1996 Finest
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 bizarrely structured products ever released, '96 Finest provides collectors with the opportunity to complete a number of sets within sets, each with a different degree of insertion. Each card is numbered twice to indicate the set count and the theme count. Series 1 set covers four distinct themes: Phenoms, Intimidators, Gamers and Sterling. Within the first three themes, the cards are fractured into three levels of collectibility: 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).
Series 2 covers four distinct themes also with common, uncommon and rare cards seeded at the same ratio. The four themes are: Franchise, Additions, Prodigies, and Sterling. In addition to the cards' special 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 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
Series One
1 Greg Maddux Silver Intimidators
2 Bernie Williams Silver Gamers
3 Ivan Rodriguez Silver Intimidators
4 Marty Cordova Gold Phenoms
5 Roberto Hernandez Bronze Intimidators
6 Tony Gwynn Gold
7 Barry Larkin Silver
8 Terry Pendleton Bronze Gamers
9 Albert Belle Gold
10 Ray Lankford Silver
11 Mike Piazza Silver
12 Ken Caminiti Bronze Gamers
13 Larry Walker Silver
14 Matt Williams Silver
15 Dan Miceli Bronze Phenoms
16 Chipper Jones Bronze Sterling
17 John Wetteland Bronze Intimidators
18 Kirby Puckett Gold
19 Tim Naehring Bronze
20 Karim Garcia Gold
21 Eddie Murray Bronze Gamers
22 Tim Salmon Silver
23 Kevin Appier Bronze Intimidators
24 Ken Griffey Jr Bronze Sterling
25 Cal Ripken Jr Gold Gamers
26 Brian McRae Bronze Gamers
27 Pedro Martinez Bronze Intimidators
28 Brian Jordan Bronze Gamers
29 Mike Fetters Bronze Intimidators
30 Carlos Delgado Bronze
31 Shane Reynolds Bronze Intimidators
32 Terry Steinbach Bronze Gamers
33 Hideo Nomo Gold
34 Mark Leiter Bronze Gamers
35 Edgar Martinez Silver
36 David Segui Bronze Gamers
37 Gregg Jefferies Silver
38 Bill Pulsipher Silver Phenoms
39 Ryne Sandberg Gold
40 Fred McGriff Bronze Intimidators
41 Shawn Green Silver
42 Jeff Bagwell Gold
43 Jim Abbott Silver
44 Glenallen Hill Bronze Intimidators
45 Brady Anderson Bronze Gamers
46 Roger Clemens Silver
47 Jim Thome Bronze
48 Frank Thomas Bronze Sterling
49 Chuck Knoblauch Bronze Gamers
50 Len Dykstra Bronze Gamers
51 Jason Isringhausen Gold
52 Rondell White Silver
53 Tom Pagnozzi Bronze Gamers
54 Dennis Eckersley Silver
55 Ricky Bones Bronze Gamers
56 David Justice Bronze Intimidators
57 Steve Avery Bronze
58 Robby Thompson Bronze Gamers
59 Hideo Nomo Silver
60 Gary Sheffield Silver
61 Tony Gwynn Bronze Sterling
62 Will Clark Silver
63 Denny Neagle Bronze Gamers
64 Mo Vaughn Gold
65 Bret Boone Silver
66 Dante Bichette Gold
67 Robin Ventura Bronze Gamers
68 Rafael Palmeiro Silver
69 Carlos Baerga Silver Gamers
70 Kevin Seitzer Bronze Gamers
71 Ramon J. Martinez Bronze Intimidators
72 Tom Glavine Silver
73 Garret Anderson Silver
74 Mark McGwire Gold
75 Brian L. Hunter Bronze Phenoms
76 Alan Benes Bronze Phenoms
77 Randy Johnson Silver Intimidators
78 Jeff King Silver
79 Kirby Puckett Silver
80 Ozzie Guillen Bronze Gamers
81 Kenny Lofton Gold
82 Benji Gil Bronze Phenoms
83 Jim Edmonds Gold
84 Cecil Fielder Silver
85 Todd Hundley Bronze Gamers
86 Reggie Sanders Silver
87 Pat Hentgen Bronze Gamers
88 Ryan Klesko Silver Intimidators
89 Chuck Finley Bronze
90 Mike Mussina Gold
91 John Valentin Silver Intimidators
92 Derek Jeter Bronze Phenoms
93 Paul O'Neill Bronze
94 Darrin Fletcher Bronze
95 Manny Ramirez Silver Phenoms
96 Delino DeShields Bronze Gamers
97 Tim Salmon Bronze
98 John Olerud Bronze Gamers
