2014 Topps High Tek Baseball Cards
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$225.95 |  |
Product Details
The 1990s wasn't a decade known for its subtleties. Towing the line of fashion and design, sports cards often took a loud approach as well. One of the lasting brands that showcased this sensibility was Topps Tek, a wild line that had featured a lot of pattern variations even by today's parallel standards. Those same ideals are back with 2014 Topps High Tek Baseball.
The configurations have been tweaked but the basic ideals of bold designs, acetate card stock and patterns and parallels a plenty remain. And there's nothing subtle about it.
At its most basic, the 2014 Topps High Tek Baseball set has 100 cards. But here's where things get a little complicated, just like the original Tek. Each base card has six different pattern variations. So if you want a full master set, you're looking at 600 cards. Taking things a step further is the fact that all patterns aren't printed in equal numbers. If you're curious about base patterns and rarity, we've compiled a visual guide.
While each player has six variations, there are 12 total patterns. That's because American Leaguers have six and National League players have six that are different.
But it doesn't stop there. Each base card has eight parallels plus Printing Proofs. Most of the parallel names don't go for basic color labels either. The include: Gold Diffractor, Ice Diffractor, Disco Diffractor, Clouds Diffractor, Black and White Image Diffractor (#/15), Red Storm Diffractor (#/10), Blue Dots Diffractor (#/5) and Charcoal Galactic Diffractor (1/1). Parallels apply only to one pattern.
All cards use acetate stock for its base. Patterns are done with foil, making for some very out there designs that will likely polarize many collectors.
Perhaps the biggest change with the revamped Topps Tek is the configuration. During its original run, it had a traditional pack structure. Although autographs and memorabilia could be found in lots of products by the time it was retired, the pattern chase and a handful of other inserts were the only added chase elements.
2014 Topps High Tek Baseball goes in a different direction. Boxes have just one pack. Each has six base cards, one parallel and an autograph.
Autographs are all on-card. While no signers have been confirmed yet, it will include a mix of veterans, retired stars and rookies. Autograph parallels include Disco Diffractor, Clouds Diffractor, Black and White Image (#/15), Red Storm Diffractor (#/10), Blue Dots Diffractor (#/5), Charcoal Galactic Diffractor (1/1) and Printing Proofs (1/1).
Buyback Autographs are done on original Topps Tek cards released between 1998 and 2000.
Three basic insert sets have roots in Tek sets from the past. These include TEKnicians, TEKtonics and Low Tek Diffractors. All three also have autographed parallels.
Product Configuration: 1 pack per box, 8 cards per pack
Price Point: High-End Baseball Card
Target Audience: Player Collectors, Team Collectors, Collectors Who Loved the '90s, Autograph Collectors
2014 Topps High Tek Baseball Box Break
