The 2007 Topps baseball card set was one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year due to several highly sought after rookie cards and key player updates. The design featured a clean look with mostly white borders and player photos centered above their team logo. While not the flashiest set visually, it contained several standout cards that have become highly valuable in the years since. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best 2007 Topps baseball cards.
Perhaps the most notable rookie card from the 2007 Topps set belongs to Josh Hamilton. As the first overall pick of the 1999 MLB draft, Hamilton had all the talent in the world but struggled mightily with substance abuse issues early in his career. He made his MLB debut in 2007 with the Cincinnati Reds after getting clean and showcasing his prodigious five-tool skills in the minors. Hamilton’s rookie card shows him in a Reds uniform and is one of the more iconic modern rookie cards due to his compelling comeback story. PSA 10 gem mint examples now sell for well over $1000.
Another hugely valuable rookie card is that of Ryan Braun, who won NL Rookie of the Year honors in 2007 with the Milwaukee Brewers. Braun burst onto the scene by hitting 34 home runs and finishing third in NL MVP voting. His Topps rookie card captured the beginning of what became a stellar career. High-grade Braun rookies have sold for over $500 in recent years. Fellow NL West stars Troy Tulowitzki and Hanley Ramirez also had noteworthy rookies in this set that remain popular with collectors.
On the pitching side, Cole Hamels had a breakout season in 2007 while leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a World Series title. The left-hander went 15-5 with a 3.39 ERA and finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting. His Topps card is one of the more iconic from the Phillies’ championship squad. Another ace rookie pitcher featured was Tim Lincecum, who won the NL Cy Young in his first full season with the San Francisco Giants. High-grade Lincecum and Hamels rookies can reach the $200-300 range.
The 2007 Topps set also had several chase parallel and insert sets that added to the excitement. The popular Topps Chrome parallels featured refractors of the base cards. The ‘Hits Of The Game’ insert set highlighted iconic MLB moments on special parallel-style cards. ‘Topps Total’ inserts focused on player stats. And ‘Topps Traded’ update sets in July and August captured midseason trades and helped complete rainbow sets.
Some other notable star cards from the base set include Alex Rodriguez on the New York Yankees, who was in the midst of his record-breaking career. Ichiro Suzuki and Ken Griffey Jr. also had popular cards as veteran stars. Rookie cards of other future standouts like Clayton Kershaw also appear. Autograph and memorabilia cards of top players from the set have reached enormous prices in recent years as well.
In the years since its release, the 2007 Topps baseball set has grown in esteem due to the success of players featured as rookies and prospects. Sets from the mid-2000s are also benefiting from renewed collector interest in the modern era. The combination of star rookies, parallels, and chase inserts give the 2007 Topps issue universal appeal for both casual and invested collectors. While it may not stand out visually compared to modern ultra-chrome designs, the 2007 Topps set endures as one of the most historically significant releases due to the talented players featured at the start of their careers. Values remain strong and are likely to continue appreciating over time.
