Cheap Wax Wednesday Box Breaks: 1998 SkyBox Dugout Axcess Baseball

Skybox released 1998 Dugout Axcess Baseball as a kid-friendly product that has a little bit of everything. A playable card game? Two Double Header cards were found in each pack, and the backs gave instructions on how to play the game using two dice. Nickname cards? Name Plates was a subset in the 150-card base set, and featured player nicknames on a license plate like design. Trivia? Absolutely. Another subset, Trivia Cards were found about once in every four packs. Comic book icons? It has those, too. Marvel characters are paired with players on SuperHeroes insert cards. If that wasn’t enough, this set even has an insert set titled Dishwashers, featuring some of the game’s top pitchers. Yes, I said Dishwashers. The product also has redemption cards that could be redeemed for autographed baseballs and gloves.

SkyBox Dugout Axcess was scrapped after just one season.

Fun Facts are provided by Bleacher Report National MLB Columnist Joel Reuter. You can follow Joel on Twitter (@JoelReuterBR) and check out his work at Bleacher Report.

1998 Skybox Dugout Axcess Baseball Box Break

Cards per pack: 12
Packs per box: 36
Price paid: $40

Shop for 1998 SkyBox Dugout Axcess Baseball boxes on eBay.

Pack 1 highlights:

Nomar Garciaparra, Ivan Rodriguez, Albert Belle, Miguel Tejada, Tony “Tiger” Clark & Andruw Jones

Pack 1 fun fact: Andruw Jones was still just 21 years old in 1998 and in his third MLB season. He hit .271 with 31 home runs and 27 steals while winning his first Gold Glove Award in a 7.4-WAR season.

Pack 2:

Derek Jeter, Mike Piazza, Tim Salmon, Bernie Williams & John Smoltz Dishwashers (1 in every 8 packs)

Pack 3:

Juan Gonzalez, Scott Rolen, Mike Piazza, Wade Boggs, Mike Lowell, Fred McGriff, Greg Maddux x2 & Kenny Lofton Frequent Flyers (1:4 packs)

Pack 3 fun fact: The Yankees traded a young Mike Lowell to the Florida Marlins prior to the 1999 season in exchange for a package of three prospects. Pitcher Ed Yarnall, who was No. 60 on the Baseball America Top 100 prospect list that year, was the headliner.

Pack 4:

Ken Griffey, Jr., Frank Thomas, Randy Johnson, Derek Jeter, Sammy Sosa, Ken Caminiti & Chuck Knoblauch

Pack 5:

Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Matt Williams, Alex Rodriguez, Kevin Brown, Fred “Crime Dog” McGriff & Richard Hidalgo

Pack 5 fun fact: Fred McGriff and Matt Williams were both four-time All-Stars when they joined the Rays and D-backs, respectively, for their inaugural seasons in 1998.

Pack 6:

Chipper Jones, Tony Gwynn, Alex Rodriguez, Vinny Castilla, Paul Molitor & Barry Bonds

Pack 7:

Kenny Lofton, Shawn Green & Roger Clemens Dishwashers (1:8 packs)

Pack 7 fun fact: Shawn Green averaged 14 home runs and 51 RBI in his first three full MLB seasons before breaking out in 1998. In his age-25 season, he hit .278 with 35 home runs, 100 RBI and 35 steals in a 4.0-WAR season.

Pack 8:

Jeff Bagwell, Ivan Rodriguez, Mike Mussina, Shawn Green, Pedro Martinez, Mark Grace & Delino Deshields Frequent Flyer (1:4 packs)

Pack 9:

Albert Belle, Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens, Moises Alou, Derek Jeter, Cal Ripken, Jr., Jeff Bagwell & Mo “Hit Dog” Vaughn

Pack 9 fun fact: Albert Belle had a unique clause in his five-year contract with the White Sox that allowed him to exercise an opt-out if he was not the highest-paid player in baseball. He invoked that clause after the 1998 season, following his second season with the South Siders, and signed a five-year, $65 million deal with the Orioles.

