The 2017 Topps Series 1 baseball card set was released in late January 2017 and contained numerous rookie cards and stars from the 2016 season that have significant future potential. While most packs contained common cards worth only a few cents, some packs contained highly valuable rookie cards or star veteran cards that could be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Let’s take a look at some of the most valuable 2017 Topps Series 1 baseball cards to pull from packs or buy as singles:
Cody Bellinger Rookie Card (RC) – The #1 card from the 2017 Topps Series 1 set is the Cody Bellinger rookie card. Bellinger had a phenomenal rookie season with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017, batting .267 with 39 home runs and 97 RBIs and winning NL Rookie of the Year honors. His Topps Series 1 rookie card is one of the key rookie cards from the entire 2017 season and is extremely valuable in high grades. Mint condition PSA 10 Bellinger rookies have sold for over $1,000 with most graded examples in the $200-500 range. Even raw copies in excellent condition can fetch $100-200. Bellinger appears poised for stardom making this one of the signature rookie cards from the entire decade.
Aaron Judge Rookie Card – Right behind Bellinger is another extremely valuable rookie, Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees. After breaking Mark McGwire’s rookie home run record with 52 homers in 2017, Judge became one of baseball’s biggest stars overnight. His Topps Series 1 rookie card exploded in value, with high grade PSA 10 copies approaching $1,000 as well. Most PSA 9 copies sell for $300-500 while raw mint versions can be had for $100-200. Judge looks like a perennial MVP candidate, practically ensuring his Topps rookie will remain one of the premier modern cards for years to come.
Corey Seager Rookie Card – Seager had a breakout season in 2016 when he won NL Rookie of the Year honors and helped lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to the NL pennant. His Topps Series 1 rookie card from 2015 remained a hot commodity in 2017. High grade PSA 10 copies consistently sell for $400-600 while most PSA 9’s go for $150-300. Even in raw near-mint condition, Seager rookies demand $50-150 due to his young age (24 in 2017), all-star performance, and status as a franchise cornerstone for the Dodgers going forward.
Alex Bregman Rookie Card – Bregman came off a strong rookie campaign for the Houston Astros in 2016 where he batted .264 with 19 home runs and 52 RBIs. His potential and role on a perennial contender like Houston make his Topps Series 1 rookie highly regarded. PSA 10 Bregman rookies sell in the $200-300 range usually with most PSA 9’s around $75-150. Even raw near-mint copies trade hands for $40-75 regularly. At just 23 years old in 2017, Bregman looked primed for stardom keeping his rookie card prices buoyant.
Yoan Moncada Rookie Card – Moncada was one of the most hyped international prospects ever when he signed with the Boston Red Sox out of Cuba. Traded to the Chicago White Sox in 2016, Moncada had a promising debut late in the year leaving scouts frothing over his future. As a result, his Topps Series 1 rookie remains a hot ticket. PSA 10 Moncadas reach $250-350 with most PSA 9’s around $100-200. Even raw near-mint copies demand $30-75 based on Moncada’s franchise-caliber talent at just age 21 in 2017.
Kris Bryant SP Variation – The Kris Bryant short print variation remains one of the prized shorts from Topps Flagship sets. Numbered to only 69 copies, these ultra-rare variations sell for an absolute premium. PSA 10 Bryant short prints have been known to sell for over $2,000 with most graded specimens in the $500-1,000 range. Even low-grade examples still bring $200-300 based on the extreme rarity and stature of Bryant, the reigning 2016 NL MVP, as a modern-day baseball superstar. Outside of autograph and relic cards, the Bryant SP stands out as the most intrinsically valuable card in the entire 2017 Topps Series 1 collection.
Clayton Kershaw Base Card – As one of the finest pitchers of his generation, any Clayton Kershaw card holds value. But his base card from Topps Series 1 remains a perennial favorite for collectors. In PSA 10 condition, Kershaw bases have sold for $250-350. Most PSA 9’s go for $75-150 with raw near-mint copies changing hands for $25-50. Even at age 29 in 2017, Kershaw showed no signs of slowing down and looked poised to cement his legacy as one of the all-time greats, guaranteeing his cards remain a collector favorite for years.
Noah Syndergaard SP Variation – Coming in a very close second to the Bryant short print for rarities in the 2017 Topps Series 1 set is the coveted Noah Syndergaard short print variation, of which there were only 25 copies made. An almost impossibly rare pull, PSA 10 “Thor” short prints have astonishingly sold for up to $1,500 before with most elite examples between $500-1,000. Even lower graded examples in the PSA 7-8 range have reached $200-300 prices. Simply put, the Syndergaard SP stands as one of the single most valuable cards from the flagship Topps series in years.
Mike Trout SP Variation – No discussion of modern valuable cards is complete without mentioning Mike Trout. While not quite as rare as the above Syndergaard at 99 copies made, the Trout short print retains immense value due to his status as arguably the best player in baseball. PSA 10 Trout SPs consistently sell for $300-500, with most PSA 9s in the $150-300 range as well. Clearly, Trout continues to be the golden goose of the collectibles industry, making any of his prized short prints universally coveted items for both investors and fans alike.
The 2017 Topps Series 1 set showed that while most packs contain readily available commons, there is always the chance at pulling a highly valuable modern star rookie or ultrarare parallel that could net collectors hundreds or thousands of dollars. Top rookies from the year like Bellinger, Judge and others are sure to retain value for decades as their careers progress. Meanwhile, scarce short prints of future Hall of Famers like Bryant, Trout and Syndergaard could grow to be worth small fortunes to their fortunate holders. Whether seeking key young prospects or rare veteran parallels, the 2017 Topps Series 1 set housed many potential long-term blue chip investments.
