The 2017 Topps Baseball set featured some of the most exciting rookie cards and veteran star cards in recent years. The design had a classic vintage feel paying homage to Topps sets from the 1960s and 70s. With cards featuring current superstars like Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, and Clayton Kershaw, as well as rookie cards for future stars like Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge, the 2017 Topps Baseball set had no shortage of highly sought after cards.
One of the most iconic rookie cards from the 2017 Topps Baseball set was the Aaron Judge rookie card. Judge had a breakout rookie season in 2017 for the New York Yankees, hitting 52 home runs which set a new rookie record. His dominant rookie year led to huge demand for his Topps rookie card. The base Aaron Judge rookie is a relatively common pull from packs and boxes. Due to his record-setting season and star potential, PSA 10 gem mint versions of his rookie card have sold for over $10,000, making it one of the most valuable modern rookie cards ever printed.
Another hugely popular rookie from the 2017 Topps set was Cody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers. While he didn’t have the mammoth rookie season that Judge did, Bellinger still hit 39 home runs in his first year. His smooth lefty swing and athleticism made him an instant star on one of baseball’s most popular franchises. PSA 10 versions of Bellinger’s rookie card have also cracked the $1000 price point. Bellinger went on to win NL Rookie of the Year in 2017 and has become a perennial MVP candidate, making his rookie one of the safest long term investments from the 2017 Topps set.
Aside from the star rookies, the 2017 Topps set featured several short printed parallels and insert cards that have become highly valuable. One of the most sought after is the Mike Trout rainbow foil parallel card. Numbered to only /99 copies, Trout rainbow foil cards regularly sell for over $1000 in mint condition due to Trout’s status as one of the best players of his generation. The flagship Topps Chrome refractors are also extremely popular for star players. Refractors of stars like Bryce Harper, Clayton Kershaw, and Mookie Betts can fetch hundreds of dollars.
The 2017 Topps Archives photo variation insert set also contained several valuable and desirable cards. Featuring unique historical action photos of star players, the Archives set paid tribute to the classic Topps photography of the 1960’s. Rares cards like the Nolan Ryan variation have sold for over $500. The Topps Gallery of Greats insert set honoring retired legends like Hank Aaron and Willie Mays are also highly sought after by collectors looking to build full rainbow sets.
While base rookie cards and short prints garner most of the attention in the high-end market, 2017 Topps Baseball offered fun and affordable collecting options as well. The Allen & Ginter mini baseball card inserts featuring wood textures were a unique twist on the typical cardboard cards. Players like Kris Bryant and Noah Syndergaard had cute and collectible mini versions of their cards. The Heritage minor league photo variations also captured the nostalgia of minor league parks and uniforms. For fans looking to affordably collect entire teams or players, the 2017 Topps set provided fun parallels and inserts at reasonable price points.
The 2017 Topps Baseball set featured some of the most iconic modern rookie cards like Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger. Short printed parallels of stars and valuable inserts captured the vintage aesthetics that made 1960’s and 70’s Topps designs so beloved. Whether chasing superstars, building teams, or collecting fun parallels, the 2017 Topps Baseball set had wide appeal for both investors and fans. Years from now, rookie cards like Judge and Bellinger as well as 1/1 printing plates and refractor parallels of all-time greats will surely be remembered as highlights from one of the most memorable Topps releases in recent memory.
