The 1997 Upper Deck baseball card set was one of the most highly anticipated releases of the 1990s. Upper Deck had made a huge splash in the late 80s/early 90s with their innovative baseball cards that featured amazing photography and cutting edge designs. By 1997, they had firmly established themselves as the premier brand in the hobby. As collectors opened packs of the new 1997 Upper Deck set, they hoped to find rookie cards of future stars or parallel versions of cards that would gain value over time. Now, over 20 years later, let’s take a look at some of the most valuable 1997 Upper Deck baseball cards on the modern market.
Perhaps the most coveted card from the 1997 Upper Deck set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Griffey was already an established superstar by 1997, but his rookie card from 1989 Fleer held legendary status. Upper Deck secured the rights to feature Griffey’s image again as a rookie in their 1997 set. The card shows Griffey in his iconic backwards hat swining a bat. It’s a simple yet iconic design that captures Griffey’s swagger and talent. In high grade, the Griffey Jr. rookie card can fetch thousands of dollars today. A PSA 10 Gem Mint copy recently sold for over $20,000, showing it remains one of the most desirable modern rookie cards.
Another huge star from the 1990s who had his rookie card in the 1997 Upper Deck set was Pedro Martinez. Signed by the Expos as a teenager from the Dominican Republic, Martinez had already begun showing his dominance on the mound in the late 90s. His rookie card depicts him mid-windup, eyes focused with intensity. High graded versions of the Martinez rookie have sold for over $1000. For a pitcher’s card to command that kind of price is a testament to Martinez’s Hall of Fame caliber career. His postseason heroics pitching for the Red Sox added to his legend and the value of this rookie card.
While Griffey and Martinez had established themselves as stars by 1997, the set also included rookies of players who were just beginning their careers. One of the biggest hits from that year’s rookie class was Nomar Garciaparra of the Boston Red Sox. Garciaparra’s smooth left-handed swing and flashy defensive skills at shortstop made him an instant fan favorite in Beantown. His rookie card, with Nomar crouched at the plate ready to unleash his powerful swing, has become a sought after piece for Red Sox collectors. High grade Garciaparra rookies have sold for over $500 in recent years.
In addition to star rookies, the 1997 Upper Deck set had several parallel and short print variants that created buzz in the hobby. One of the most valuable is the “Gold Medallion” parallel version of the Griffey Jr. rookie. Where the base rookie has a black and white photo, the Gold Medallion replaced the image with a regal gold-toned shot of Griffey. Only 50 of these parallels were inserted into packs, making them extremely rare. One recently sold for over $12,000 in PSA 10 condition. The 1997 set also had “Upper Deck Ultimate” parallel versions of cards printed on card stock with embedded metallic flakes. High grade examples of the Ultimate versions of stars like Griffey and Martinez have sold for $1000+.
While players like Griffey, Martinez, and Garciaparra garner the most attention, savvy collectors know that other less heralded rookies from the 1997 Upper Deck set have also increased steadily in value over the years. Pitchers like Todd Helton, Jermaine Dye, and Jorge Posada had solid MLB careers and their rookie cards can be acquired for a few hundred dollars in top condition. Short prints of role players like David Segui and Mark Lewis are also on the watch lists of dedicated set collectors. With the vintage baseball card market as strong as ever, there remains potential for certain 1997 UD “sleepers” to continue appreciating over the long run.
The 1997 Upper Deck baseball card set was a pivotal release that captured the careers of future Hall of Famers like Ken Griffey Jr. and Pedro Martinez in their early days. Parallels and short prints created an air of excitement, while the inclusion of emerging talents like Nomar Garciaparra added to the appeal. Two decades later, the high grade and most scarce versions of cards from this classic set can sell for thousands. For savvy investors and collectors, certain 1997 UD “sleepers” may still have room to grow even further in value with time. The combination of star power, short prints, and under the radar hits make this one of the most collectible sets from the 1990s hobby boom.
