The 2017 Topps baseball card set was another highly anticipated release from the industry leader. With photography and designs that captured the essence of the game, this set had many collector favorites that have become highly sought after in the years since. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the best 2017 Topps baseball cards.
One of the most iconic rookie cards from the set was the Aaron Judge rookie card. Judge’s massive breakout season with the Yankees in 2017 saw him hit 52 home runs, breaking Mark McGwire’s rookie record. Topps perfectly captured Judge’s towering presence on the card with a close-up headshot showing his intimidating size. The photo along with his impressive rookie stats made this one of the most valuable rookie cards in recent memory. PSA 10 examples now sell for thousands of dollars.
Another hugely popular rookie was Cody Bellinger’s card. The Dodgers first baseman had a phenomenal debut campaign, hitting 39 home runs and winning the NL Rookie of the Year award. His simple yet effective Topps design highlighted his smooth left-handed swing. Like Judge, Bellinger became the face of his franchise’s future and his rookie card price rose accordingly. High-grade versions can fetch over $1000.
For National League MVP winner Giancarlo Stanton, Topps delivered with an incredible action shot on his base card. Stanton is captured mid-swing, his massive muscles flexed as he drives the ball. At the time with the Marlins, it was a perfect teaser for the power he would display all season. After being traded to the Yankees, this card gained popularity as a piece of Marlins history before Stanton’s move.
The design for Cubs star Kris Bryant’s base card stood out with its unique vertical photo positioning. Bryant is depicted perfectly centered with his classic left-handed stance. The dynamic head-on angle makes the card really pop. Combined with Bryant’s status as a cornerstone for the World Series champion Cubs, this became a must-have for collectors of the 2016 NL MVP.
For sheer nostalgia and design excellence, the Turn Back The Clock insert set was hugely popular. Topps selected iconic photos from the past and overlaid them with a vintage-styled border. Cards like the Sandy Koufax and Roberto Clemente were instant classics. The design paid homage to the early years of the hobby in a classy, understated way.
Topps Chrome, as always, had some true gems due to the refractor parallel technology. The prized 1-of-1 prizm parallel of Judge’s rookie refractor sold at auction for a record $100,000. But even the standard chrome versions of stars like Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, and Clayton Kershaw gained immense collector demand. The refractors added an extra layer of visual appeal to some of the set’s premier cards.
Autograph cards were a major area of focus for high-end collectors. Superfractor autographs like the 1/1 Aaron Judge autographed refractor became the holy grails. But signed rookies of future stars like Bellinger, Andrew Benintendi, and Dansby Swanson gained value as they excelled. International signatures added diversity, such as a Yu Darvish auto or Carlos Correa.
Topps Finest took the photography and designs to a cinematic level. The parallels in this ultra-premium product really popped with color. Reds star Joey Votto had one of the best Finest cards with a dramatic action shot in bright green parallel. Finest became the top choice for true aficionados seeking the best presentation of the players.
In terms of sheer rarity and collector demand, the 1/1 printing plates remained white hot commodities. Examples like the Judge plate auto or Clayton Kershaw negative plate captivated the high-end market. While out of reach for most collectors price-wise, they represented the pinnacle achievement for a player’s card in the set.
In summation, the 2017 Topps release had no shortage of true classics whether it was the iconic rookie cards of Judge and Bellinger or innovative designs in Finest and Chrome. Several years later, many of these cards have become even more coveted and valuable as the players’ careers have progressed. The photography, parallels and autographs solidified this set’s place as one of the most memorable in recent years. It will be interesting to see how the long-term collector valuations play out but 2017 Topps has certainly created its fair share of modern baseball card legends.
