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1998 Pinnacle Epix baseball cards present stunning designs, articulate confusion, complex rarity, and a somewhat bizarre history. For new collectors, it can be difficult to accurately identify each card from this set. It wasn’t until many years after this set was released that I finally figured out what was what and it was only after mis-identifying cards and thinking I had stuff I didn’t. If this is you, don’t feel bad; it’s common.
This set was released around the time Pinnacle was filing for bankruptcy so it never actualized full release and until recently, it was believed the remaining cards that were set to be released didn’t actually exist.
In 2018, one seller listed all sorts of unknown cards from the Pinnacle Bankruptcy. The lot included missing cards from the 1998 Pinnacle Epix set. For Frank Thomas collectors, this was our first time seeing the Play versions.
To showcase each of the different designs and parallels from 1998 Pinnacle Epix, depicted here are images of every version of every card featuring Frank Thomas from the set, which comes to 15 unique cards in total. Also featured are examples of each of the three different Header cards. These 18 cards are from my personal collection and it took many years to collect them all.
For player collectors, this is a fun albeit challenging set to collect. Aggressive collectors are known to collect the three Header cards to complement their runs. Completests will attempt to pursue the three unicorn bankruptcy issues, which are the rarest and most expensive versions.
Everything is discussed here, which is a lot so let’s get to it. This is 1998 Pinnacle Epix.
Value multipliers are provided to offer an idea of rarity but they don’t reflect actual market values.*
Table of Contents:
1998 Pinnacle Epix Season:
1998 Pinnacle Epix Season is a 24-card set (18 officially released, 6 unreleased) and is one of five different 1998 Pinnacle Epix parallel sets. 1998 Pinnacle Epix Season is a multi-release set; here’s its distribution, associated insertion ratios, and checklist:
- Cards #E1-E6 were distributed in packs of 1998 Zenith (1:11)
- Cards #E7-E12 were distributed in packs of basic 1998 Pinnacle (1:21)
- Cards #E13-E18 were distributed in packs of 1998 Score (1:61)
Cards #E19-E24 were intended to be seeded within 1998 Pinnacle Certified. However, Pinnacle went bankrupt prior to its release so those cards were never officially released.
| Card # | Player(s) | Card # | Player(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | Ken Griffey Jr. | E13 | Alex Rodriguez |
| E2 | Juan Gonzalez | E14 | Cal Ripken Jr. |
| E3 | Jeff Bagwell | E15 | Chipper Jones |
| E4 | Ivan Rodriguez | E16 | Roger Clemens |
| E5 | Nomar Garciaparra | E17 | Mo Vaughn |
| E6 | Ryne Sandberg | E18 | Mark McGwire |
| E7 | Frank Thomas | E19 | Mike Piazza |
| E8 | Derek Jeter | E20 | Andruw Jones |
| E9 | Tony Gwynn | E21 | Greg Maddux |
| E10 | Albert Belle | E22 | Barry Bonds |
| E11 | Scott Rolen | E23 | Paul Molitor |
| E12 | Barry Larkin | E24 | Eddie Murray |
Pack distribution for each of the three Season cards is the same. Though specific seeding rations for each version of Epix Season were never released, it’s believed that:
- Orange Season parallels carry a 8x value multiplier to the basic card.
- Purple Season parallels carry a 1.5x value multiplier and were approximately 3x tougher to pull from packs than Orange.
- Emerald Season parallels carry a 3x value multiplier and were approximately 6x tougher to pull from packs than Orange.
To view the current eBay auctions for 1998 Pinnacle Epix Season, click here.
1998 Pinnacle Epix Game:
1998 Pinnacle Epix Game is a 24-card set (18 officially released, 6 unreleased) and is one of five different 1998 Pinnacle Epix parallel sets. 1998 Pinnacle Epix Game is a multi-release set; here’s its distribution, associated insertion ratios, and checklist:
- Cards #E1-E6 were distributed in packs of basic 1998 Pinnacle (1:21)
- Cards #E7-E12 were distributed in packs of 1998 Score (1:61)
- Cards #E19-E24 were distributed in packs of 1998 Zenith (1:11)
Cards #E13-E18 were intended to be seeded within 1998 Pinnacle Certified. However, Pinnacle went bankrupt prior to its release so those cards were never officially released.
