Great picture! I try to get great captures of my cards and could never get my 96 Refractor to look that good. Well done.

96 has a special place in the hobby as the first Topps Chrome Refractor. We had seen Finest and Bowman's Best get the Refractor treatment, but had never seen the flagship design get that shine.

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Day 46: 1996 Topps Chrome Refractor Star Power. The second base card from the set, in my opinion the Topps AS subset has always been a fantastic way to highlight the games best players. And, for some reason, these cards are always cheaper than the normal design.

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Day 47: 1996 Stadium Club Midsummer Matchups Larkin / Ripken. Dufex type foil, rare attempt by Topps to copy a competitors idea [emoji6]

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I remember when SPx came out, and at one card per pack, it was such a gamble I only opened a few packs. But they were nice cards back then. I miss Upper Deck's use of holograms. This is the 1996 SPx Gold parallel. The golds were 1:7 packs. Which sounds like an easy pull, but with one card per pack, it was tough to find your player.

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Thanks for posting, this wasn't on my list. Great card.

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Day 48: 1996 Topps Gallery Expressionists. 1:20 packs. This not so rare card isn't spectacular, but it helped usher in a set that would create some fabulous cards over the next several years, including Gallery of Heroes. I WEEP that Larkin was not included in that insert set.

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Day 49: 1997 Donruss Preferred Gold Cut to the Chase. I love these die cuts, and the Fractal Matrix Axis cards. They are fantastic, with awesome foil graphics. Other releases were numbered and some are very hard to find.
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Love it! I wish Larkin had a precious metals in that set.

I'm excited to be in 1997. Some of my favorites in that year. I'll post a few after you get a couple out of the way.

I'll go ahead and start with a popular set for 1997. This was the genesis of what would become a multi-sport monster. 1997 EX 2000 was the first year of the famed Essential Credentials parallels. That year, instead of the numbering system used for most releases from 1998 on, with the Future and Now versions, the 1997 set had a Credentials parallel numbered to 299 along with the Essential Credentials parallel numbered to 99 (which was tiny for the time). Even the base cards in this set are amazing.

Base:

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Credentials /299:

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Essential Credentials /99:

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Here's a backlit view of the Essential Credentials to show the translucent sky in the background:

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Excellent post! This is a some day I'll buy it card. Someday, after I've shown enough restraint and I haven't bought anything for a year or longer, I'll splurge and be able to weather the wrath of my wife! hahahaha

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I recently posted my rainbow from 1996 Select Certified. It was such a groundbreaking set at the time that collectors were clamoring for the rare parallels like never before. By 1997, Pinnacle was struggling financially and looking for ways to make money. They produced the Certified set that year as Pinnacle Certified, rather than Select Certified. The 1996 set was such a hit, particularly the mirror parallels, that Pinnacle decided to do a 2nd printing before release. Then after release the demand was so high, as collectors assumed the print runs of the mirrors was the same as 1996, Pinnacle apparently decided to do 3 additional printings. Overall, it is believed that there were a total of 5 printings of the product. So while it's probable the original print run for Mirror Golds was 30, as in 1996, by the time the 5 printings were done, people quickly realized they weren't as rare.

Unfortunately, even though they are still relatively rare (maybe 150 or so), because they are more common than originally believed, they get overlooked and undervalued to this day.

I still find them to be nice cards. They switched from a mirror foil to a chrome refractor finish instead. Here are the 3 mirrors (there are believed to be Mirror Black 1/1s, but they aren't confirmed for all cards and some believe they were never inserted in packs but got out during Pinnacle's bankruptcy).

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Day 50! 1997 Flair Hot Gloves. Amazing set that was released multiple years, much like Gallery of Heroes, Certified Mirror, and a few others. I love this card and I'm so thankful that Larkin was included in such a great set design at the height of new die cut technology.

