The 1997 Upper Deck baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable releases from the 1990s. While the era of mass production had begun to decrease scarcity and values of modern cards, several standouts from the ’97 Upper Deck set remain highly coveted by collectors. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable cards collectors search for from this nostalgic release over two decades later.
Kicking off our list at the #5 spot is none other than the legendary Ken Griffey Jr. card. Widely considered one of the most talented and exciting players of his generation, Upper Deck captured Griffey in his prime Seattle Mariners days on card #1. While it doesn’t feature one of his most iconic rookie cards, Griffey’s star power and on-field excellence translated to strong demand for his base rookie card in the ’97 set. Several years after retirement, PSA 10 Gem Mint copies of this card still fetch $100-150.
Taking the #4 spot is Atlanta Braves superstar and future Hall of Famer Chipper Jones’ base rookie card on #497. As the hometown kid who spent his entire career in Atlanta, Chipper developed a huge fanbase in the Southeast. His combination of strong stats, postseason success, and regional popularity have made his ’97 Upper Deck RC a staple in Braves PC collections. In top PSA 10 condition, expect to pay $150-200 today.
At #3 is another no-doubt future Hall of Famer, catcher Mike Piazza. Regarded as the best hitting backstop in MLB history, Piazza was already well on his way in 1997 with the Dodgers. His sweet left-handed swing and prodigious power made him a fan-favorite, and demand has never waned for his ’97 Upper Deck base card on #177. High-grade PSA 10 copies consistently sell in the $200-250 range.
Taking the second spot is none other than the great Ken Griffey Jr, but on a much more elusive card variation. Card #630 featured an “Upper Deck Griffey Jr. Update” with a unique photo and design compared to his base card. Only serial-numbered to /1990 copies, this parallel version captures peak-career Griffey in an iconic Mariners uniform. In top condition its rarity and Griffey legacy demand a huge premium, with PSA 10’s auctioning for $300-500.
And finally, the undisputed crown jewel and most valuable 1997 Upper Deck baseball card is number one draft pick and superstar pitcher Kerry Wood’s rookie card on #331. After striking out 20 Astros over 9 innings in just his 5th career start in 1998, Wood became a national sensation and one of the most hyped rookies ever. Such excitement created massive demand that has endured for his ’97 UD RC to this day. Receiving a PSA 10 Gem Mint grade is extremely difficult due to centering issues, but those few elite specimens trade hands for $1000-2000 dollars or more.
While stars like Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones, Mike Piazza, and Kerry Wood dominate the top of the value rankings, several other noteworthy ’97 Upper Deck cards can bring six-figure sums in mint condition as well. Future Hall of Famers Tom Glavine #159, Greg Maddux #165, and John Smoltz #173 are consistently in demand for Atlanta Braves PC collectors. Rookie cards of Tony Womack #593, Luis Gonzalez #646, and Scott Rolen #751 also reside in the $100-300 range in top grades.
Lower in the set, prospects who didn’t pan out like Darren Dreifort #234, Todd Hollandsworth #235, and Juan Gonzalez #639 are casualties of pre-internet hype but still coveted by team and franchise collectors. And error cards like the Matt Williams autographed “Signed” sticker variation #66A and Mike Piazza/Roberto Alomar printing plate parallels #178 and #185 attract card nerds for their uncut sheet oddities.
In the end, the 1997 Upper Deck baseball set lives on as one of the all-time classics from the “junk wax” era. While mass-produced at the time and not scarce on the original release date, a special mix of stars, rookies, and obscure parallels have endured to maintain strong demand from collectors 25 years later. For dedicated PC builders and investors, hunting elite conditioned copies of stars like Junior, Chipper, Piazza, Wood, and others guarantees this vintage release stays one of the most valuable modern sets to collect.