- 1 Autograph
- 1 Parallel
- 6 Base Cards
- 8 Total Cards
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Set Checklist
2014 Topps High Tek Baseball Set Checklist
Base Set Checklist
HT-AG Alex Guerrero - Los Angeles Dodgers RC
HT-AGO Adrian Gonzalez - Los Angeles Dodgers
HT-AH Andrew Heaney - Miami Marlins RC
HT-AJ Adam Jones - Baltimore Orioles
HT-AP Albert Pujols - Los Angeles Angels
HT-AS Andrelton Simmons - Atlanta Braves
HT-BH Bryce Harper - Washington Nationals
HT-BJ Bo Jackson - Kansas City Royals
HT-BPO Buster Posey - San Francisco Giants
HT-CB Craig Biggio - Houston Astros
HT-CF Carlton Fisk - Boston Red Sox
HT-CG Carlos Gonzalez - Colorado Rockies
HT-CJ Chipper Jones - Atlanta Braves
HT-CK Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers
HT-CO Chris Owings - Arizona Diamondbacks RC
HT-CR Cal Ripken Jr. - Baltimore Orioles
HT-CS Chris Sale - Chicago White Sox
HT-CY Christian Yelich - Miami Marlins
HT-DE Dennis Eckersley - Oakland Athletics
HT-DPE Dustin Pedroia - Boston Red Sox
HT-DW David Wright - New York Mets
HT-EB Ernie Banks - Chicago Cubs
HT-EBU Eddie Butler - Colorado Rockies RC
HT-EL Evan Longoria - Tampa Bay Rays
HT-EM Edgar Martinez - Seattle Mariners
HT-FF Freddie Freeman - Atlanta Braves
HT-FM Fred McGriff - Tampa Bay Devil Rays
HT-FT Frank Thomas - Chicago White Sox
HT-FV Fernando Valenzuela - Los Angeles Dodgers
HT-GM Greg Maddux - Atlanta Braves
HT-GP Gregory Polanco - Pittsburgh Pirates RC
HT-GS George Springer - Houston Astros RC
HT-GST Giancarlo Stanton - Miami Marlins
HT-HA Hank Aaron - Atlanta Braves
HT-HR Hanley Ramirez - Los Angeles Dodgers
HT-IR Ivan Rodriguez - Texas Rangers
HT-JA Jose Abreu - Chicago White Sox RC
HT-JB Jeff Bagwell - Houston Astros
HT-JC Jose Canseco - Oakland Athletics
HT-JCU Johnny Cueto - Cincinnati Reds
HT-JF Jose Fernandez - Miami Marlins
HT-JG Juan Gonzalez - Texas Rangers
HT-JH Jason Heyward - Atlanta Braves
HT-JM Joe Mauer - Minnesota Twins
HT-JS Jean Segura - Milwaukee Brewers
HT-JSI Jon Singleton - Houston Astros RC
HT-JT Julio Teheran - Atlanta Braves
HT-JV Joey Votto - Cincinnati Reds
HT-KG Ken Griffey Jr. - Seattle Mariners
HT-MIS Mike Schmidt - Philadelphia Phillies
HT-MM Mike Mussina - Baltimore Orioles
HT-MMC Mark McGwire - St. Louis Cardinals
HT-MN Mike Napoli - Boston Red Sox
HT-MP Mike Piazza - New York Mets
HT-MR Mariano Rivera - New York Yankees
HT-MS Marcus Stroman - Toronto Blue Jays RC
HT-MSC Max Scherzer - Detroit Tigers
HT-MT Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
HT-MTA Masahiro Tanaka - New York Yankees RC
HT-MW Michael Wacha - St. Louis Cardinals
HT-NC Nick Castellanos - Detroit Tigers RC
HT-NG Nomar Garciaparra - Boston Red Sox
HT-NR Nolan Ryan - Texas Rangers
HT-OH Orlando Hernandez - New York Yankees
HT-OT Oscar Taveras - St. Louis Cardinals RC
HT-OV Omar Vizquel - Cleveland Indians
HT-PF Prince Fielder - Texas Rangers
HT-PG Paul Goldschmidt - Arizona Diamondbacks
HT-PM Pedro Martinez - Boston Red Sox
HT-PO Paul O'Neill - New York Yankees
HT-RA Roberto Alomar - Toronto Blue Jays
HT-RB Ryan Braun - Milwaukee Brewers
HT-RC Robinson Cano - Seattle Mariners