99 Vinny Castilla Silver
100 Jeff Conine Gold
101 Tim Wakefield Bronze
102 Johnny Damon Gold
103 Dave Stevens Bronze Gamers
104 Orlando Merced Bronze Gamers
105 Barry Bonds Gold
106 Jay Bell Bronze Gamers
107 John Burkett Bronze Gamers
108 Chris Hoiles Bronze Gamers
109 Carlos Perez Silver
110 Dave Nilsson Bronze Gamers
111 Rod Beck Bronze
112 Craig Biggio Silver
113 Mike Piazza Bronze Intimidators
114 Mark Langston Bronze Gamers
115 Juan Gonzalez Silver
116 Rico Brogna Bronze Gamers
117 Jose Canseco Gold
118 Tom Goodwin Bronze Gamers
119 Bryan Rekar Bronze Phenoms
120 David Cone Bronze Intimidators
121 Ray Durham Silver
122 Andy Pettitte Bronze Phenoms
123 Chili Davis Bronze Intimidators
124 John Smoltz Bronze Gamers
125 Heathcliff Slocumb Bronze Intimidators
126 Dante Bichette Bronze Intimidators
127 C.J. Nitkowski Silver Phenoms
128 Alex S. Gonzalez Bronze
129 Jeff Montgomery Bronze Intimidators
130 Raul Mondesi Silver
131 Dennis Martinez Bronze
132 Mel Rojas Bronze Intimidators
133 Derek Bell Bronze
134 Trevor Hoffman Bronze Intimidators
135 Ken Griffey Jr Gold
136 Darren Daulton Bronze
137 Pete Schourek Bronze Gamers
138 Phil Nevin Bronze Phenoms
139 Andres Galarraga Bronze
140 Chad Fonville Bronze Phenoms
141 Chipper Jones Gold
142 Lee Smith Silver
143 Joe Carter Silver Gamers
144 J.T. Snow Bronze Gamers
145 Greg Maddux Gold Sterling
146 Barry Bonds Bronze Intimidators
147 Orel Hershiser Bronze Gamers
148 Quilvio Veras Bronze
149 Will Clark Bronze
150 Jose Rijo Bronze Gamers
151 Mo Vaughn Silver
152 Travis Fryman Bronze
153 Frank Rodriguez Silver
154 Alex Fernandez Bronze
155 Wade Boggs Bronze Gamers
156 Troy Percival Bronze
157 Moises Alou Bronze
158 Javy Lopez Bronze
159 Jason Giambi Bronze
160 Steve Finley Silver
161 Jeff Bagwell Silver Intimidators
162 Mark McGwire Bronze
163 Eric Karros Bronze
164 Jay Buhner Gold
165 Cal Ripken Jr Silver Sterling
166 Mickey Tettleton Bronze
167 Barry Larkin Bronze
168 Lyle Mouton Silver
169 Ruben Sierra Bronze Intimidators
170 Bill Swift Bronze
171 Sammy Sosa Silver Intimidators
172 Chad Curtis Bronze Gamers
173 Dean Palmer Bronze Gamers
174 John Franco Silver Gamers
175 Bobby Bonilla Bronze Intimidators
176 Greg Colbrunn Bronze Gamers
177 Jose Mesa Bronze
178 Mike Greenwell Bronze Gamers
179 Greg Vaughn Silver Intimidators
180 Mark Wohlers Silver
181 Doug Drabek Bronze Gamers
182 Paul O'Neill Silver Sterling
183 Wilson Alvarez Bronze Gamers
184 Marty Cordova Bronze
185 Hal Morris Bronze Gamers
186 Frank Thomas Gold
187 Carlos Garcia Bronze Gamers
188 Albert Belle Silver
189 Mark Grace Silver
190 Marquis Grissom Bronze Gamers
191 Checklist Gold
Series Two
192 Chipper Jones Gold
193 Will Clark Bronze
194 Paul Molitor Bronze
195 Kenny Rogers Bronze
196 Reggie Sanders Bronze
197 Roberto Alomar Gold Additions
198 Dennis Eckersley Gold
199 Raul Mondesi Bronze Sterling
200 Lance Johnson Bronze Additions
201 Alvin Morman Bronze Prodigies
202 George Arias Gold
203 Jack McDowell Bronze
204 Randy Myers Bronze
205 Harold Baines Bronze Additions
206 Marty Cordova Bronze Franchises
207 Rich Hunter Bronze
208 Al Leiter Bronze
209 Greg Gagne Bronze
210 Ben McDonald Bronze Additions
211 Ernie Young Silver Prodigies
212 Terry Adams Bronze Prodigies
213 Paul Sorrento Bronze
214 Albert Belle Bronze
215 Mike Blowers Bronze
216 Jim Edmonds Bronze
217 Felipe Crespo Bronze
218 Fred McGriff Silver
219 Shawon Dunston Bronze Additions
220 Jimmy Haynes Bronze
221 Jose Canseco Bronze
222 Eric Davis Bronze
223 Kimera Bartee Silver
224 Tim Raines Bronze
225 Tony Phillips Bronze
226 Charlie Hayes Bronze
227 Eric Owens Bronze
