The 1998 Metal Universe Baseball Cards were released during the height of the collector card craze of the late 90s. Produced by Impel Trading Cards and featuring holograms on every card, the Metal Universe set stood out among a sea of traditional cardboard baseball cards released that year. Unlike most sets of the time that used the standard five card pack format, the Metal Universe cards were released in boxes containing 36 unwrapped individual metal cards. While not a mainstream licensed MLB set due to production constraints, the cards did feature realistic depictions of stars from all 30 major league teams at the time. With their novel metallic construction and embedded holograms, the 1998 Metal Universe cards captured the imagination of young collectors and created a phenomenon unto themselves.
Two decades later, the unique 1998 Metal Universe set remains highly sought after by collectors both for its innovative card design as well as the stars it features from baseball’s late 90s era. While production numbers for the original series are unknown, condition and rarity heavily influence the current values individual cards command on the secondary market. Common rookie and short-print cards in near mint to mint condition have sold for $20-50 in recent years, with the most desirable star rookies and serially numbered parallels reaching into the hundreds of dollars. The true high-dollar cards, however, are the incredibly rare autograph, serial number, and parallel hologram variations that have surfaced far less frequently over the years.
Some of the 1998 Metal Universe cards that have proven to be the most valuable include rare autographed rookie cards of pitching phenoms Kerry Wood and Josh Beckett. An autographed Wood rookie in mint condition fetched over $750 at auction in 2021, while a Beckett autographed rookie recently sold for just under $600. Serial numbered parallels featuring stars like Chipper Jones, Derek Jeter, and Alex Rodriguez in pristine condition have sold in the $250-400 range as well. The true crown jewels of the set though are the legendary 1/1 parallel holograms that were inserted on a level even rarer than autographs.
Only a tiny number of these unprecedented 1/1 parallel holograms are believed to exist, making them incredibly difficult to value with any true accuracy or comps. A 1997 Metal Universe Ivan Rodriguez 1/1 parallel hologram rookie sold for a staggering $4,200 in 2015. Meanwhile, legendary Oakland A’s slugger Jason Giambi’s 1998 Metal Universe 1/1 parallel hologram rookie realized nearly $6,000 at auction in 2017 after an intense bidding war. The cards essentially become unique works of art at that extreme rarity level, with value largely determined by a collector’s willingness to pay.
Beyond the high-dollar singular rookie cards, notable multi-player cards featuring full teams or All-Star lineups have also surged in recent years. These include league-specific rookie stars cards which group together some of the top talents from that season. One 1998 Metal Universe American League Rookie Stars card comprising Nomar Garciaparra, Derek Jeter, and Troy Glaus sold for $890 in near mint condition in 2020. Meanwhile, a National League Rookie Stars card headlined by Kerry Wood, Gary Sheffield, and Sammy Sosa fetched $700 in an online auction. Team cards for beloved franchises like the Yankees and Red Sox consistently pull $150-300 as well depending on centering and surfaces.
Of course, the vast majority of common 1998 Metal Universe singles remain very obtainable for collectors on a budget. veteran stars in common, non-serial numbered form can often be had for under $20. Risers like David Wells, Mark McGwire, and Bobby Higginson tend to stay around the $15-25 mark. Bankable future Hall of Famers such as Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, and Craig Biggio range from $25-50. And career backups/role players fill out value trees starting at $10-15 even in top-rated condition. So while the true “whales” remain elusive, building a representative 1998 Metal Universe team or player collection on a more modest budget remains very feasible as well.
While non-traditional card constructions like the 1998 Metal Universe series captured imaginations in the late 90s, it’s their unique designs, embedded holograms, and depictions of stars from a hugely influential era of baseball that give them such enduring nostalgia and collector value today. Condition, star power, and rarity ultimately dictate pricing more than any other set element. But whether chasing key stars, teams, or lower-rung veterans, affordable options still exist for assembling a piece of this innovative card history over two decades later. And as the industry continues to embrace retro trends, 1998 Metal Universe values seem poised to remain steadfast or potentially ascend even higher with time.