HT-RCL Roger Clemens - New York Yankees
HT-RE Roenis Elias - Seattle Mariners RC
HT-RH Rickey Henderson - Oakland Athletics
HT-RJ Randy Johnson - Arizona Diamondbacks
HT-RJA Reggie Jackson - New York Yankees
HT-RP Rafael Palmeiro - Baltimore Orioles
HT-RY Robin Yount - Milwaukee Brewers
HT-SG Sonny Gray - Oakland Athletics
HT-SK Sandy Koufax - Los Angeles Dodgers
HT-SM Shelby Miller - St. Louis Cardinals
HT-TG Tom Glavine - Atlanta Braves
HT-TGW Tony Gwynn - San Diego Padres
HT-TP Terry Pendleton - Atlanta Braves
HT-TT Troy Tulowitzki - Colorado Rockies
HT-TW Taijuan Walker - Seattle Mariners RC
HT-VG Vladimir Guerrero - Montreal Expos
HT-WB Wade Boggs - New York Yankees
HT-WM Wil Myers - Tampa Bay Rays
HT-WMA Willie Mays - San Francisco Giants
HT-YC Yoenis Cespedes - Oakland Athletics
HT-YD Yu Darvish - Texas Rangers
HT-YM Yadier Molina - St. Louis Cardinals
HT-YP Yasiel Puig - Los Angeles Dodgers
HT-YS Yangervis Solarte - New York Yankees RC
HT-YV Yordano Ventura - Kansas City Royals RC
Autographs Set Checklist
HT-AGA Andres Galarraga - Colorado Rockies
HT-AGO Adrian Gonzalez - Los Angeles Dodgers
HT-AH Andrew Heaney - Miami Marlins
HT-AP Albert Pujols - Los Angeles Angels
HT-BH Bryce Harper - Washington Nationals
HT-BJ Bo Jackson - Kansas City Royals
HT-BP Brandon Phillips - Cincinnati Reds
HT-CB Craig Biggio - Houston Astros
HT-CF Carlton Fisk - Boston Red Sox
HT-CG Carlos Gonzalez - Colorado Rockies
HT-CJ Chipper Jones - Atlanta Braves
HT-CK Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers
HT-CO Chris Owings - Arizona Diamondbacks
HT-CR Cal Ripken Jr. - Baltimore Orioles
HT-CS Chris Sale - Chicago White Sox
HT-CY Christian Yelich - Miami Marlins
HT-DE Dennis Eckersley - Oakland Athletics
HT-DW David Wright - New York Mets
HT-EBU Eddie Butler - Colorado Rockies
HT-EL Evan Longoria - Tampa Bay Rays
HT-EM Edgar Martinez - Seattle Mariners
HT-FF Freddie Freeman - Atlanta Braves
HT-FM Fred McGriff - Tampa Bay Devil Rays
HT-FT Frank Thomas - Chicago White Sox
HT-FV Fernando Valenzuela - Los Angeles Dodgers
HT-GP Gregory Polanco - Pittsburgh Pirates
HT-GS George Springer - Houston Astros
HT-GST Giancarlo Stanton - Miami Marlins
HT-HA Hank Aaron - Atlanta Braves
HT-HR Hanley Ramirez - Los Angeles Dodgers
HT-IR Ivan Rodriguez - Texas Rangers
HT-JA Jose Abreu - Chicago White Sox
HT-JC Jose Canseco - Oakland Athletics
HT-JF Jose Fernandez - Miami Marlins
HT-JG Juan Gonzalez - Texas Rangers
HT-JH Jason Heyward - Atlanta Braves
HT-JT Julio Teheran - Atlanta Braves
HT-JV Joey Votto - Cincinnati Reds
HT-KG Ken Griffey Jr. - Seattle Mariners
HT-MB Madison Bumgarner - San Francisco Giants
HT-MC Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers
HT-MIS Mike Schmidt - Philadelphia Phillies
HT-MN Mike Napoli - Boston Red Sox
HT-MP Mike Piazza - New York Mets
HT-MR Mariano Rivera - New York Yankees
HT-MS Marcus Stroman - Toronto Blue Jays
HT-MSC Max Scherzer - Detroit Tigers
HT-MT Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
HT-MW Michael Wacha - St. Louis Cardinals
HT-NC Nick Castellanos - Detroit Tigers
HT-NG Nomar Garciaparra - Boston Red Sox