| Card # | Player(s) | Card # | Player(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | Ken Griffey Jr. | E13 | Alex Rodriguez |
| E2 | Juan Gonzalez | E14 | Cal Ripken Jr. |
| E3 | Jeff Bagwell | E15 | Chipper Jones |
| E4 | Ivan Rodriguez | E16 | Roger Clemens |
| E5 | Nomar Garciaparra | E17 | Mo Vaughn |
| E6 | Ryne Sandberg | E18 | Mark McGwire |
| E7 | Frank Thomas | E19 | Mike Piazza |
| E8 | Derek Jeter | E20 | Andruw Jones |
| E9 | Tony Gwynn | E21 | Greg Maddux |
| E10 | Albert Belle | E22 | Barry Bonds |
| E11 | Scott Rolen | E23 | Paul Molitor |
| E12 | Barry Larkin | E24 | Eddie Murray |
Pack distribution for each of the three Game cards is the same. Though specific seeding rations for each version of Epix Game were never released, it’s believed that:
- Orange Game parallels carry a 4x value multiplier to the basic card.
- Purple Game parallels carry a 1.5x value multiplier and were approximately 3x tougher to pull from packs than Orange.
- Emerald Game parallels carry a 3x value multiplier and were approximately 6x tougher to pull from packs than Orange.
To view the current eBay auctions for 1998 Pinnacle Epix Game, click here.
1998 Pinnacle Epix Moment:
1998 Pinnacle Epix Moment is a 24-card set (18 officially released, 6 unreleased) and is one of five different 1998 Pinnacle Epix parallel sets. 1998 Pinnacle Epix Moment is a multi-release set; here’s its distribution, associated insertion ratios, and checklist:
- Cards #E7-E12 were distributed in packs of 1998 Zenith (1:11)
- Cards #E13-E18 were distributed in packs of basic 1998 Pinnacle (1:21)
- Cards #E19-E24 were distributed in packs of 1998 Score (1:61)
Cards #E1-E6 were intended to be seeded within 1998 Pinnacle Certified. However, Pinnacle went bankrupt prior to its release so those cards were never officially released.
| Card # | Player(s) | Card # | Player(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | Ken Griffey Jr. | E13 | Alex Rodriguez |
| E2 | Juan Gonzalez | E14 | Cal Ripken Jr. |
| E3 | Jeff Bagwell | E15 | Chipper Jones |
| E4 | Ivan Rodriguez | E16 | Roger Clemens |
| E5 | Nomar Garciaparra | E17 | Mo Vaughn |
| E6 | Ryne Sandberg | E18 | Mark McGwire |
| E7 | Frank Thomas | E19 | Mike Piazza |
| E8 | Derek Jeter | E20 | Andruw Jones |
| E9 | Tony Gwynn | E21 | Greg Maddux |
| E10 | Albert Belle | E22 | Barry Bonds |
| E11 | Scott Rolen | E23 | Paul Molitor |
| E12 | Barry Larkin | E24 | Eddie Murray |
Pack distribution for each of the three Moment cards is the same. Though specific seeding rations for each version of Epix Moment were never released, it’s believed that:
- Orange Moment parallels carry a 5x value multiplier to the basic card.
- Purple Moment parallels carry a 1.5x value multiplier and were approximately 3x tougher to pull from packs than Orange.
- Emerald Moment parallels carry a 3x value multiplier and were approximately 6x tougher to pull from packs than Orange.
It was publicly announced that less than 30 sets of the Moment Emerald parallels were produced. This card is what makes this set particularly challenging to collect. It took me several years of diligent searching before I got mine and it was only because a fellow Thomas collector liquidated his collection. The meager print run makes these cards especially hard to find. Thankfully, and as with any card from 1998 Pinnacle Epix, serial numbers aren’t printed on these cards.
To view the current eBay auctions for 1998 Pinnacle Epix Moment, click here.