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Love the 97 Hot Gloves! It is by far my favorite year of Hot Gloves. One thing some people don't know is that the ink on the flames is heat sensitive and if you add heat, it will turn from red to orange to white. Here's mine:

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Day 51: 1997 Leaf Fractal Matrix X Axis Gold. PR 400. Another of my favorite die cuts. This insert set is spread across multiple sets in 1997 and 1998. It can be confusing. I really want 1998 [emoji184] Axis. Here is a website to help you learn more about 1997.
https://baseballcardpedia.com/index.php/1997_Leaf

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What a coincidence! I was planning on sharing this one today.

Here is the 1998 Diamond Axis. I have the regular Diamond Axis /50 as well as the Executive Proof xx/50.

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Day 52: Topps Stadium Club Patent Leather. Like the Hot Gloves, beautiful die cut card at the height of this gimmick.
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There were no PMGs in baseball in 1997. The Essential Credentials set was just catching its stride. Donruss Crusades wouldn't come out for another year. As mentioned in a previous post, the Mirror Golds were a shell of themselves in 1997.

In my opinion, this leaves one card to be king of the non-1/1 cards for 1997: Topps Finest Gold Embossed Refractors!

These weren't numbered in baseball, but it is estimated that there are anywhere from 35 to 70 of them (based on pop reports and what I've seen of them, I'd guess it's on the lower end of that range).

Being die-cut, getting this in a PSA 10 seems significant.

Pictures and videos don't do these justice. They are stunning in-hand.

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Great contribution and beautiful card! thanks for the addition.

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Day 53: 1997 Donruss Signature Series Millennium Marks. Autos had limited inclusion before. 1996 Leaf Signature Series had introduced collectors to a new world of collecting: one auto per pack. In 1997, Donruss expanded on Leaf's previous offering. A whole series of cards that included rookies, journeymen, and stars. It was a major success, and this set, and 1996 Leaf SS, are now a 90s set collector's dream.

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Yes! This was as far as I know, Larkin's first ever pack-pulled auto.

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Since I posted the 97 Gold Embossed Refractor yesterday, we should not overlook the Silver Embossed Refractor. It's not up to the level of the Gold, but it's still a gorgeous card.

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Day 54: Pinnacle Mint w/coin. These are not the first coins I remember buying as a boy. Around 1994, during the strike, the dollar store carried Conlons, Topps Big, and Topps Coins. When these came out they were of slightly better quality, but still just as awkward as ever.

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1997 contains another card that has quickly vaulted up my list of best Larkin cards.

1997 Donruss Limited was one of the most bizarrely structured base sets ever. The set is divided into four unique subsets: Counterparts, Double Team, Star Factor, and Unlimited. The Counterparts subset features 100 double-sided cards of two star players from different teams who happen to play the same position. The Double Team subset displays two star teammates back-to-back on 40 double-sided cards. The Star Factor subset highlights 40 superstars with a different photo of the same player on each side of the card plus unique player statistics. The Unlimited subset features 20 cards matching up of a veteran and a rookie. Barry Larkin has a card in all 4 subsets.

According to a press release from Donruss, only 1100 copies of each Star Factor card was produced -- although they are not serial-numbered. And while the exact pack insertion ratios were never issued; judging from dealers who broke cases of '97 Donruss Limited the odds appear to be as follows: Double Team 1:6, Star Factor 1:24, and Unlimited 1:36. As there are 40 Star Factors in the set and only 20 Unlimiteds, those odds can be deceiving. The Star Factors are actually the rarest of the subsets.

In addition to the base cards of these 4 subsets, each was produced in a parallel called "Limited Exposure." They were printed using what Donruss called "Holographic Poly-Chromium Technology" on both sides, Limited Exposure is, for all intents and purposes, the Donruss version of Finest Refractors. The backs of each card have the words "Limited Exposure" printed beneath the card number.

Like the base set, the Counterparts Limited Exposures are the easiest to find, and Unlimited the toughest (again, with fewer cards in the subset, I believe there are actually fewer Star Factors per player than Unlimiteds, despite their being easier pulls overall). According to Donruss, only 40 copies of each Star Factor Limited Exposure exist -- although they are not serial-numbered.

