The 2007 baseball season was a remarkable one in Major League Baseball. The Boston Red Sox would go on to win their second World Series title in four years. Player performances and milestones made the 2007 baseball card set one of the more memorable in recent history. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the 2007 baseball cards that have held and appreciated in value over the past decade plus.
Among the top 2007 baseball cards worth money is anything featuring Red Sox slugger David Ortiz. Ortiz had one of the best seasons of his career in 2007, batting .332 with 35 home runs and 117 RBI. He was named American League MVP and led Boston to a World Series title. Ortiz’s base rookie card from 1997 is one of the most expensive from that year, but his2007 Topps base card remains a hot commodity as well. In near mint to mint condition, Ortiz’s 2007 Topps card grades between $15-25, though gem mint 10s have sold for over $100.
Another Red Sox star, Dustin Pedroia, was coming off his own 2006 rookie of the year campaign. He didn’t disappoint in 2007 either with a .326 average, 17 homers and 83 RBI while winning a Gold Glove at second base. Pedroia’s 2007 Topps base card values between $5-10 but has surpassed $50 in grade 10 condition. With Pedroia regarded as one of game’s premier second basemen over the past 15 years, his 2007 rookie card holds significant value.
The ’07 campaign saw Alex Rodriguez smash his 500th career home run with the New York Yankees. A-Rod continued lighting up the stat sheet as well with an .314 average, 54 HR and 156 RBI. While Rodriguez cards in general don’t carry the same cachet of some due to his PED controversies, his ’07 Topps base is still a roughly $10-15 card in top shape and a worthwhile pickup. Two of the biggest stars in the game resided in the Bronx in 2007 with A-Rod and Derek Jeter. While Jeter’s cards remain relatively cheap compared to peers, his ’07 Topps base is a steady $5-10 card.
One of the best rookie classes in baseball history came out of the 2007 season. Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Ian Kennedy won 17 games and finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting. While he had an up-and-down career, Kennedy’s ’07 Topps Chrome rookie card values around $15-20 and even more in pristine condition. Another talented rookie hurler was Jon Lester of the Red Sox. Before becoming a postseason hero, Lester won 16 games in his first full season. Him ’07 Topps Chrome rookie also pulls in $15-20 range.
A dual threat on the mound and at the plate, Ryan Braun had one of the truly amazing rookie years in 2007. The Milwaukee Brewers outfielder batted .324 with 34 homers and 97 RBI and run away with NL Rookie of the Year. All these years later, Braun’s ’07 Topps Chrome rookie remains a critical card for Brewers and MLB collections. In a PSA/BGS 10 gem mint state, Braun’s rookie has been known to sell for upwards of $150-200. While dealt major blows by PED suspensions later on, Braun at his peak was one of game’s most dominating young talents.
The player arguably most defined by the ’07 season was Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels. As a 23-year-old, Hamels went 14-8 during the regular season before dominating in the postseason to win World Series MVP. Hamels tossed a complete game shutout in the Series clinching Game 5. His Topps base card is around a $5-7 range, but ’07 Topps Chrome and Bowman Chrome rookies can reach $30-40 mint. The Phillies would go on to win another title in 2008 as well cementing Hamels’ place in Philly sports lore.
The all-time home run king further cemented his legacy in 2007. At age 42, Barry Bonds smashed 28 home runs for the San Francisco Giants on his way to career total 762. While Bonds possessed many coveted rookie cards already, collectors still chased his ’07 Topps base which holds at $8-12 per card. For historians of the game, Bonds’ swan song season in San Francisco made for an integral chapter in his HOF career.
This in-depth look only scratched the surface of valuable 2007 baseball cards. Rays lefty Scott Kazmir, D’Backs ace Brandon Webb and Marlins slugger Mike Jacobs also had noteworthy rookie issues to keep an eye out for from the set. For players who went on to the Hall of Fame like Chipper Jones and Vladimir Guerrero, their ’07 base cards can often sell for $10-15 each as well. Close to 15 years later, the 2007 Topps set remains a treasured release for collectors given all the accomplishments, milestones and rookies it encapsulates from that memorable campaign. With premium condition cards of stars still fetching strong prices today, 2007 stands out as one of the best MLB seasons to have captured on cardboard.