1998 Pinnacle Epix Play:
1998 Pinnacle Epix Play is a 24-card set (18 officially released, 6 unreleased) and is one of five different 1998 Pinnacle Epix parallel sets. 1998 Pinnacle Epix Play is a multi-release set; here’s its distribution, associated insertion ratios, and checklist:
- Cards #E1-E6 were distributed in packs of 1998 Score (1:61)
- Cards #E13-E18 were distributed in packs of 1998 Zenith (1:11)
- Cards #E19-E24 were distributed in packs of basic 1998 Pinnacle (1:21)
Cards #E7-E12 were intended to be seeded within 1998 Pinnacle Certified. However, Pinnacle went bankrupt prior to its release so those cards were never officially released.
| Card # | Player(s) | Card # | Player(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | Ken Griffey Jr. | E13 | Alex Rodriguez |
| E2 | Juan Gonzalez | E14 | Cal Ripken Jr. |
| E3 | Jeff Bagwell | E15 | Chipper Jones |
| E4 | Ivan Rodriguez | E16 | Roger Clemens |
| E5 | Nomar Garciaparra | E17 | Mo Vaughn |
| E6 | Ryne Sandberg | E18 | Mark McGwire |
| E7 | Frank Thomas | E19 | Mike Piazza |
| E8 | Derek Jeter | E20 | Andruw Jones |
| E9 | Tony Gwynn | E21 | Greg Maddux |
| E10 | Albert Belle | E22 | Barry Bonds |
| E11 | Scott Rolen | E23 | Paul Molitor |
| E12 | Barry Larkin | E24 | Eddie Murray |
Pack distribution for each of the three Play cards is the same. Though specific seeding rations for each version of Epix Play were never released, it’s believed that:
- Orange Play parallels carry a 2.5x value multiplier to the basic card.
- Purple Play parallels carry a 1.5x value multiplier and were approximately 3x tougher to pull from packs than Orange.
- Emerald Play parallels carry a 3x value multiplier and were approximately 6x tougher to pull from packs than Orange.
This Frank Thomas 1998 Pinnacle Epix Play 3-card run was purchased together as a set. I was initially offered it when it became available in 2018 but timing prevented me from accepting. Timing was better for me in 2020 and luckily the seller still had a set available so we closed. These complete the full run of Frank Thomas cards from 1998 Pinnacle Epix.
To view the current eBay auctions for 1998 Pinnacle Epix Play, click here.
1998 Pinnacle Plus All-Star Epix:
1998 Pinnacle Plus All-Star Epix is a 24-card set and is one of five different 1998 Pinnacle Epix parallel sets. They were randomly inserted in packs at a rate of 1:21. This set showcases All-Star game highlights from baseball’s top stars. The checklist for this set is slightly different than those associated with the other sets. 1998 Pinnacle Plus All-Star Epix is a multi-release set; here’s its distribution, and checklist:
- Cards #1-12 were inserted in packs of Score Rookie and Traded
- Cards #13-24 were inserted in packs of Pinnacle Plus
| Card # | Player(s) | Card # | Player(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | Ken Griffey jr. | E13 | Alex Rodriguez |
| E2 | Juan Gonzalez | E14 | Cal Ripken Jr. |
| E3 | Jeff Bagwell | E15 | Chipper Jones |
| E4 | Ivan Rodriguez | E16 | Roger Clemens |
| E5 | Nomar Garciaparra | E17 | Mo Vaughn |
| E6 | Ryne Sandberg | E18 | Mark McGwire |
| E7 | Frank Thomas | E19 | Mike Piazza |
| E8 | Derek Jeter | E20 | Andruw Jones |
| E9 | Tony Gwynn | E21 | Greg Maddux |
| E10 | Albert Belle | E22 | Barry Bonds |
| E11 | Scott Rolen | E23 | Paul Molitor |
| E12 | Barry Larkin | E24 | Hideo Nomo |
- Orange All-Star Epix parallels carry a 5x value multiplier to the basic card.
- Purple All-Star Epix parallels carry a 1.5x value multiplier to the Orange.
- Emerald All-Star Epix parallels carry a 3x value multiplier to the Orange.
NOTE: The All-Star Emerald is often mistaken for the Moment Emerald and likely because both cards feature the Moment title. This misunderstanding is often coupled with a claim that it has the 30 print run, which is untrue. The 30 print run is only associated with the Moment Emerald parallel. Be aware of what you have and what you’re buying.*
Print run info is believed to be stated in the September 1998 issue of Beckett Baseball Card Monthly.
To view the current eBay auctions for 1998 Pinnacle Plus All-Star Epix, click here.
