The 2007 Topps Turkey Red baseball card set was a retro themed release that paid homage to the original Red Back tobacco era cards of the early 1900s. The set was released on November 15, 2006 and contained 330 total cards with photographs of major and minor league players from that season. Some key things to know about the 2007 Turkey Red set include:
Design and Production: Topps wanted to capture the vintage look and feel of the earliest baseball cards from over 100 years ago. As such, the 2007 Turkey Red cards featured a thick cardboard stock that was cream colored on the front and red on the back. Photographs were small yet crisp in quality. Player names were printed in all capital letters at the bottom in a thin san serif font similar to that seen on tobacco era cards. The borders were lined in a fine red stripe that wrapped around the entire front of the card. Production was limited to 250,000 series 1 packs containing 11 cards each for a total printed run of 2,750,000 cards.
Rookies and Standouts: Notable rookies included Evan Longoria, Chad Billingsley, Jonathan Papelbon and Ryan Braun. Star players featured included Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Ichiro Suzuki. Additional stars of the day like Miguel Cabrera, Kerry Wood and Roy Oswalt also had dedicated cards in the set. Parallels and serially numbered short prints existed but were conservatively produced compared to modern sets.
Retro Design Inspiration: Topps used historical research to faithfully recreate the look and feel of early 20th century tobacco era cards like those from the classic T206 set. Details like team fonts, uniform colors, photographic styles and facial expressions aimed to transport collectors back to the earliest days of the cardboard craze. Gum stains and fading were even artificially added to some inserts to further sell the vintage aesthetic.
Insert Sets: Short printed insert sets within Turkey Red included the 14 card ‘Turkey Red Ink’ parallel featuring red Autographs and memorabilia. An 8 card ‘Turkey Red Rare’ mini set highlighted stars of the past and present on cards with serial numbers below 25. Top stars from the 1930s-1960s like Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle and Stan Musial were spotlighted on these inserts.
Fantasy/Variation Cards: Topps included a fun 14 card Thanksgiving themed fantasy/variation insert called ‘Gobble, Gobble’ replacing the players photo with a cartoon turkey. Numbers were limited to just 999 copies each. A tough ‘Blank Back Turkey Red’ parallel also existed with unprinted reverse sides and serial numbering. Turkey Red parallels included Gold, Silver, Charcoal and Sketchbook variations spread across the base set.
Card Checklist and Numbering: The standard 330 card Turkey Red set checklist included base players, managers, umpires and variations. All cards were serially numbered out of the total printed run with examples numbers like 276/330. Short prints and inserts had far lower published print run figures in the single or double digit range. The set was broken into series of 11 card wax packs for distribution through hobby shops and retail.
Aftermarket Legacy: Initial release of Turkey Red was very limited but strong collector demand persisted. On the secondary market, completeTurkey Red sets now sell for $500-800 depending on grade while star rookies and short prints can reach $50-100 each for top condition copies. The original print run created scarcity that maintains interest and gives the 2007 issue lasting collectible value amongst vintage baseball card aficionados seeking a true tobacco-era experience in the modern era. Overall, Turkey Red succeeded in its goal of honoring cardboard classics from over a century ago through creative design, production quality and immersive vintage aesthetic. The set remains a classic among collectors today.
The 2007 Topps Turkey Red baseball card set was a standout vintage-style tribute issue that successfully captured the look and feel of early 20th century tobacco era cards through meticulous retro design and packaging. Limited print runs have maintained strong demand and appreciation for the set on the secondary market in the years since. Topps showed respect for baseball card history with Turkey Red while also introducing the nostalgic aesthetic to a new generation of collectors. The end result was one of the premier themed releases of the late 2000s and a true celebration of the collectibles’ roots. Turkey Red deserves recognition among the hobby’s most memorable modern retro-inspired offerings.
