The 1998 Collector’s Choice baseball card set was one of the most highly anticipated releases of the late 90s. Coming off the record-breaking home run chase of 1998 between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, interest in baseball cards was at an all-time high. Collector’s Choice, which had established itself as a premium brand, looked to capitalize on the excitement around the sport.
The 1998 Collector’s Choice set would feature cards of all 30 MLB teams, as well as update cards to chronicle the accomplishments of stars from the previous season. Like previous Collector’s Choice releases, the 1998 version would use high quality card stock and feature vibrant photographs. This set took Collector’s Choice cards to a new level, featuring several new cutting edge designs that had never been seen before in the hobby.
Some of the innovations included in the 1998 Collector’s Choice set were the use of embossed lettering on many of the base cards, drawing attention to the players’ names. Several “Hit Factor” parallel cards were also included, which had box scores and stats encased in a metallic silver or gold foil design on the front of the card. These parallel cards immediately stood out in penny sleeves or in a person’s collection.
For the most accomplished players, Collector’s Choice produced a new “Elite Series” subset. Featuring career stats and achievements in an elegant design framed in a dark border, these Elite Series cards featured some of the biggest stars of the late 90s like McGwire, Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr., Cal Ripken Jr., and Tony Gwynn. The photo on each Elite Series card was also raised and embossed, giving the impression of a higher end relic.
Collector’s Choice found other creative ways to showcase the stars of the 1998 season in innovative parallel subsets. A “Record Breakers” subset highlighted McGwire, Sosa, and others who were chasing or setting single season records. A “Home Run Kings” parallel subset focused just on the titans of the home run, with 3D embossed golden home runs framing McGwire and Sosa on their cards. A “League Leaders” subset called out statistical categories each player led the league in for 1998.
For rookie cards, Collector’s Choice featured a premium “Rookie Fabrics” parallel subset. These rookie cards had swaths of fabric embedded right into the cardboard, featuring textures like diamond plate or pinstripes. Rookies like Eric Gagne, Ted Lilly, and Jorge Sosa had their first MLB cards framed in these innovative fabrics. The fabrics added an amazing tactile element that was truly ahead of its time.
Collector’s Choice also paid homage to the past with parallel subsets celebrating milestone seasons from previous years. A ’97 All-Stars subset highlighted great performances from 1997. An “All-Century Greats” subset featured Hall of Famers like Nolan Ryan, Johnny Bench, and Sandy Koufax. Through creative parallel subsets, Collector’s Choice was able to weave both the stars of 1998 and baseball history into one magnificent release.
Outside of the base sets and innovative parallels, Collector’s Choice outdid themselves with their autograph and memorabilia card inserts as well. In 1998, collectors were just starting to warm up to the potential of cards featuring real game used artifacts and signatures. Collector’s Choice saw the demand and responded by making autographed cards and game worn memorabilia cards significantly more prevalent than any other previous release.
Fans could find autographed cards of everyone from Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa to lesser known rookie sensations like Ben Grieve. And instead of just simple on-card autographs, Collector’s Choice took things a step further by offering autographed baseball bat and autographed baseball inserts as well. For game worn memorabilia, 1998 Collector’s Choice cards featured pieces of jerseys, caps, and even cleats from some of the era’s biggest stars. The prevalence of these inserts tremendously increased their appeal to collectors.
When 1998 Collector’s Choice was released, it caused an immediate stir in the hobby. Never before had a mainstream trading card set pushed so many design and content boundaries simultaneously. Critics declared it the most ambitious and creative baseball card release to date. Because of the massive popularity of McGwire, Sosa, and the home run chase that year, demand was through the roof as well. Even today, 1998 Collector’s Choice cards remain a highly sought after classic among vintage collectors, thanks to their innovations, premium feel, and ability to capture lightning in a bottle for one of the sport’s most memorable seasons. The 1998 Collector’s Choice set truly set the standard for what a modern baseball card release could and should be.
