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This is not buying or investment advice. I’m simply reporting the data I’m seeing. Please do your own research and make your own decisions. Just because cards have increased in value up to this point, it doesn’t mean they will continue to do so.
The 1998 Pinnacle Epix set is one of the most beatifully-complex baseball card insert collections ever released. With its multi-colored and multi-version structure, it offers significant opportunities for savvy collectors and flippers.
Baseball Cardpedia aptly describes the set as a "multi-tiered, multi-fractured, 96-card cross-brand insert set."
I won’t get into the details, but here is what that means, really:
1998 Pinnacle Epix is a multi-tiered, multi-fractured, 96-card, cross-brand insert set. Randomly inserted into packs of 1998 Score, 1998 Pinnacle, 1998 Zenith, 1998 Score Rookie/Traded, and 1998 Pinnacle Plus, the 24 players included in this set were featured on four different cards to commemorate (in ascending order of scarcity) their greatest Play, Game, Season, or Moment. Each card was specific to a particular brand.
Given the context, here is what else you need to know to make informed decisions when digging through dollar boxes or browsing online listings.
The Colors & Tiers
The Pinnacle Epix set is divided into three color-coded tiers: orange, purple, and emerald. Orange represents the base set, while purple and emerald indicate progressively rarer and more valuable cards.
Within each color tier, there are four variations ranked by rarity: play, game, season, and moment. Combining these, and as a simplification, the least valuable card in the set would be an orange play, while the pinnacle of the collection is the emerald moment, the rarest and most desirable combination.
Market trends highlight these distinctions clearly. For instance, an Alex Rodriguez Emerald Seasons card recently sold for $100, while an orange season variation of the same card fetched around $12.
Similarly, an Eddie Murray Emerald Moment sold for $58, whereas an orange moment variation brought only a few dollars.
This discrepancy illustrates the importance of understanding and identifying the rarities within the Epix set. Along those lines, the above image proves my point. While the Orange Eddie Murray was actually a “Moment” card, the listing didn’t include that fact. While not a huge value card, it probably should have sold closer to $10, is my guess.
Adding another layer of complexity, the Epix collection also includes separate All-Star cards. While these are generally less valuable, certain players like Ken Griffey Jr. hold strong value across all variations.
Above you can see “All-Star” above the EPIX.
Knowing all of this, I jumped on Cal Ripken Emerald Moment All-Star card I saw on COMC for a few dollars and resold it for $36 at auction.
Value Examples
Again, to maximize returns, focus on locating Emerald and Moment cards, either together on the same card, or separately. Meaning, even within the lower-tier purple category, moment cards, like the Albert Belle example that sold for nearly $100, can be quite lucrative. Additionally, emerald season cards, such as a Scott Rolen card that sold for $67, highlight that even mid-tier combinations can hold value.
The Pinnacle Epix set is a playground for collectors and flippers, with its intricate permutations offering both challenges and rewards.
Keep an eye out for emeralds and moments, and don’t underestimate the potential of All-Star cards, especially for legendary players. With the right approach, this set can provide both nostalgic enjoyment potential profit!
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