1998 Pinnacle Epix Headers:
1998 Pinnacle Epix Headers come in the three different colors: Orange, Purple, and Emerald. Technically, this is a sixth parallel set. While you might not think it, collecting all three Header cards has proven to be challenging. For a lot of owners, these cards fall into the “who cares” category, which is why they rarely find their way to market. Bottom line, this is the kind of stuff that often gets shuffled under the rug. It’s this reason that causes these cards to be mysteriously rare and interesting. While little information is known about insertion ratios and print runs of these Header cards, the Emerald is particularly difficult to find. While these are more cherry on the top than anything else, they do make for a nice round out of the run for those lucky enough to get this far.
To see what’s currently on eBay from 1998 Pinnacle Epix, click here.
1998 Pinnacle Epix Printing Plates:
1998 was the first year printing plates were inserted into packs and Pinnacle was the first company to do so. Four printing plates – Black, Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow – exist for each the fronts and backs of all cards in all of the 24-card checklists in 1998 Pinnacle Epix. As with any printing plates, they are all 1/1s.
2 (front and back) x (5 checklists x 24 cards) = 240 total plates. Each plate comes in four colors – CMYK – for a total of 960 plates. If plates were also made available for the header cards, add another 24 plates for a possible total of 984 plates.
Here are some images from other collectors.
Great write up! Glad I stumbled on your blog. My favorite insert set of the 90’s. I’ve been working on a master set (absent of the recently discovered bk examples) for probably 15 years now. 95% of the way there. So close! Great site!
Thanks, John. I’m glad you like it.
Great article! Any information about Epic Press Plates, how many exist and were released in packs? I’ve seen mention of them before, but not sure how far they stretch — do 8 (4 colors, front and back) exist for each district card?
Hi, Dan. This is a great question and thanks for asking it. In 1998, Pinnacle packed-out printing plates for a variety, if not all, their cards from that year. What’s known is that plates exist for the Epix set – CMYK each for front and back – for a total of eight plates per Epix card.
Hey Patrick,
Thanks for the great article explaining 1998 Pinnacle Epix and all its variations. I’m an avid collector and this has baffled me for a while. I’m also a CSUN grad and live locally. Drop me a line so we can talk or trade cards a bit.
Hi, Vaughan.
Thanks for the comment. I’m glad you found this article helpful. Great to hear you’re a CSUN grad; I love that school.
Hi Patrick – a very helpful resource! It may be that you have some of the numbering off for the Epix Season cards. It looks to me like the Mo Vaughn card is E17 and Clemens is E16 from examples I’ve seen online, but on this page you have them the other way around. Can you help?
Hi, Chris.
Good catch! Upon review, I had it right on the All-Star checklist but wrong on the others. They are now correct.
Great article. This is by far my favorite set for 1998. Tuff to find Mint or even GM due to condition sensitivity of the fronts and especially the back edges. I have a complete Jeter set with headers and Play (bankruptcy) versions – which are all amazing. I will comment that for so many plates said produced, I hardly ever see them on the secondary market – which makes me wonder. I don’t believe these all made it into packs and much may have been tossed during bankruptcy. I believe what maybe on the secondary market may be from what was purchased during bankruptcy liquidation, which may not have been much since not much is moving on places like eBay. Not seeing printing plates of less popular players are an indication of non-existent stuff. I have eyed Jeter stuff for decades on eBay and I just don’t see any. Any printing plate that surfaces from that period also has authenticity questions based on fake productions known. I caution collectors on purchasing printing plates from the 90s without authentication or company placed stickers that authenticate the plate. Also a note for the bankruptcy releases – I read that items were purchased in lots and not all lots where in same quantity. Some players like Griffey where said to have around 10 copies of each while Jeter had around 5 copies of each. I have not heard of numbers of others to report. But based on the two referenced, I would speculate that all players where produced in extreme low numbers before liquidation and only a handful of each player currently exist (probably less than 10 of each). On production notes of all others, emerald versions are tuff at 10% of the overall production – but just as tuff are the purple at 20% of the overall production. With Emerald moment at said 30 produced, I would bet the Purple moment may only have 60 produced, even though nothing is concrete – but with such a lack of purple on the secondary market, I can speculate that the production numbers are accurate at 20% of overall production and they are tuff (super undervalued). These are my takeaways for the Epix cards in 98. Great chat
Hi, Chris.
I really appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts on this issue. Thank you.