1998 Pinnacle Performers
Description
1998 Pinnacle Performers was a 150 card set that, like most Pinnacle Brands releases of the era, following the same formula of many of their other mid-level prince-point products. The set contains 120 veterans, 17 "Rookies," a ten-card Far and Away subset and three Checklists. It was released in July, 1998 and was Pinnacle Brands' penultimate baseball card product.
Performers replaced the similarly structured Pinnacle X-Press, and like '97 X-Press, each pack contained a "Swing for the Fences" game card.
There are no rookie cards in this set.
Distribution
Wax: 24 packs per box; eight cards per pack (MSRP: $1.99)
Reviews
Insertion Ratios
| Cards | Total Cards | Numbered To | Hobby Odds | Retail Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base | 150 | - | 8:1 | ? |
| Peak Performers Parallel | 150 | - | 1:7 | ? |
| Swing for the Fences | 50 | - | 1:2 | ? |
| Launching Pad | 20 | - | 1:9 | ? |
| Power Trip | 10 | 10,000 | 1:21 | ? |
| Big Bang | 20 | 2500 | 1:45 | ? |
| Big Bang Seasonal Outburst | 20 | varies | ? | ? |
Checklist
Base Set
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Parallels
Peak Performers
Peak Performers is the sole parallel, and reprints all 150 base set cards. Each card is printed on foil-board with the words "PEAK PERFORMERS" running down the right side of the photo.
Inserts
Big Bang
Each card is serial-numbered to 2500 copies. Promotional samples of this set were distributed within wholesale dealer order forms prior to the products release (one card per order). The Samples parallel the regular Big Bang inserts except for the bold "SAMPLE" text running diagonally across the back of the card. In addition, Sample cards are NOT serial-numbered.
Seasonal Outburst
Seasonal Outburst is a red-foiled parallel of the Big Bang set. Each card is serial-numbered to the player's 1997 home run total (noted below). However, a number of non-numbered cards have emerged on the market; which may have been "backdoored" after Pinnacle Brands' 1998 bankruptcy. It is believed that there are more non-numbered Seasonal Outburst cards in circulation than there are serial-numbered ones.
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Launching Pad
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Power Trip
Each card is serial-numbered to 10,000 copies.
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Swing for the Fences
Similar to the promotion in 1997 Pinnacle X-Press, Swing for the Fences was a 75-card game, consisting of 50 players and 25 "point" cards. Collectors who found the player cards of the 1998 AL and NL home run champs, and collected enough point cards to match their respective player's league-leading HR total could then exchange their cards and receive a special 10-pack of "upgraded" Swing for the Fences cards. Unlike the previous year's set, the upgraded Swing cards were distributed directly to Hobby dealers -- collectors need not send in their winning cards directly to Pinnacle.
The first 1000 entries would also receive a special autographed Swing for the Fences Upgrade card of Texas Rangers star Juan Gonzalez. All winners would also be entered into a drawing for a trip for two to the 1999 All-Star Game in Boston.
Pinnacle Brands' bankruptcy in the Fall of 1998 wiped away the contest, and many of the Upgraded cards (which were printed on a "frosted" holographic-foil background) began to flood the secondary market. It does not appear that any of the Juan Gonzalez Autographed Upgrades were produced.
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Swing for the Fences Exchange Cards
This 12-card set was created as a promotional tie-in for hobby shop owners, and was first released at the 1998 All-Star Game FanFest (which was sponsored by Pinnacle). Cards were subsequently distributed to shop owners, nationwide, in 10-card packs.
Collectors who purchased three packs of 1998 Pinnacle Performers could take the wrappers to their local participating Hobby store and receive a card. Those who purchased an entire box would get a 10-card cello pack. The cards parallel the standard Swing for the Fences inserts found in packs, except for the upgraded 20 pt. stock, silver "Matrix foil" background (similar to that year's Epix inserts) and lack of numbering on the card back.
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Autographs & Game-Used
Juan Gonzalez Swing for the Fences Autographed Ball
Randomly inserted into packs, in lieu of a Swing for the Fences card, was a coupon good for a Major League Baseball autographed by Texas Rangers star Juan Gonzalez. Due to the Pinnacle Brands bankruptcy later that summer, the Juan Gonzalez balls were never redeemed. It is unclear is Gonzalez ever signed any baseballs for this promotion.
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