The 2007 Topps baseball card set was one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year. After several years of lackluster designs and inclusion of fewer popular players, Topps stepped up their game for the 2007 set which marked the company’s 60th anniversary of producing baseball cards. The design paid homage to some of Topps’ most iconic sets from the 1950s and 1960s with a clean white border and simple team logo at the bottom. While the base cards lacked photo variations found in more recent years, collectors were excited to see Topps get back to basics with sharp photography and classic design elements.
When it came to the most valuable and sought after cards in the 2007 Topps set, several rookies and parallels stood out. Leading the way was Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw’s rookie card, card #331 in the base set. Kershaw had just won NL Rookie of the Year honors in 2006 and was already being touted as a future ace. His clean-cut good looks and left-handed dominance made his rookie one of the most desired cards in the set. PSA 10 Gem Mint examples currently sell for $500-600 raw or $800-1000 graded. For those who pulled the rare Kershaw autograph or memorabilia parallel, values jumped into the thousands.
Another hugely popular rookie was Daisuke Matsuzaka, card #116. “Dice-K” had signed a lucrative contract with the Red Sox in the offseason amidst a huge media circus in Japan and America. His cultural and on-field impact made his Topps rookie a must-have. While not as valuable long term as Kershaw, PSA 10 Dice-K rookies still sell for $150-200. Red Sox fans and Japanese collectors snapped up any parallel or autographed versions they could find.
Staying in Boston, Jon Lester’s comeback rookie, card #337, also attracted plenty of interest. The hard-lucking lefty was battling cancer but had just been cleared to resume his career. Collectors were rooting for his success and added his inspiring rookie to their collections. A PSA 10 Lester rookie in pristine condition can be acquired for $75-100.
In terms of star veterans, collectors were eager to add Derek Jeter’s card #92 to their collections. As arguably the greatest Yankee of all time and a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer, any Jeter issue is highly coveted, especially from the years surrounding his 3,000th hit. A PSA 10 Jeter sells for $40-60 but can reach $100 raw in near-mint condition.
Chipper Jones, card #279, also held value as collectors raced to complete sets featuring the retiring Atlanta Braves legend. PSA 10 Jones rookies trade hands for $30-50. His autograph and memorabilia parallels from 2007 are still sought after by Braves fans and collectors looking to commemorate his Hall of Fame career.
Two other veteran superstars who received extra attention in the 2007 set were Albert Pujols, card #120, and Ichiro Suzuki, card #276. Both were coming off MVP-caliber seasons and had established themselves as surefire future Hall of Famers. Pujols and Ichiro rookies from their earlier years already commanded big prices. Their 2007 Topps base cards each sell for $15-25 in PSA 10 condition and more for autographed or memorabilia versions.
In terms of parallels and inserts, the 2007 Topps set featured several popular short prints and serially numbered cards. The Gold parallels, limited to only one per case of cards, were extremely difficult pulls. Clayton Kershaw’s gold parallel is among the most valuable at $500-700 raw. Other sought after gold parallels include Dice-K ($150-250), Jeter ($75-100), and Pujols ($50-75). The Platinum parallels, limited to one per two cases, carried similar premiums.
The Topps Finest refractors, featuring photo and design elements from Topps Finest, were also limited inserts at one per pack on average. Rookie refractors of Kershaw, Dice-K, and Lester are worth $100-150 raw. Star veterans like Jeter, Pujols, and Chip Jones command $50-75. Perhaps the most visually striking insert was the Topps Chrome set, featuring full color action photos on a foil background. The Kershaw and Dice-K Chrome rookies are valued north of $150 in pristine condition.
While base rookies and stars held the most value long term, collectors seeking the true big hits had to search for autographs and memorabilia cards inserted at extremely low odds. Kershaw’s autograph parallel autographed card #/25 is the true crown jewel valued around $2,000-3,000 in top grades. Other 1/1 autographs like Dice-K and Lester also brought four-figure prices. For memorabilia cards, swatches and bats from star veterans were highly prized. A Jeter or Chipper game-used bat card can reach $500 raw.
In the years since its release, the 2007 Topps baseball set has only grown in esteem among collectors. Featuring some of the most iconic rookies and future Hall of Famers, the set succeeded in capturing the excitement of the game during that season. While the base rookie cards of Kershaw, Dice-K and others may seem like bargains now compared to their future potential, most collectors agree the 2007 Topps set was one of the best investments from the modern era. Fifteen years later, it remains a highly collected release and source of some of the most valuable vintage cardboard on the market today.
