The 2017 Topps Baseball card set is the 56th annual release by Topps and was released to the public on February 8th, 2017. The full base set contains update cards added later in the season and had a total of 792 cards. Like most recent years, the 2017 Topps set includes base cards, short prints, autographed cards, relic cards, and refractors of current Major League players. While most regular base cards from the set hold minimal monetary value today, there are several parallels and serially numbered rookie cards that have gained value since release.
One of the most valuable aspects of the 2017 Topps set are the many rookie cards it features of players who have since gone on to stardom in MLB. For example, the base rookie card of reigning American League MVP and three-time All-Star Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels regularly sells for $15-20 raw or $25-$30 graded gem mint. Fellow rookie Cody Bellinger, the 2019 NL MVP for the Dodgers, has a base card valued around $10-12 raw or $20-25 graded. Perhaps the most coveted rookie from the set though belongs to current Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. His widely available base rookie card sells for $30-40 raw but can fetch over $100 if graded and encapsulated in gem mint 10 condition by a company like PSA or BGS.
In addition to rookies, certain parallels and refractors from the 2017 Topps set that feature stars also carry premium values. The prized “Topps Chrome” insert set includes refractors of established stars like Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, and Bryce Harper. A regular Trout refractor can go for $50-75 raw while a Harper runs $30-40. The ultra-rare 1/1 parallel autos from Chrome are true collectors’ items that have sold for thousands. Serialized parallels like the gold label /2020 cards also pull a premium. A gold Trout fetches $100-150 raw and the number could be doubled or tripled for a truly flawless graded example. 2017 Topps Update also introduced “Gold Label” cards of stars with serial numbers /2017 that sell for even more due to their low printing.
The 2017 Topps set also carries value for featuring players whose careers took dramatic turns after the season. Carlos Correa had an All-Star regular season but then missed the entire 2018 postseason due to injury. His base card has risen from a pack price of around $1 to a $5-7 raw value today. Similarly, base cards for pitchers like Noah Syndergaard and Steven Strasburg have gained $3-5 in value after injuries derailed seasons. Predicting future performance is impossible but well-timed 2017 cards of these talents can provide solid long term returns. Autographs and memorabilia cards that were affordably priced in 2017 also carry much more value today.
While most regular 2017 Topps base cards hold about a $1 raw price, there is money to be made by acquiring select cards at the right time and price. Discerning the rookies most likely to succeed and targeting higher-end parallels of proven stars is the path towards profit. Following prospects closely and pouncing when affordable parallels become available allows savvy collectors to build an investment portfolio of sorts from a single release year. Those who bought and held premium 2017 cards of Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Cody Bellinger and others stand to realize considerable gains down the road. With baseball’s never-ending cycle of young talents emerging, the 2017 Topps set remains a compelling investment opportunity for finding tomorrow’s superstars on cardboard before they break out on the field.
While the vast majority of regular 2017 Topps baseball cards remain relatively inexpensive, there are several standout rookies, stars, and short printed parallels that have significantly increased in value since the set was released. Keys like the Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Cody Bellinger rookies as well as refractors and gold parallels of stars like Mike Trout and Bryce Harper make the 2017 set an intriguing investment option. With more potential for upside appreciation, targeting affordable cards from the later Draft Picks subset as well as Update issues provides avenues to acquire prospects before they emerge. overall, the 2017 Topps release remains one of the most collectible and investable sets in recent memory.
