The 2017 baseball season saw many exciting storylines and amazing performances that are now memorialized on baseball cards. Certain 2017 rookie cards, short print cards, and cards of star players who had big years are already gaining value and could end up being quite lucrative long term investments. Let’s take a look at some of the top 2017 baseball cards that are worth money today and have strong potential to increase in value over time.
Heading into the 2017 season, Aaron Judge had high expectations after a solid rookie campaign in 2016. No one could have predicted the legendary season he would have. Judge smashed an astounding 52 home runs to break the rookie record, establish himself as one of the game’s brightest young stars, and win the American League Rookie of the Year award. Not surprisingly, Judge’s rookie cards from 2017 Topps products are some of the most coveted on the market. The flagship Topps Series 1 Judge rookies in PSA 10 gem mint condition have already attained values of $150-200 based on recent sales. His Topps Chrome rookie autograph card could be worth thousands in the years to come as one of the defining rookie cards from one of the most prolific rookie seasons ever.
Another young slugger who had a breakout 2017 season was Cody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bellinger clubbed 39 home runs in his first full MLB season to finish second in NL Rookie of the Year voting to Judge. His rookie cards have also gained steam, with PSA 10 Topps Series 1 cards selling in the $75-100 range. The really big money Bellinger cards are likely to be his Topps Series 2 rookie, which features an action shot and has a much lower print run, as well as any autographed rookie cards. Bellinger looks like a franchise cornerstone, so savvy collectors would be wise to grab any of his affordable rookies now before his stardom truly takes off.
Additional rookie cards from the 2017 class that are showing strong early value gains include Yankees slugging third baseman Gleyber Torres, Astros ace Justin Verlander (who won the ALCS MVP in his first season with Houston), and Cubs starting pitcher Jose Quintana, who was traded mid-season from the White Sox and went on to help Chicago reach the NLCS. The top prospect Torres in particular could be a true five-tool stud, so his Topps flagship rookie seems like a no-brainer buy.
2017 also saw Juan Soto emerge as perhaps the brightest young star from the National League. Though Soto didn’t make his MLB debut until late May, he finished third in ROY voting with a stellar .292 average and 22 home runs in only 116 games as a 19-year old. His Panini Prizm Silver Pack RC Patch Autograph #/25 and Topps Finest Refractor Auto #/50 are already valued near $200 each and figure to greatly appreciate as Soto becomes one of the faces of MLB. His base Topps Series 2 rookie card, which was the first card released showing Soto in a Nationals uniform, will remain a key piece for collectors following one of baseball’s future legends.
For star players who aren’t rookies but had career-years or reached milestones in 2017, there are also cards ready to take off in value. Most notable is Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, who put together perhaps the greatest season of his celebrated career to win the AL MVP award. Altuve’s autographed, rookie cards and even base cards from 2017 products chronicling his standout year are fetching prices upwards of $50, a significant jump from just a year ago. The diminutive Altuve looks poised to cement his legacy as one of the best right-handed hitters of this generation, so 2017 cards portraying the MVP campaign could grow exponentially over the decades.
Other veteran stars who shined bright in 2017 and have cards appreciating include Yankees right fielder Aaron Hicks, who broke out with a .266 average, 16 homers, and 72 RBI in his first full season in pinstripes. Rookie cards of Hicks from 2009-2011 issues have seen renewed interest. Cubs third baseman/outfielder Kris Bryant continued building on his young success by hitting .295 with 29 homers and 73 RBI and appears primed for continued growth, lending renewed attention to his already-iconic Topps Update rookie card from 2015. Top twins slugger Miguel Sano increased his home run totals each year from 2015-2017 with 34 round-trippers, dramatically raising the values of any Sano cards.
While rookies and individual standouts gain the most notoriety, 2017 was a special year for team accomplishments as well. The Houston Astros broke through to claim their first-ever World Series title over the Los Angeles Dodgers, punctuating a season where the team shattered franchise records. Certain 2017 Astros parallels and short prints have risen fast, along with Topps Finest box toppers of the likes of Springer, Altuve and Dallas Keuchel. For Cubs fans, Addison Russell’s Topps Finest refractor auto from 2017 Finest captures a key piece of the 2016 championship core and a player who hit 21 homers to build his legend despite off-field issues.
The 2017 season gave way to several iconic rookie classes headlined by Judge and Bellinger, as well as career seasons from Altuve, Hicks and others. Team accomplishments by Houston and Chicago have also driven card appreciation. While the prices listed here are already increased from initial retail, savvy collectors understand that top 2017 cards have the potential to continue appreciating considerably as the players’ careers unfold and these cards become longer-removed artifacts from some of the most memorable storylines in baseball over the last few years. With smart long-term holds, key 2017 cardboard could pay dividends for years down the road.