Pack 10:

Barry Bonds, Mo Vaughn, Kenny Lofton, Tony Gwynn, Nomar Garciaparra, Andres Galarraga, Todd Helton, Vladimir Guerrero & Chipper Jones

Pack 11:

Derek Jeter, Mike Piazza, Paul Konerko, Mark McGwire, Gary Sheffield, Jim Edmonds & Juan “Igor” Gonzalez

Pack 11 fun fact: The Dodgers traded Paul Konerko to the Reds at the 1998 trade deadline in exchange for All-Star closer Jeff Shaw. Four months later, Konerko was traded again, this time to the White Sox in exchange for Mike Cameron.

Pack 12:

Tony Clark, Cal Ripken, Jr., Rafael Palmeiro, Johnny Damon, Edgar Renteria & Barry Bonds Frequent Flyer (1:4 packs)

Pack 13:

Tony Clark, Cal RIpken, Jr., Jim Thome, Scott Rolen, Juan Gonzalez & Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez

Pack 13 fun fact: Tony Clark hit a career-high 34 home runs in 1998, and he launched 251 long balls over the course of an underrated 15-year career.

Pack 14:

Nomar Garciaparra, Ivan Rodriguez, Alex Rodriguez, Magglio Ordonez, Barry Larkin, Fred “Crime Dog” McGriff, Chipper Jones & Andres Galarraga Superheroes (1:20 packs)

Pack 15:

Tony Clark, Cal Ripken, Jr., Barry Bonds, Vinny Castilla, Paul Molitor & Marquis Grissom Frequent Flyer (1:4 packs)

Pack 15 fun fact: The Brewers acquired Marquis Grissom from the Indians in a five-player deal prior to the 1998 season, sending Ben McDonald, Mike Fetters and Ron Villone to Cleveland.

Pack 16:

Nomar Garciaparra, Ivan Rodriguez, Frank Thomas, Roger Clemens, Shawn Green, Mark Grace & Roger “Rocket” Clemens

Pack 17:

Juan Gonzalez, Scott Rolen, Craig Biggio, Wade Boggs, Mike Mussina, Ivan Rodriguez, Jeff Bagwell, Pedro Martinez & Ken “Junior” Griffey

Pack 17 fun fact: After winning NL Rookie of the Year honors in 1997, Scott Rolen hit .290 with 45 doubles, 31 home runs and 110 RBI to finish 20th in NL MVP voting in his second season.

Pack 18:

Ken Griffey, Jr., Frank Thomas, Jeff Bagwell, Kenny Lofton, Mark McGwire, Tony Gwynn, Derek Jeter, Cal Ripken, Jr. & Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez

Pack 19:

Chipper Jones, Tony Gwynn, Paul Konerko, Johnny Damon, Nomar Garciaparra & Chuck Knoblauch Frequent Flyer (1:4 packs)

Pack 19 fun fact: Tony Gwynn hit .321 and struck out just 18 times in 505 plate appearances during the 1998 season. He was 38 years old.

Pack 20:

Kenny Lofton, Travis Lee, Gary Sheffield & Roger “Rocket” Clemens

Pack 21:

Jeff Bagwell, Jose Cruz, Jr., Miguel Tejada, Edgar Renteria, Richard Hidalgo & Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez

Pack 21 fun fact: Richard Hidalgo hit .303 with 22 extra-base hits in 234 plate appearances during the 1998 season. Two years later, he exploded for a 44-homer, 122-RBI campaign.

Pack 22:

Albert Belle, Mark McGwire, Frank Thomas, Matt Williams, Albert Belle, Greg Maddux & Pedro Martinez Dishwashers (1:8 packs)

Pack 23:

Mo Vaughn, Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey, Jr., Hideo Nomo, Mike Piazza, Moises Alou, Jason Giambi, Nomar Garciaparra & Kenny Lofton Frequent Flyer (1:4 packs)

Pack 23 fun fact: The 1998 season was Jason Giambi’s first as Oakland’s everyday first baseman, following the trade of Mark McGwire at the 1997 deadline. He hit .295 with 27 home runs and 110 RBI, drawing 81 walks en route to a .384 on-base percentage.

Pack 24:

Derek Jeter, Mike Piazza, Randy Johnson, Tony Gwynn, Mark McGwire, Cal Ripken, Jr., Bret Boone & Mo “Hit Dog” Vaughn

Pack 25:

Albert Belle, Mark McGwire, Kenny Lofton, Mark McGwire, Ivan Rodriguez, Mike Mussina (throwing his signature knuckle curveball), Jeff Bagwell, Pedro Martinez & Roger “Rocket” Clemens

Pack 25 fun facts: Hall of Fame right-hander Mike Mussina used that knuckle curveball to rack up 2,813 strikeouts, good for 21st on the all-time list.

