The 2017 Houston Astros had one of the most memorable seasons in franchise history, winning their first World Series title. As a result, the baseball cards from Topps, Panini, and other card companies chronicling the 2017 Astros are highly sought after by collectors today. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the key cards from that championship year.
The centerpiece of any baseball card set is generally the team’s biggest stars and best players. For the 2017 Astros, that meant cards of Jose Altuve, George Springer, Carlos Correa, and Justin Verlander were highly anticipated. Jose Altuve had another massive season in 2017, winning his third batting title with a .346 average. His iconic leap after hitting a walk-off home run in Game 2 of the ALCS ended up being one of the defining images of thepostseason. Altuve’s core rookie card from Topps remains one of the priciest in the hobby, but collectors enjoyed pulling his dazzling photo and stats from ’17.
George Springer also cemented himself as a true superstar in ’17, batting .283 with 34 home runs and 104 RBIs en route to World Series MVP honors. His dynamic play in center field and timely hitting made him a fan favorite. Springer’s ’17 Topps card shows him in mid-swing with terrific action. Carlos Correa had another All-Star caliber year at just 23 years old, providing stellar defense at shortstop while batting .315 with 15 homers. Correa emerged as a clutch postseason performer as well. Meanwhile, Justin Verlander was acquired from Detroit at the trade deadline and proved to be the final missing piece, going 5-0 with a 1.06 ERA in the regular season after the deal. He then led the Astros to the title by winning both Games 2 and 6 of the World Series on the mound.
In addition to stars, baseball card collectors love commemorative cards marking special team accomplishments. For the ’17 Astros, the obvious choice was a World Series Champions card featuring the whole championship roster. Topps captured the celebratory dogpile photo on the field at Dodger Stadium after the final out. There were also special parallel “Gold” and “Silver” versions printed with lower numbers, adding to the prestige. Similarly, Panini produced an Astronomical Moments insert card showing the team toasting champagne in the clubhouse with the Commissioners Trophy. Both are apt keepsakes for any Astros fan.
Beyond the biggest names, collectors enjoyed finding cards of other important ’17 Astros like Dallas Keuchel, Charlie Morton, Lance McCullers Jr., and Josh Reddick. Keuchel rebounded from an off 2016 with a solid 14-5 record and helped anchor the rotation. As the #3 starter, Charlie Morton came up big in the postseason with a 1.80 ERA over 5 games. Young righty Lance McCullers showed promise when healthy, and Josh Reddick proved a perfect fit in Houston, batting .281 with 13 homers. even role players like Evan Gattis and marwin gonzalez had memorable moments.
Of course, complete sets require cards highlighting accomplishments beyond stats and games. Topps produced an “Autograph Party” insert set where Astros autographed mini cards that were serial numbered to 99 or less. Other inserts in Topps Series 2 highlighted the team’s road to the championship, from “Pennant Winners” to “World Series Champs” parallels. Upper Deck also created “Masterpieces” parallels with crystal-clear photos on 1-of-1 serial numbered cards. Panini went above and beyond with patches and autographs on “Galaxy” parallel inserts as nice bonus content.
Naturally, the most diehard Astros collectors pursued 1-of-1 relic and autograph cards created by premium manufacturers. Examples include Justin Verlander autographs on Diamond Kings cards with serial numbers starting at 1/1, or “Prime Cuts” swatches with serial numbers personally chosen by the player. Higher-end products from Donruss, Leaf, and Triple Threads featured autographs combined with swatches from jerseys or bats for ultimate rarities. Such one-of-a-kind treasures will surely retain huge value for years to come.
In the years since their 2017 title, the Astros have remained one of baseball’s elite franchises. Those championship cards commemorating the first World Series victory in Houston serve as important historical artifacts of that special season. With Hall of Famers like Altuve and Correa leading the way, and Verlander and Springer playing crucial roles, it was truly a magical year deserving of its place in the hobby. Any collector who can add a piece of that 2017 team to their collection should feel incredibly fortunate.
