The 1997 Topps Baseball card set was a historic issue that captured the sport during a pivotal time. It was Topps’ 54th annual production and contained 792 total cards featuring players, managers, coaches and officials from all 30 Major League Baseball franchises at the time.
Some key things to know about the 1997 Topps set include that it was the first year Topps used a new card design that featured rounded edges and borders alongside larger player photographs. There was also renewed focus on team logos and uniforms being prominently displayed. The design move helped Topps transition into a modern era for baseball cards.
Rookie cards of future all-stars such as Nomar Garciaparra, Todd Helton, Jason Giambi, John Lackey, and Gary Sheffield were included in the 1997 set. One of the most coveted rookies was a short printed card of franchise players Chipper Jones, which has since become a highly valuable commodity for collectors.
Veteran players featured included Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Randy Johnson, and Tony Gwynn. The careers of baseball legends like Nolan Ryan, Jim Palmer, and Carlton Fisk were also recognized with inclusion in their retirement years. Managers profiled ranged from veteran Bobby Cox to first year skippers Joe Girardi and Art Howe.
1997 also marked several notable achievements and milestones in MLB. The Cleveland Indians made their first World Series appearance since 1954. The Florida Marlins captured their first championship in just their fifth year of existence. Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games played record of 2,130 games in 1995, and cards from 1997 commemorated this monumental career accomplishment.
On the statistical side, Ken Griffey Jr. led the American League with 56 home runs in 1997. Randy Johnson struck out 308 batters which was at that time the third highest single season total in baseball history. Pedro Martinez posted an incredible earned run average of 1.90 over 217 innings for the Baltimore Orioles. These standout performances were all highlighted on the individual player cards.
In terms of rarity and chase cards, the 1997 Topps set included several short printed and serially numbered parallel inserts that drove collector demand. The Topps Gold Label parallel subset contained only 125 copies of each card and featured a gold foil accent. Other short printed parallel inserts showed team logos in color on a black and white photo background.
Furthermore, Topps paid tribute to the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the MLB color barrier with a special 9-card tribute subset using artistic renditions and photographs. There was also a Best of the National League and Best of the American League trophy subset honoring the previous year’s All-Star teams.
When it was initially released in 1997, a full 792-card base set of the Topps issue could be purchased for around $75-$100. In the years since, appreciation and rising collectability has significantly increased the market value. Today, a complete set in near mint to mint condition would fetch anywhere from $500 up to $1,000 or more depending on card quality and demand from collectors. Individual premium cards like Chipper Jones’ rookie or serially numbered parallels command prices well over $100 each.
The 1997 Topps Baseball set is considered one of the strongest and most historically relevant issues of the 1990s. It offered an iconic snapshot of the sport during a time of stellar individual performances and championships. The checklist, designs, parallels and short prints have all ensured that the issue remains highly popular with collectors even 25 years after its original distribution. When graded and preserved well, 1957 Topps cards continue appreciating as a solid long-term investment for sports card investors.