HT-NR Nolan Ryan - Texas Rangers
HT-OH Orlando Hernandez - New York Yankees
HT-OT Oscar Taveras - St. Louis Cardinals
HT-OV Omar Vizquel - Cleveland Indians
HT-PG Paul Goldschmidt - Arizona Diamondbacks
HT-PO Paul O'Neill - New York Yankees
HT-RA Roberto Alomar - Toronto Blue Jays
HT-RB Ryan Braun - Milwaukee Brewers
HT-RC Robinson Cano - Seattle Mariners
HT-RCL Roger Clemens - New York Yankees
HT-RE Roenis Elias - Seattle Mariners
HT-RG Ron Gant - St. Louis Cardinals
HT-RH Rickey Henderson - Oakland Athletics
HT-RJ Randy Johnson - Arizona Diamondbacks
HT-RJA Reggie Jackson - New York Yankees
HT-RP Rafael Palmeiro - Baltimore Orioles
HT-RY Robin Yount - Milwaukee Brewers
HT-SG Sonny Gray - Oakland Athletics
HT-SK Sandy Koufax - Los Angeles Dodgers
HT-SM Shelby Miller - St. Louis Cardinals
HT-TG Tom Glavine - Atlanta Braves
HT-TP Terry Pendleton - Atlanta Braves
HT-TT Troy Tulowitzki - Colorado Rockies
HT-TW Taijuan Walker - Seattle Mariners
HT-VG Vladimir Guerrero - Montreal Expos
HT-WB Wade Boggs - New York Yankees
HT-WM Wil Myers - Tampa Bay Rays
HT-WMA Willie Mays - San Francisco Giants
HT-YC Yoenis Cespedes - Oakland Athletics
HT-YD Yu Darvish - Texas Rangers
HT-YP Yasiel Puig - Los Angeles Dodgers
HT-YS Yangervis Solarte - New York Yankees
HT-YV Yordano Ventura - Kansas City Royals
HT-ZW Zack Wheeler - New York Mets
TEKnicians Diffractor Set Checklist
99T-AM Andrew McCutchen - Pittsburgh Pirates
99T-BM Brian McCann - New York Yankees
99T-CS Chris Sale - Chicago White Sox
99T-FT Frank Thomas - Chicago White Sox
99T-GC Gerrit Cole - Pittsburgh Pirates
99T-GM Greg Maddux - Atlanta Braves
99T-GS Giancarlo Stanton - Miami Marlins
99T-HJR Hyun-Jin Ryu - Los Angeles Dodgers
99T-HR Hanley Ramirez - Los Angeles Dodgers
99T-JH Josh Hamilton - Los Angeles Angels
99T-KG Ken Griffey Jr. - Seattle Mariners
99T-MC Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers
99T-MS Max Scherzer - Detroit Tigers
99T-MT Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
99T-PG Paul Goldschmidt - Arizona Diamondbacks
99T-PO Paul O'Neill - New York Yankees
99T-RC Roger Clemens - New York Yankees
99T-RH Rickey Henderson - Oakland Athletics
99T-RJ Randy Johnson - Arizona Diamondbacks
99T-RP Rafael Palmeiro - Balitmore Orioles
99T-TG Tom Glavine - Atlanta Braves
99T-XB Xander Bogaerts - Boston Red Sox
99T-YP Yasiel Puig - Los Angeles Dodgers
TEKnicians Diffractor Autographs Set Checklist
99T-GS Giancarlo Stanton - Miami Marlins
99T-HR Hanley Ramirez - Los Angeles Dodgers
99T-MC Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers
99T-MM Mark McGwire - St. Louis Cardinals
99T-MS Max Scherzer - Detroit Tigers
99T-MT Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
99T-RJ Randy Johnson - Arizona Diamondbacks
99T-RP Rafael Palmeiro - Balitmore Orioles
99T-TG Tom Glavine - Atlanta Braves
TEKtonics Diffractor Set Checklist
TD-AM Andrew McCutchen - Pittsburgh Pirates
TD-BH Bryce Harper - Washington Nationals
TD-CJ Chipper Jones - Atlanta Braves
TD-CR Cal Ripken Jr. - Baltimore Orioles
TD-DE Dennis Eckersley - Oakland Athletics
TD-DJ Derek Jeter - New York Yankees