228 Roberto Alomar Bronze Sterling
229 Rickey Henderson Silver
230 Sterling Hitchcock Silver
231 Bernard Gilkey Silver Additions
232 Hideo Nomo Gold Franchises
233 Kenny Lofton Bronze
234 Ryne Sandberg Silver Sterling
235 Greg Maddux Silver
236 Mark McGwire Bronze
237 Jay Buhner Bronze
238 Craig Biggio Bronze
239 Todd Stottlemyre Silver
240 Barry Bonds Bronze Franchises
241 Jason Kendall Silver
242 Paul O'Neill Silver
243 Chris Snopek Gold
244 Ron Gant Bronze
245 Paul Wilson Bronze
246 Todd Hollandsworth Bronze
247 Todd Zeile Bronze
248 David Justice Bronze
249 Tim Salmon Gold
250 Moises Alou Bronze
251 Bob Wolcott Bronze Prodigies
252 David Wells Bronze
253 Juan Gonzalez Bronze
254 Andres Galarraga Bronze Franchises
255 Dave Hollins Bronze Additions
256 Devon White Silver Additions
257 Sammy Sosa Bronze Franchises
258 Ivan Rodriguez Bronze
259 Bip Roberts Bronze
260 Tino Martinez Bronze
261 Chuck Knoblauch Silver
262 Mike Stanley Bronze
263 Wally Joyner Silver
264 Butch Huskey Bronze
265 Jeff Conine Bronze
266 Matt Williams Gold
267 Mark Grace Bronze
268 Jason Schmidt Bronze Prodigies
269 Otis Nixon Bronze
270 Randy Johnson Gold
271 Kirby Puckett Bronze
272 Andy Fox Silver Prodigies
273 Andy Benes Bronze
274 Sean Berry Silver Additions
275 Mike Piazza Bronze
276 Rey Ordonez Bronze
277 Benito Santiago Silver
278 Gary Gaetti Bronze
279 Paul Molitor Gold
280 Robin Ventura Bronze Sterling
281 Cal Ripken Jr Bronze
282 Carlos Baerga Bronze
283 Roger Cedeno Bronze
284 Chad Mottola Silver Prodigies
285 Terrell Wade Bronze Prodigies
286 Kevin J. Brown Bronze
287 Rafael Palmeiro Bronze
288 Mo Vaughn Bronze
289 Dante Bichette Silver Franchises
290 Cecil Fielder Gold
291 Dwight Gooden Silver
292 Bob Tewksbury Bronze
293 Kevin Mitchell Silver Additions
294 Livan Hernandez Gold
295 Russ Davis Silver Additions
296 Chan Ho Park Silver
297 T.J. Mathews Bronze Prodigies
298 Manny Ramirez Bronze
299 Jeff Bagwell Bronze
300 Marty Janzen Gold Prodigies
301 Wade Boggs Bronze
302 Larry Walker Silver
303 Steve Gibralter Bronze Prodigies
304 B.J. Surhoff Bronze
305 Ken Griffey Jr Silver Franchises
306 Royce Clayton Bronze Additions
307 Sal Fasano Bronze Prodigies
308 Ron Gant Gold
309 Gary Sheffield Bronze Franchises
310 Ken Hill Bronze
311 Joe Girardi Bronze
312 Matt Lawton Bronze Prodigies
313 Billy Wagner Silver Prodigies
314 Julio Franco Bronze
315 Joe Carter Bronze
316 Brooks Kieschnick Bronze Prodigies
317 Mike Grace Silver
318 Heathcliff Slocumb Bronze
319 Barry Larkin Bronze Franchises
320 Tony Gwynn Bronze Franchises
321 Ryan Klesko Gold
322 Frank Thomas Bronze Franchises
323 Edgar Martinez Bronze Sterling
324 Jermaine Dye Gold
325 Henry Rodriguez Bronze
326 Marvin Benard Bronze
327 Kenny Lofton Silver Franchises
328 Derek Bell Silver
329 Ugueth Urbina Bronze Prodigies
330 Jason Giambi Gold
331 Roger Salkeld Bronze
332 Edgar Renteria Bronze Prodigies
333 Ryan Klesko Bronze
334 Ray Lankford Bronze Sterling
335 Edgar Martinez Gold
336 Justin Thompson Bronze Prodigies
337 Gary Sheffield Silver Sterling
338 Rey Ordonez Gold
339 Mark Clark Bronze
340 Ruben Rivera Bronze Prodigies
341 Mark Grace Silver Franchises
342 Matt Williams Bronze
343 Francisco Cordova Bronze Prodigies
344 Cecil Fielder Bronze
345 Andres Galarraga Silver Sterling
346 Brady Anderson Bronze
347 Sammy Sosa Gold
348 Mark Grudzielanek Bronze Prodigies
349 Ron Coomer Bronze
350 Derek Jeter Silver Sterling
351 Rich Aurilia Bronze Prodigies
352 Jose Herrera Bronze
353 Jay Buhner Silver
354 Juan Gonzalez Gold
355 Craig Biggio Gold
356 Tony Clark Bronze
357 Tino Martinez Silver
358 Dan Naulty Bronze
359 Checklist Bronze