The year 2017 was another great year for baseball cards, with many exciting rookies making their debuts and star players continuing to shine. While determining the “best” cards can be subjective, here are some of the top cards released in 2017 based on player performance, rookie status, parallels and special inserts.
Aaron Judge Topps Chrome RC (2017 Topps Chrome)
Without question, the top baseball card of 2017 was Aaron Judge’s rookie card from Topps Chrome. Judge shattered the rookie home run record with 52 home runs for the Yankees and won AL Rookie of the Year. His Chrome rookie card skyrocketed in value, with PSA 10 examples selling for over $1000 each online. Judge mania was real in 2017 and his rookie card capitalized on his breakout rookie campaign. The Judge rookie is a modern icon card and one of the premier rookie cards in the hobby over the last decade.
Cody Bellinger Topps NOW RC (2017 Topps NOW)
Another highly sought after rookie card from 2017 was Cody Bellinger’s Topps NOW rookie. Bellinger had a phenomenal rookie season with 39 home runs for the Dodgers and finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting. His Topps NOW rookie captures his debut game performance and only has a print run of 2017 copies, making it extremely scarce compared to typical Topps RCs. PSA 10 examples have sold for over $500 due to the card’s low print run and subject’s immediate star power.
Kris Bryant Bowman Chrome RC (2015 Bowman Chrome)
While not technically a 2017 release, Kris Bryant’s rookie card from 2015 Bowman Chrome remained highly valuable in 2017 as Bryant continued cementing himself as one of baseball’s best players. After winning NL MVP in 2016, Bryant had another All-Star season in 2017 and helped the Cubs to another World Series appearance. His Bowman Chrome rookie card remains a coveted modern rookie for Cubs PC collectors, routinely fetching hundreds of dollars for high-grade copies.
Clayton Kershaw Topps Finest Refractor (2017 Topps Finest)
A true master of his craft, three-time NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw continued dominating in 2017. His 2017 Topps Finest refractor parallel captures an ultra-refractive look on card and the 1/1 parallel makes it extremely rare. Kershaw collectors jumped at the chance to own this one-of-one work of art card that could become one of the iconic cards of his generation much like Kershaw’s Topps Chrome refractor rookie.
Corey Seager Topps Update RC (2016 Topps Update)
The 2016 NL Rookie of the Year had another All-Star season in 2017 while helping lead the Dodgers. Seager’s rookie card from 2016 Topps Update remains a highly sought after modern rookie card, as Seager has proven to be a true franchise player. High-grade PSA 10 copies regularly sell for $100-200 due to his superstar status at a young age.
Mookie Betts Topps Finest Refractor (2017 Topps Finest)
The 2018 AL MVP had yet another amazing all-around season in 2017 while establishing himself as one of baseball’s true five-tool talents. His 2017 Topps Finest refractor parallel captures his skills on this ultra-refractive card that Red Sox collectors chased. Betts looks poised to become one of the faces of baseball and this card could become a true icon in his collection.
Juan Soto Bowman Chrome RC (2018 Bowman Chrome)
While Soto’s rookie season didn’t start until 2018, collectors were buzzing about this uber-prospect well before his debut. His first Bowman Chrome card from 2018 set the hobby ablaze with its investment-worthy looks. Even pre-rookie, PSA 10 copies were fetching hundreds on the secondary market. Soto mania was in full effect before he even played a game and this card captured that hype perfectly.
Aaron Nola Topps Finest Refractor (2017 Topps Finest)
The Phillies ace cemented himself as one of baseball’s best young hurlers in 2017 while helping lead Philadelphia back to contention. As a hometown star, Nola collectors chased this ultra-refractive refractor parallel from Topps Finest to highlight his breakout campaign. With his ace potential, this card could grow in value as Nola’s career progresses.
Ronald Acuna Topps Chrome RC (2018 Topps Chrome)
Like Soto, Acuna didn’t debut until 2018 but the hype for this uber-prospect was massive all of 2017 long. His first Topps Chrome rookie card captured the investment potential of a potential superstar in the making. Even pre-rookie, PSA 10 copies sold for big money based purely on his status as one of baseball’s top hitting prospects. Acuna mania was born before he ever stepped on a major league field.
That covers some of the most notable, valuable and investment-worthy baseball cards released or pertaining to the 2017 season. From rookie sensations like Judge, Bellinger and Acuna/Soto to stars cementing their legacies like Bryant, Kershaw and Betts, 2017 was a great year for the hobby. While the “best” cards will always be subjective, this list shows some of the modern standouts from the past year that truly captured the excitement of the game on the field.
