Friday, October 5, 2018

Just 87 Patterns Short

The original 1998 Topps Tek was 90 cards, 90 patterns of each card, with just a mere 8100 cards.  Has anyone actually put together a full set?  There are more than a few people who have just a basic set of 90 cards and plenty of people who have found the 90 patterns of their favorite player in the set.  These are the numbers, figures, and facts that most collectors use to summarize the set.

It's actually a much tougher climb.

Topps also included a diffractor parallel.  The diffractor parallels were roughly three per box.  That means you can take all the numbers that are thrown around all the time with the Topps Tek set and double them.

So, for my favorite player in the set, former Cardinals outfielder Ray Lankford, there are 90 cards with a diffractor pattern of each.  That's 180 Ray Lankford cards.

I recently actually found a copy of a Ray Lankford diffractor card.  They sell for more than a few dollars, so it was somewhat of a decision.........



after all, as nice as these cards look, as much as it would be a cool story to say that I have put together all of these cards, it's somewhat an exercise in futility.  


It's a pipe dream, but I am now just 87 patterns short of having all the Ray Lankford diffractor cards.  

6 comments:

  1. I have 3 of the difractors also. I agree they are tough to find and pricey when you do. I am still need #77 to finish my regular set.

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    1. I half about half of the regular set. I will have to check to see if I have a pattern 77 card hanging out somewhere.

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  2. Can't imagine anyone completing the 8,100 card set. That would be super challenging and expensive. But if I'm wrong... kudos to them. It would definitely be an impressive accomplishment.

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    1. I am sure that if someone had actually put it together it would have been on Cardboard Connections or Beckett. Probably nearly impossible at this point. I put together a set of just the 90 cards the other year. It took me two months to find a Jason Kendall card, can't imagine track down 90 of them.

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  3. How have I never seen these before! Definitely gonna have to try and get a few of the refractors at some point.

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    Replies
    1. They are great cards Jon. Would love to see a few pop up on the Penny Sleeve.

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