1997 Select
Description
1997 Select is a 200-card set released in two series of 150 and 50 cards. The 150-card "Lo-Series" set, released in April 1997, contains 100 "Red" cards and 50 "Blue" cards -- which are short-printed and seeded at the rate of one-per-pack.
A "Hi-Number" Series was issued in December 1997. Similar to the hi-number cards released in the early days of Upper Deck, 1997 Select Hi-Number re-issued all 150 "Low-Series" cards, and added an additional 50 cards. Each five-card Hi-Series pack contained two Lo-Series Red cards, one Lo-Series Blue card, one Hi-Number card, and a "Select Company" parallel.
The lone notable rookie card is of Mark Kotsay who is in the Hi-Number series.
Distribution
Lo/Hi Series: 24 packs per box, five cards per pack (MSRP: $2.99).
Reviews
Insertion Ratios
| Cards | Total Cards | Numbered To | Lo-Series Odds | Hi-Series Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base | 200 | - | ? | ? |
| Lo-Series Red | 100 | - | 4:1 | 2:1 |
| Lo-Series Blue | 50 | - | 1:1 | 1:1 |
| Hi-Series | 50 | - | N/A | 1:1 |
| Select Company | 200 | - | N/A | 1:1 |
| Registered Gold Red | 100 | - | 1:11 | 1:11 |
| Registered Gold Blue | 50 | - | 1:47 | 1:47 |
| Artist's Proofs Red | 100 | - | 1:71 | 1:71 |
| Artist's Proofs Blue | 50 | - | 1:355 | 1:355 |
| Tools of the Trade | 25 | - | 1:9 | 1:9 |
| Tools of the Trade Mirror Blue | 25 | - | 1:240 | 1:240 |
| Rookie Revolution | 20 | 2000 | 1:56 | 1:56 |
| Rookie Autographs | 3 | varies | ? | N/A |
Checklist
Promos
These cards were issued to Hobby dealers and the Hobby media to preview the 1997 Select set. These cards have "SAMPLE" written on the front to differentiate them from the regular cards. It is unclear exactly how many sample cards were made; the list below shows only those known to exist.
Error while connecting to host "" !
Base Set
Lo Series
Red cards as designated with an "R," while the short-printed Blue cards have a "B."
Error while connecting to host "" !
Hi-Numbers
NOTE: All Hi-Series base cards accidentally had the words "Select Company" printed on them. Hi-Number base cards were printed on etched foil, whereas the Select Company parallels were printed on a coarse "frosted" foil.
Error while connecting to host "" !
Parallels
Select Company
Randomly inserted one in every Select Hi-Series pack, this 200-card set is parallels the Select base set. The difference is found in the full foil card stock with puffed ink accented highlights.
NOTE: All Hi-Series base cards accidentally had the words "Select Company" printed on them. Hi-Number base cards were printed on etched foil, whereas the Select Company parallels were printed on a coarse "frosted" foil.
Registered Gold
This 150-card set parallels the entire Lo-Series set. These cards were available in both Lo and Hi-Series packs, but Registered Gold cards for the 50 Hi-Numbers do not exist.
Artist's Proofs
This 150-card set parallels the entire Lo-Series set. Like the Registered Gold parallels, Artist's Proofs were available in both Lo and Hi-Series packs, but cards for the 50 Hi-Numbers do not exist.
Inserts
Tools of the Trade
This set matches 25 young players with 25 veteran superstars printed back-to-back on a double-fronted full silver foil card stock with gold foil stamping. Tools of the Trade cards were randomly inserted into both series packs.
A "Mirror Blue" parallel was also available.
Error while connecting to host "" !
Rookie Revolution
This set features 20 of the top rookies on etched-foil cards. Each card is serial-numbered on the back, however, Pinnacle Brands never publicly announced the print run. It is believed that cards serial-numbered 0001-1500 were inserted into Lo-Series packs, while 1501-2000 were seeded into the Hi-Series.
Error while connecting to host "" !
Autographs & Game-Used
Rookie Autographs
These four autographed cards were randomly inserted into Lo-Series packs. Each player signed 3000 copies, except Andruw Jones who signed 2500.
Error while connecting to host "" !
