1998 Topps Tek Baseball Forum

As you may (or may not) be aware, in 1998 Topps released an incredibly massive set called Topps Tek. This set featured 90 different players, each with 90 different background patterns to collect. That is an insanely huge headache for set builders and player collectors alike.

I have been chasing the Scott Rolen patterns for over 25 years now. With each passing year the cards grow harder and harder to find and become more and more expensive. I had a goal to finish the 90 card run of Rolen cards last year. Well, I fell short of that goal...by 5 days! As of yesterday, I have finally acquired all 90 different patterns!

Check them out here: The Rolen Collection - 1998 Topps Tek

What is even crazier is that there are also Diffractors of each of these different patterns (with the exception of pattern #49) to chase. The Diffractors are a beautiful cracked ice atomic refractor parallel that are even tougher to find than the base cards. I currently have just 13 of the 89 different patterns for Rolen. If you're sitting on any of the Diffractors, please shoot me a message if you're willing to part ways with it!

Is anyone else here chasing any of these cards of their favorite player or team?

I finished the Jeromy Burnitz run about a decade ago but ended up selling it. Prices started to get too good to pass up. For a long time you couldn’t give these away but then they started taking off as people jumped into the challenge! The diffractors are okay too but unjustifiablly inflated. Congrats on the accomplishment, it is definitely a collecting achievement to be proud of. I certainly wish I still had my Burnies most days! 

Fantastic accomplishment for sure.  I have a few random Tek cards and they're really nice.

Badass! Congrats man. That's not easy to do.

I've been looking for the Dbacks but not seriously.  

With Clemens, Delgado, and Cruz Jr. on my team (Jays), it\s never even going to be attempted. I'll be happy with one sample of each.

Having completed the Ray Lankford run a few years ago, I know how tough a set this can be.  I only have 3 of the diffractors, and agree about the inflated prices.  Congrats on the accomplishment.

I just love the cards in these sets but I never had any. I'm just glad to have what I happen to find for cheap or from bulk purchases. I didn't try to find a whole run for anyone.

Whoa. I knew about Tek, but had no idea there were 90 different patterns. Awesome achievement!

Glad for You, Just read your Blog about acquiring a Scott Rolen Collection. I Iike stories about people buying Collections. Player collecting are my favorite reads (because that's what I do). Many great player collectors on the Site. You, Banjar, DaClyde , DyeHardFan, MrRedBeard, skrezyna23 & many others.