TD-DW David Wright - New York Mets
TD-JA Jose Abreu - Chicago White Sox
TD-MP Mike Piazza - New York Mets
TD-NG Nomar Garciaparra - Boston Red Sox
TD-NR Nolan Ryan - Texas Rangers
TD-PF Prince Fielder - Texas Rangers
TD-PG Paul Goldschmidt - Arizona Diamondbacks
TD-PM Pedro Martinez - Boston Red Sox
TD-RC Robinson Cano - Seattle Mariners
TD-VG Vladimir Guerrero - Montreal Expos
TD-WM Willie Mays - San Francisco Giants
TD-YD Yu Darvish - Texas Rangers
TEKtonics Diffractor Autographs Set Checklist
TD-CJ Chipper Jones - Atlanta Braves
TD-CR Cal Ripken Jr. - Baltimore Orioles
TD-DE Dennis Eckersley - Oakland Athletics
TD-DW David Wright - New York Mets
TD-JA Jose Abreu - Chicago White Sox
TD-PG Paul Goldschmidt - Arizona Diamondbacks
TD-PM Pedro Martinez - Boston Red Sox
TD-RC Robinson Cano - Seattle Mariners
Low Tek Diffractor Set Checklist
LT-BJ Bo Jackson - Kansas City Royals
LT-CB Craig Biggio - Houston Astros
LT-CF Carlton Fisk - Boston Red Sox
LT-CG Carlos Gonzalez - Colorado Rockies
LT-DJ Derek Jeter - New York Yankees
LT-DO David Ortiz - Boston Red Sox
LT-DP Dustin Pedroia - Boston Red Sox
LT-EB Ernie Banks - Chicago Cubs
LT-FF Freddie Freeman - Atlanta Braves
LT-FH Felix Hernandez - Seattle Mariners
LT-GS Giancarlo Stanton - Miami Marlins
LT-HA Hank Aaron - Atlanta Braves
LT-IR Ivan Rodriguez - Texas Rangers
LT-JA Jose Abreu - Chicago White Sox
LT-JB Johnny Bench - Cincinnati Reds
LT-JE Jacoby Ellsbury - New York Yankees
LT-JF Jose Fernandez - Miami Marlins
LT-JS John Smoltz - Atlanta Braves
LT-JU Justin Upton - Atlanta Braves
LT-JV Justin Verlander - Detroit Tigers
LT-KG Ken Griffey Jr. - Seattle Mariners
LT-MM Mike Mussina - Baltimore Orioles
LT-MT Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
LT-RA Roberto Alomar - Cleveland Indians
LT-RB Ryan Braun - Milwaukee Brewers
LT-SG Sonny Gray - Oakland Athletics
LT-SK Sandy Koufax - Los Angeles Dodgers
LT-SS Stephen Strasburg - Washington Nationals
LT-TG Tony Gwynn - San Diego Padres
LT-TT Troy Tulowitzki - Colorado Rockies
LT-WB Wade Boggs - New York Yankees
LT-YD Yu Darvish - Texas Rangers
LT-YP Yasiel Puig - Los Angeles Dodgers
Low Tek Diffractor Autographs Set Checklist
LT-CB Craig Biggio - Houston Astros
LT-FF Freddie Freeman - Atlanta Braves
LT-IR Ivan Rodriguez - Texas Rangers
LT-JA Jose Abreu - Chicago White Sox
LT-JF Jose Fernandez - Miami Marlins
LT-KG Ken Griffey Jr. - Seattle Mariners
LT-MT Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
LT-TT Troy Tulowitzki - Colorado Rockies
LT-YP Yasiel Puig - Los Angeles Dodgers
1998-2000 Tek Buyback Autographs Set Checklist
Frank Thomas - Chicago White Sox
Greg Maddux - Atlanta Braves
Juan Gonzalez - Texas Rangers
Ken Griffey Jr. - Seattle Mariners
Mark McGwire - St. Louis Cardinals
Mike Piazza - New York Mets
Nomar Garciaparra - Boston Red Sox
Orlando Hernandez - New York Yankees
Pedro Martinez - Boston Red Sox
Randy Johnson - Seattle Mariners
Tom Glavine - Atlanta Braves
Product Review
2014 Topps High Tek Baseball Product Review
Reviewed by Ryan Cracknell
Good: Unlike anything in today’s hobby, stronger autograph checklist than similar recent sets, it’s fun.