Until recently, I had been on the lookout for the Larkin Star Factor Limited Exposure for a very long time. I had heard that the cards are beautiful and terribly underappreciated. But the Larkin card is a ghost. As far as I can tell, there is only one copy graded by any of the grading companies. And I have never seen a raw copy. So I tend to believe the claims of only 40 copies of each card being made. Naturally, when I saw that lone graded copy come up for sale I had to have it.

Once I got it in hand, I realized I had something special. Not only are they exceedingly rare, but the single shiniest card I have ever seen. Some cards are hard to photograph to capture their in-hand beauty. It takes tinkerinig with the lighting to coax out the shine. That does not apply to these Star Factors. They pose for the camera like a Hollywood starlet on the red carpet. And even then, pictures can't do these cards justice. They are absolutely stunning.

Front:

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Back:

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While I'm at it, I might as well show the Counterparts and Double Team cards as well. I don't have the Unlimited, but will pick it up when I see one.

Counterparts (with Rey Ordonez):

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Double Team (with Deion Sanders):

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The Unlimited has Neifi Perez on the other side.

Day 55: 1997 Pinnacle Museum Collection Artist Proof. I came to dufex cards late, but I really like them. Wait until you see 1998! I was not as big Pinnacle purchaser in my youth, but as an adult I buy a ton of their cards.

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This Star Factor is killer. I've never seen it.

Thanks! Supposedly 40 exist, but this is the only one I've ever seen hit the market and the only one graded by any of the big 4 graders. It's worth a fraction of my 96 Mirror Gold, yet I take it out and stare at it far more often. It's mesmerizing.

I'm not sure I've ever seen the Double Team either. That's another good looking card. Thanks for sharing these.

I have seen the Larkin / Ordonez, I think it's still on ebay.

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Yeah, the Larkin/Ordonez are everywhere. Not only are they the most common of the 4, but supposedly a ton of the Counterparts Limited Exposures hit the market after the bankruptcy. As far as I know, the Star Factors weren't affected by backdooring, and the pop reports tend to bear that out.

1997 was also an important year in the hobby because of the advent of the 1/1. I sure wish I had one to share, but the 1997 Flair Showcase set featured an interesting structure that included the first ever true 1/1 parallel: the Masterpiece.

The set consisted of 180 players on three different levels (called Rows), with each row featuring a unique front design. In order of rarity, from most common to most rare, there was Row 2, which was titled "Style," Row 1, which was titled "Grace," and Row 0, which was titled "Showcase."

Additionally, each row was sub-divided into three 60-card sub-sections featuring a different cardback icon. The "Showtime" cards featured a baseball icon on the back of the card, the "Showstopper" cards featured a batter icon on the back, and the "Showpiece" cards had a glove icon. Each player had one card in each of the three rows, meaning each player had 3 base cards total, the Showtime being the most common, and the Showpiece being the most rare.

Each base card had a Legacy Collection parallel numbered /100, regardless of row. So each player had 3 Legacies, one for each row. Each card also had a Masterpiece 1/1. The Masterpieces had purple foil, instead of the blue foil of the Legacies, and said "The Only 1 of 1 Masterpiece" on the back.

Here is the Row 0 Larkin:

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And here are the Row 1 and Row 2 Legacies:

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I personally think the Row 1 and 2 look the best. They are clean and crisp. However, the Row 0s are much more desired in the market.

I really don't have anything of significance to add to this "discussion" other than I do enjoy coming here regularly to see what has been newly posted.

Thanks!

Day 56: As a boy, I never bought Score packs. But I received boxes of compiled cards at Xmas from relatives and Score was always included. The parallels were always kind of cool, and now as an adult I enjoy them even more. So much simpler than present day modern.

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Lookie Lou's are always welcome! It's just a trip down memory lane.

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1997 also introduced another extremely popular parallel to the card world.

In 1995, Ultra introduced their Gold Medallion parallel to get in on the parallel craze of the likes of Topps Gold, etc... Much like Topps Gold had become, Gold Medallions were inserted 1 per pack. Gold Medallions made a return in 1996, also at one per pack.

