, Jr.
- TM6 Nomar Garciaparra
- TM7 Mark McGwire
- TM8 Mike Piazza
- TM9 Derek Jeter
- TM10 Alex Rodriguez
- TM11 Jose Cruz, Jr.
- TM12 Larry Walker
- TM13 Jeff Bagwell
- TM14 Tony Gwynn
- TM15 Travis Lee
- TM16 Juan Gonzalez
- TM17 Scott Rolen
- TM18 Randy Johnson
- TM19 Roger Clemens
- TM20 Greg Maddux
Mystery Finest
Cards from this 90-card set feature color action photos of top players on double-sided cards. Each player is matched with three different players on the opposite side or another photo of himself in each series. Each side is covered with the Finest opaque protector that must be fully removed on both sides.
In the first series, 50 Mystery Finest cards were randomly inserted; while in Series Two, another 40 cards were produced. Unfortunately, Topps re-numbered the Series Two cards as its own distinct set, with a similar design and the same card numbering scheme. to distinguish between the two series of Mystery Finest cards, all 50 Series One cards have a "wave" design, while the Series Two cards have an "arch."
Each card is also available as a Refractor, labeled "Refractor".
Some non-refractor Mystery Finest cards mistakenly have an R (refractor) printed next to the card number.
Series One
- M1 Frank Thomas / Ken Griffey, Jr.
- M2 Frank Thomas / Mike Piazza
- M3 Frank Thomas / Mark McGwire
- M4 Frank Thomas
- M5 Ken Griffey, Jr. / Mike Piazza
- M6 Ken Griffey, Jr. / Mark McGwire
- M7 Ken Griffey, Jr.
- M8 Mike Piazza / Mark McGwire
- M9 Mike Piazza
- M10 Mark McGwire
- M11 Nomar Garciaparra / Jose Cruz, Jr.
- M12 Nomar Garciaparra / Derek Jeter
- M13 Nomar Garciaparra / Andruw Jones
- M14 Nomar Garciaparra
- M15 Jose Cruz, Jr. / Derek Jeter
- M16 Jose Cruz, Jr. / Andruw Jones
- M17 Jose Cruz, Jr.
- M18 Derek Jeter / Andruw Jones
- M19 Derek Jeter
- M20 Andruw Jones
- M21 Cal Ripken, Jr. / Tony Gwynn
- M22 Cal Ripken / Barry Bonds
- M23 Cal Ripken / Greg Maddux
- M24 Cal Ripken, Jr.
- M25 Tony Gwynn / Barry Bonds
- M26 Tony Gwynn / Greg Maddux
- M27 Tony Gwynn
- M28 Barry Bonds / Greg Maddux
- M29 Barry Bonds
- M30 Greg Maddux
- M31 Juan Gonzalez / Larry Walker
- M32 Juan Gonzalez / Andres Galarraga
- M33 Juan Gonzalez / Chipper Jones
- M34 Juan Gonzalez
- M35 Larry Walker / Andres Galarraga
- M36 Larry Walker / Chipper Jones
- M37 Larry Walker
- M38 Andres Galarraga / Chipper Jones
- M39 Andres Galarraga
- M40 Chipper Jones
- M41 Gary Sheffield / Sammy Sosa
- M42 Gary Sheffield / Jeff Bagwell
- M43 Gary Sheffield / Tino Martinez
- M44 Gary Sheffield
- M45 Sammy Sosa / Jeff Bagwell
- M46 Sammy Sosa / Tino Martinez
- M47 Sammy Sosa
- M48 Jeff Bagwell / Tino Martinez
- M49 Jeff Bagwell
- M50 Tino Martinez
Series Two
- M1 Nomar Garciaparra / Frank Thomas
- M2 Nomar Garciaparra / Albert Belle
- M3 Nomar Garciaparra / Scott Rolen
- M4 Frank Thomas / Albert Belle
- M5 Frank Thomas / Scott Rolen
- M6 Albert Belle / Scott Rolen
- M7 Ken Griffey, Jr. / Jose Cruz, Jr.
- M8 Ken Griffey, Jr. / Alex Rodriguez
- M9 Ken Griffey, Jr. / Roger Clemens
- M10 Jose Cruz, Jr. / Alex Rodriguez
- M11 Jose Cruz, Jr. / Roger Clemens
- M12 Alex Rodriguez / Roger Clemens
- M13 Mike Piazza / Barry Bonds
- M14 Mike Piazza / Derek Jeter
- M15 Mike Piazza / Bernie Williams
- M16 Barry Bonds / Derek Jeter
- M17 Barry Bonds / Bernie Williams
- M18 Derek Jeter / Bernie Williams
- M19 Mark McGwire / Jeff Bagwell
- M20 Mark McGwire / Mo Vaughn
- M21 Mark McGwire / Jim Thome
- M22 Jeff Bagwell / Mo Vaughn
- M23 Jeff Bagwell / Jim Thome
- M24 Mo Vaughn / Jim Thome
- M25 Juan Gonzalez / Travis Lee
- M26 Juan Gonzalez / Ben Grieve
- M27 Juan Gonzalez / Fred McGriff
- M28 Travis Lee / Ben Grieve
- M29 Travis Lee / Fred McGriff
- M30 Ben Grieve / Fred McGriff
- M31 Albert Belle
- M32 Scott Rolen
- M33 Alex Rodriguez
- M34 Roger Clemens
- M35 Bernie Williams
- M36 Mo Vaughn
- M37 Jim Thome
- M38 Travis Lee
- M39 Fred McGriff
- M40 Ben Grieve
Mystery Finest Oversize
These three 3" X 5" cards were seeded randomly into every sixth Series Two HTA box. Every twelfth Series Two HTA box had a Refractor.
- 1 Ken Griffey, Jr. / Alex Rodriguez
- 2 Derek Jeter / Bernie Williams
- 3 Mark McGwire / Jeff Bagwell
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