The 2017 Topps Baseball card set was another highly anticipated release from the legendary card manufacturer. With its modern design aesthetic and inclusion of some of baseball’s biggest stars, the 2017 Topps set contained several chase cards that collectors eagerly sought. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the best and most valuable cards collectors could find in a pack of 2017 Topps Baseball.
One of the premier rookie cards in the set was that of Chicago Cubs star third baseman Kris Bryant. As a former Rookie of the Year and MVP winner, Bryant had already established himself as a true superstar in the league by 2017. His base rookie card could be pulled from regular packs and had decent odds. The prized parallel was the Bryant rainbow foil variation, limited to only /99 copies. These ultra-short printed parallel cards of top talents always hold significant collector demand. Bryant’s rainbow foil routinely sells for well over $100 in near-mint condition.
Another hugely popular rookie was that of Boston Red Sox left-hander David Price. After several standout seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays, Price had signed a massive free agent deal with Boston in 2016. In his first year with the Red Sox, Price helped lead the team to the AL East title. His base rookie card was attainable but scarce. Much rarer was his red parallel, limited to only /25 copies. These low-numbered Price parallels change hands for $300 or more, a true indicator of his elite status as a pitcher and value as a rookie card investment.
Staying in Boston, one cannot discuss the top 2017 Topps cards without mentioning Mookie Betts. The young Red Sox right fielder was coming off his first All-Star and Gold Glove season in 2016 where he finished third in AL MVP voting. Betts’ star was clearly on the rise and collectors knew his cards would retain value. His base card was widely available but it is parallel and short printed variations that hold the real collector value. Betts’ coveted sepia parallel /99 sells for $150-200 alone. An even rarer red /25 parallel recently traded hands for nearly $500 on auction sites. It’s clear Betts has cemented himself not just as a ballplayer, but as a card to have in any collection.
Shifting to the National League, no list of 2017 Topps standouts would be complete without Chicago Cubs third baseman/outfielder Kris Bryant. The reigning NL MVP was on top of the baseball world coming off the Cubs’ historic World Series win in 2016. Bryant’s iconic smiling base card captured his infectious joy and excitement for the game. While accessible in packs, the true chase cards were his parallel and short printed variations. His popular “rainbow foil” parallel, limited to /99 copies, routinely commands $100-150 prices. But perhaps Bryant’s most coveted card was his elusive gold label parallel, restricted to a minuscule five copies worldwide. Needless to say, any one of these five that makes its way to the open market would demand an astronomical price.
While rookies and young stars garnered much of the 2017 Topps hype, veterans could also be found amongst the year’s most coveted cards. For example, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw had long been considered one of the best pitchers of his generation. The 2017 season was another standout for Kershaw as he continued cementing his Hall of Fame resume. In Topps, collectors lusted after Kershaw’s top parallels, including his /99 sepia and /25 red variations. Both hold value well above $100 due to his elite status. Another veteran name that commanded high prices was San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner. The 2014 World Series hero had established himself as a true postseason legend and his parallels like the aforementioned also traded hands for $100+ prices.
While players drove the majority of collector demand for 2017 Topps, the set also included several highly sought after insert sets. One of the most popular was the “Topps NOW” collection, featuring real-time cards to commemorate that day’s biggest baseball moments. These inserts captured history as it happened and included short prints like /5 gold parallels. Other inserts like “Topps Heritage” paid homage to the classic design aesthetics of the 1950s/60s. Rarer parallel and autograph variations within insert sets also held significant value. For example, any autographs from the “Topps Gallery of Heroes” insert sold briskly in the secondary market.
In summing up, the 2017 Topps Baseball release truly had something for every type of collector, from rookies to stars to parallels to inserts. Keys like the Kris Bryant and Mookie Betts rainbow foils established themselves not just as chase cards from the year, but investments that hold long term collector value. Veterans like Kershaw and Bumgarner reminded us that proven talent will always be in high demand. And inserts like Topps NOW captured the excitement of the game as it unfolded. For these reasons and more, 2017 Topps Baseball remains one of the most beloved modern issues and sets the standard for what a premier modern card set should deliver.
