Complicated, intricate, confusing, beautiful – this is 1998 Leaf Baseball. It took me years to figure out what was what with this set. This is a very tricky run of cards. Depending on the player and die cut orientation, print runs and materials used will vary. Frank Thomas is featured twice in this set so I had to track down 8 parallels per version for a total of 16 different cards, which took me several years. Featured here are each of the 8 parallels for both cards #106 and #157. While this article will serve the most value to Frank Thomas collectors, it should still be helpful for anyone attempting to collect each card of their guy. This guide should give you a better idea of how to identify each card.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Base: This is the stock card.
- Fractal Matrix: The back of this card doesn’t have a stated print run but it’s 100.
- Fractal Matrix Die Cut: The back of this card doesn’t have a stated print run but it’s 400.
- Fractal Matrix Diamond Axis: The back of this card has a stated serial number of 50.
- Fractal Foundations: The back of this card has a stated serial number of 3999.
- Fractal Materials: The back of this card has a stated serial number of 250. The first 50 cards in the print run are die cut so the print run for this version is 200.
- Fractal Materials Die Cut: The back of this card has a stated serial number of 250. The first 50 cards in the print run are die cut so the print run for this version is 50.
- Fractal Materials Z2 Axis: The back of this card has a stated serial number of 20.
- Base: This is the stock card.
- Fractal Matrix: The back of this card doesn’t have a stated print run but it’s 600.
- Fractal Matrix Die Cut: The back of this card doesn’t have a stated print run but it’s 400.
- Fractal Matrix Diamond Axis: The back of this card has a stated serial number of 50.
- Fractal Foundations: The back of this card has a stated serial number of 3999.
- Fractal Materials: The back of this card has a stated serial number of 3250. The first 200 cards in the print run are die cut so the print run for this version is 3050.
- Fractal Materials Die Cut: The back of this card has a stated serial number of 3250. The first 200 cards in the print run are die cut so the print run for this version is 200.
- Fractal Materials Z2 Axis: The back of this card has a stated serial number of 20.
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