And then 1997 rolled around. People were still chasing parallels, but had their sights on truly rare parallels. Finest began that craze in 1993 with the Refractors, and Select Certified took it to the extreme in 1996. Ultra wanted some of that action. They kept the now-classic Gold Medallions one in every pack, but introduced the Platinum Medallions at a rate of 1 in every 100 hobby packs (hobby exclusive). The printrun was announced to be "fewer than 200" for series 1, and "fewer than 150" for series 2.

Eventually, Platinum Medallions went on to be an extremely popular parallel for many years to come. They remain highly collected today.

Here is Larkin's 1997 Ultra Platinum Medallion:

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Day 57: 1998 Epix, found in Score (inserted 1:61 packs), Pinnacle and Donruss. This release was awesome. I pulled a Griffey Emerald and just looked at it for days. I had never seen one in my hobby shop. But it's also confusing to collect. It was released through multiple product over the course of the year, and then the bankruptcy prevented some cards being released. The Emerald, more than any other color, remain sought after.
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Great card! I've almost purchased that one a couple times. One of his Platinum cards has his glove on his head. Quirky, but I don't like it.

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That's the 1998 Platinum. I will definitely post it when we get to 98. ;)

I absolutely love the Epix. I am actively searching to finish the run (minus the plays, since Larkins never got released).

Here are mine:

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As you can see, I could really use that Emerald Game if you ever want to move it. (I also need the Moments)

I think I'll lag behind a few days. I want to post a couple more 1997 cards.

This isn't an expensive card at all, and not particularly rare (# /5000), but I think it's a cool card.

1997 Leaf Knothole Gang

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Another unique insert numbered /5000.

1997 Studio Hard Hats. These get two classic 90s treatments: acetate stock and die-cut.

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Day 58: 1998 Donruss Crusade Green /250. A card I always desired, I especially liked some that looked more medieval. Another set released across multiple brands throughout the year, just like Epix.

See OhioLawyer post #56 to see his fabulous write up and prototypes.

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My all-time favorite insert set! Oh, what I would give for a Red Call to Arms. Pictures simply can not do these cards justice.

Day 59: 1998 Pinnacle Museum Collection Artist Proof. This is just a beautiful card that mesmerizes me. Great dufex graphic, great action shot, no border with dufex all the way to the edge. Wow. This is everything a parallel should be.
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I agree! Love this card. Found mine in a box of commons at a mall card show. ;)

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For my post today, I'll stick with 1997, but continue the theme of dufex artist proofs. Here's the New Pinnacle blue artist proof.

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I have seen the gold one. That is a cool parallel.

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I think I'll post another card since I still have a few 1997 cards I want to post.

This is the 1997 Circa Rave /150.

These are sneaky cards as there isn't a lot that makes them stand out from the base cards other than relatively subdued foil on the front. Because of this, a lot of people may not have known what they had and many were lost to time.

I snagged this one from one of the few dealers who had 90s cards at the National in Cleveland this year.

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I'm glad you posted this. We were taking about the ebay lot. What is the 97 Circa he had that has no foil name? I asked the seller and he didn't know. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...3cf2df2127.jpg

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Day 60: 1998 Score Artist Proof. 1998 would be one of Larkin's last good years. 5.7 WAR, 145 games, .309 avg, 166 hits, 93 runs, 26 stolen bases.

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I am unaware of any versions of the 1997 Circa cards that intentionally have no foil on front. I have, however, seen many print defects over the years where some cards missed receiving their foil in the printing process. My guess is this is one of those cards. There are not likely to be very many of them out there. But only certain collectors are interested in such errors. Might carry a premium to them, but probably not any premium in the broader market.

I'll post one more 1997 card, then move on to the monster year 1998 tomorrow.

This is the 1997 SPx Gold parallel. There is a version called the Grand Finale that is limited to only 50 unnumbered copies. They look exactly like the golds, except the hologram is also gold rather than silver. They are easily overlooked and sometimes pop up for sale as golds where the owner doesn't know what they have.

I would love to have a Larkin Grand Finale, but until I find one, I'll have to settle for the gold.

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