The 1997 Score baseball card set featured cards for all major league players and prospects from that season. It was the 26th year Score produced baseball cards and included many rookie cards and stars from that year. While not the most valuable set from the 1990s, there are still several cards that hold significance and value for collectors from the 1997 Score issue.
One of the top cards and most valuable from the 1997 Score set is the Ken Griffey Jr. SP SP1 parallel card. Griffey was still in his prime with the Mariners in 1997 and was one of the biggest stars in baseball. The parallels were short printed chase cards within the Score set that year. Griffey’s parallel is one of the most coveted and has sold in near mint to mint condition for over $1,000. Even well-centeralized lightly played copies can still fetch a few hundred on the current market. Griffey’s popularity and talent, combined with the rarity of the parallel card, make this one that holds strong value.
Another high value card is the Chipper Jones rookie. As a perennial all-star and solid player for the Braves for years, Jones’ rookie is one that gains more value annually. While he wasn’t a true rookie in 1997 as he had played in 1995 and 1996, 1997 was his first card as the full time starting third baseman. Mint copies can sell for $500 or more now. Lightly played and near mint graded versions though PSA or BGS still bring $200-300 easily. Jones had a Hall of Fame career, cementing his rookie as a must-have for Atlanta Braves collectors and ’90s collectors in general.
While not quite as valuable as Griffey or Jones’ cards, the 1997 Derek Jeter rookie continues to hold strong collector demand as well. As one of the greatest Yankees of all time who won championships and was a career .310 hitter, there is always demand for Jeter’s early cards. Near mint 1997 Score Jeter rookies sell in the low hundreds of dollars currently. Heavily played copies or ones marked down a grade still bring $50-75 depending on eye appeal and centering quality. Jeter was a huge star immediately in pinstripes, making his rookie cards some of the top Yankees cards collectors seek today.
Some other key stars whose cards maintain notable value from the 1997 Score set include Pedro Martinez,Nomar Garciaparra, Todd Helton, and Mark McGwire. Pedro Martinez was dominant in 1997, winning the Cy Young while posting a 1.90 ERA for the Expos. HisScore base rookie card still sells around $60-80 in top condition. Nomar Garciaparra broke out as the American League batting champ in 1997 with a .321 average while playing stellar defense at shortstop for the Red Sox. Near mint copies of hisScore rookie usually trade hands in the$40-60 range.
Todd Helton rookie cards tend to hover $30-50 as he went on to have a outstanding career as a Rockie. Mark McGwire had one of his biggest seasons in 1997 slugging 58 home runs while putting on a show in the home run chase with Palmeiro. McGwire’s popularity during the steroid era means demand remains high for his 1997 Score card around $25-40. Additional $20-30 cards includeScottRolen (one of the premiere third baseman of the late ’90s/2000s) and Matt Morris (a 20 game winner for the Cardinals in 1997).
While stars hold the most long term value, there are still several other notable and sometimes over looked 1997 Score rookie cards that command interest from collectors each year. Players like Rich Aurilia, Billy Wagner,Zach Greinke, Nomar Mazara, and Orlando Hernandez debuted in Scorethat season before emerging as solid big leaguers. Copies in the $10-15 range on the current market. Sleeper cards that could see renewed interest down the line.
Beyond individual cards, the 1997 Score complete set still maintains an affordable price point for collectors wanting to add a full ’90s release to their collection. Near mint to mint unopened factory sets regularly sell in the $75-150 range dependent on conditioned assessed. And even well-centered lightly played sets can still trade for $40-80. The inserts like Spx parallels, refractors, and special photography inserts within also add value and collecting options to building the full set.
While not the most valuable mainstream baseball card set of the 1990s, there remain numerous cards within the 1997 Score issue that collectors value highly today. Stars like Griffey, Jones, Jeter, and McGwire anchor desirability and strong long term investment potential. Meanwhile, complete sets and oft overlooked rookie hits provide budget collecting opportunities to build a ’90s collection or add singles of future stars’ first cards. As nostalgia for the decade remains, The 1997 Score release endures as a affordable vintage set filling gaps in collections and prospecting future risers twenty five years later.