Bad: Not enough patterns, splitting patterns between AL and NL confusing, short prints not necessary.
The Bottom Line: 2014 Topps High Tek Baseball is a polarizing product. Some look at the wild mix of acetate and foil and cringe. Others are taken back to one of the most challenging sets of all-time. Some seem to want to love it but are taken aback by the changes. Although not perfect, I like it. This is a set that doesn’t have anything else like it. It’s unique and, therefore, stands out. This is a hobby that needs more of this sort of thing (originality and distinctness, not brands like Tek).
Card Design: 4.2/5.0
Design is often a subjective thing. I’ve got a soft spot for acetate trading cards. It should come as little surprise then that I dig Tek both past and present. 2014 Topps High Tek baseball is one of the wildest looking releases in a long time. And while that won’t be for everyone, it is for me.
And as wild as the mix of acetate and foil is, it’s also very intricate. Each of the base patterns has a lot going on and that takes details. For the most part, the patterns are all distinct from one another giving the product a little more personality.
Autographs keep the designs of the main set and its various components. This takes away from the excitement, but they still look nice. The fact that all are signed on-card are a huge plus.
Checklist: 4.0/5.0
The 100-card base set keeps the player selection tight, especially with a large percentage of retired stars. While not all are home runs, there’s a nice mix as far as teams and generations go.
This carries over well to the autographs. Yes, there are some secondary market duds like Andrew Heaney and Eddie Butler, overall, it’s stronger than a lot of this year’s high-end products that come with loftier price tags.
The one thing I could really do without is the tiered pattern distribution. High Tek is confusing to begin with. Making some patterns significantly rarer than the base versions just makes it that much trickier, especially when they’re not announced. It would have also been helpful and less confusing if the patterns were labeled as part of the numbering like they were in early Tek sets.
Value: 3.7/5.0
Initially, I was skeptical about the small box configuration. When it came out originally, Tek was about the player chase. That was hard enough that tough inserts and autographs weren’t required. By switching to a single pack for $50+, High Tek is all of a sudden a lot riskier of a proposition. But with the strength of the checklist and autographs, it’s a lot better than a lot of other products in recent months.
The Fun Factor: 4.0/5.0
What stuck with me the most with 2014 Topps High Tek was the fact that is was a fun break. The configuration isn’t my favorite and there are definitely some changes that I think could make it stronger, but the distinctness trumps that.
While I’m not usually a fan of variations, Tek is an exception. They serve a purpose beyond a basic chase. The pattern variations are the reason why Tek exists. And with that, I was left wanting more. Outside of parallels, which only exist for the main pattern, players have “just” six patterns. This is a far cry from the 90 cards per player in 1998. I wouldn’t want 90 cards today, especially with the small box configuration, but six is not enough either. I’d rather see more patterns and see the progressively rarer tiers scrapped.
I think the brand would benefit from a second type of box that focuses on the pack experience rather than the autographs. Include anywhere from a dozen to 24 packs. The guaranteed-autograph single-pack box could stay for those interested in dabbling more than chasing, but this is the type of product that a lot of player collectors would love as a project, at least that what history shows for the brand.
High Tek isn’t going to be for everyone. It’s more confusing than it needs to be, but once I figured out what was going on (I think), I was able to look back and enjoy it for what it is.
Please note the box used for this review was provided by Topps.
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More Info
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Mike M
Haha, I have to admit, I gotta little chuckle out of the last review by Mike Smith, though I disagree with him. (Not about the 10 year redemption. That’s obviously true.) But still funny the same. Thanks, guy! :D