Pack 26:

Barry Bonds, Mo Vaughn, Paul Konerko, two different Mark McGwire cards, Derek Jeter, Cal Ripken, Jr., Jeff Bagwell, Vladimir Guerrero & Chuck Knoblauch Frequent Flyer (1:4 packs)

Pack 27:

Derek Jeter, Mike Piazza, Randy Johnson, Tony Gwynn, Todd Helton, Andres Galarraga & Jim Edmonds

Pack 27 fun fact: Todd Helton replaced Andres Galarraga as the Rockies’ starting first baseman in 1998, hitting .315/.380/.530 with 37 doubles, 25 home runs and 97 RBI to finish second in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Pack 28:

Tony Clark, Cal Ripken, Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Rafael Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa, Miguel Tejada, Gary Sheffield, Johnny Damon & Nomar Garciaparra

Pack 29:

Nomar Garciaparra, Ivan Rodriguez, Andruw Jones, Edgar Renteria, Andy Pettitte Dishwashers (1:8 packs) & Ken Griffey, Jr./Spiderman Superheroes (1:20 packs)

Pack 29 fun fact: Edgar Renteria earned his first All-Star selection in 1998 at the age of 21. He hit .282 with 41 steals in his third full MLB season.

Pack 30:

Juan Gonzalez, Scott Rolen, Albert Belle, Greg Maddux, Eric Young Frequent Flyer (1:4 packs)

Pack 31:

Ken Griffey, Jr., Frank Thomas, Larry Walker, Hideo Nomo, Jason Giambi, Nomar Garciaparra & Mo “Hit Dog” Vaughn

Pack 31 fun fact: Larry Walker won the NL batting title in 1998 when he hit .363 with 72 extra-base hits. It was the first of three batting titles over a four-year span.

Pack 32:

Chipper Jones, Tony Gwynn, Curt Schilling, Tony Gwynn, Mike Piazza, Moises Alou, Derek Jeter, Kevin Brown (is this photo confusing to anyone else?) & Chipper Jones

Pack 33:

Kenny Lofton, Travis Lee, Scott Rolen, Mark McGwire, Cal Ripken, Jr., & Juan “Igor” Gonzalez

Pack 33 fun fact: Travis Lee was the No. 2 overall pick in 1996, and he hit .269/.343/.429 with 20 doubles, 22 home runs and 72 RBI in 1998 to finish third in NL Rookie of the Year balloting.

Pack 34:

Jeff Bagwell, Jose Cruz, Jr., Mo Vaughn, Wade Boggs, Jim Thome, Scott Rolen, Juan Gonzalez, Chipper Jones, Tom Goodwin Frequent Flyer (1:4 packs)

Pack 35:

Albert Belle, Mark McGwire, Roberto Alomar, Fred McGriff, Alex Rodriguez, Magglio Ordonez, Derrek Lee, Barry Larkin & Tony “Tiger” Clark

Pack 35 fun fact: Magglio Ordonez saw his first extended MLB action in 1998, hitting .282 with 25 doubles, 14 home runs and 65 RBI. The next season, he had a 30-homer, 117-RBI season to earn his first All-Star nod.

Pack 36:

Barry Bonds, Mo Vaughn, Andy Pettitte, Sammy Sosa, Greg Maddux, Mike Lowell, Rondell White, Ken Caminiti & Fred “Crime Dog” McGriff

Lastly, the Greg Maddux card back. I do like the quotes from fellow players. That is a fun addition.

I personally don’t think this set was bad enough to not have a second release. I actually do kind of like the SuperHeroes insert set. It was fun to see Spider Man and Griffey paired up on a card. I could also see playing the Double Headers game with a friend when I was a kid as I did play some MLB Showdown. I was pretty relieved that I did not pull a redemption card for autographed memorabilia, although it would have been kind of a kick to pull an expired redemption for a Tony Gwynn autographed glove.

Shop for 1998 SkyBox Dugout Axcess Baseball on:

• Beckett Marketplace
• eBay