1997 Finest
Description
1997 Topps Finest is a 350-card fractured set, issued in two series of 175 cards each:
Series One is divided into five distinct themes:
- Finest Blue Chips (up-and-coming future stars)
- Finest Hurlers (top pitchers)
- Finest Warriors (superstar players)
- Finest Power (formidable hitters and pitchers)
- Finest Masters (top players)
Series Two is also divided into five distinct themes:
- Finest Blue Chips (up-and-coming future stars)
- Finest Acquisitions (latest trades and new signings)
- Finest Competitors (hottest players)
- Finest Power (formidable hitters and pitchers)
- Finest Masters (top players)
All five themes of each series have one of three distinctions:
- Common (1-100 and 176-275) with bronze trim
- Uncommon (101-150 and 276-325) with silver trim and an insertion rate of one in four for both series (designated with a "S" in the list below)
- Rare (151-175 and 326-350) with gold trim and an insertion rate of one in 24 for both series (designated with a "G" in the list below)
Thus, there are not Bronze, Silver, and Gold versions of every card in the set; rather, each card in the set had a designated theme and distinction. For example, card #342 features Ken Griffey, Jr. with the 'Power' theme and 'Rare/Gold' distinction. There are no 'Common/Bronze' or 'Uncommon/Silver' versions of card #342.
The only notable rookie card in this set was Brian Giles.
Distribution
24 packs per box, six cards per pack (MSRP: $5.00)
Reviews
Insertion Ratios
Series One
| Cards | Total Cards | Numbered To | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | 175 | - | ? |
| Common (Bronze) | 100 | - | 6:1 |
| Uncommon (Silver) | 500 | - | 1:4 |
| Rare (Gold) | 25 | - | 1:24 |
| Bronze Refractor | 100 | - | 1:12 |
| Silver Refractor | 50 | - | 1:48 |
| Gold Refractor | 25 | - | 1:288 |
| Silver Embossed | 50 | - | 1:16 |
| Gold Embossed Die-Cut | 25 | - | 1:96 |
| Silver Embossed Refractor | 50 | - | 1:192 |
| Gold Embossed Die-Cut Refractor | 25 | - | 1:1152 |
Series Two
| Cards | Total Cards | Numbered To | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | 175 | - | ? |
| Common (Bronze) | 100 | - | 6:1 |
| Uncommon (Silver) | 500 | - | 1:4 |
| Rare (Gold) | 25 | - | 1:24 |
| Bronze Refractor | 100 | - | 1:12 |
| Silver Refractor | 50 | - | 1:48 |
| Gold Refractor | 25 | - | 1:288 |
| Silver Embossed | 50 | - | 1:16 |
| Gold Embossed Die-Cut | 25 | - | 1:96 |
| Silver Embossed Refractor | 50 | - | 1:192 |
| Gold Embossed Die-Cut Refractor | 25 | - | 1:1152 |
Checklist
Promos
This five-card set features one promo card for each of the five themes found in the 1997 Finest Series One set. The fronts, backs, and card numbers are identical to the regular set with the exception of the words, "Promotional Sample Not for Resale" printed in red across the back. The cards are checklisted below according to their numbers in the regular set.
<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player,info from cards WHERE (year = '1997') AND (setname='Finest Promos') ORDER BY num +0 ASC; </sql2wiki>
Base Set
Series One
Bronze
<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player,info from cards WHERE (year = '1997') AND (setname='Finest') and (num < 101) ORDER BY num +0 ASC; </sql2wiki>
Silver
<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player from cards WHERE (year = '1997') AND (setname='Finest') and (num BETWEEN 101 AND 150) ORDER BY num +0 ASC; </sql2wiki>
Gold
<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player from cards WHERE (year = '1997') AND (setname='Finest') and (num BETWEEN 151 AND 175) ORDER BY num +0 ASC; </sql2wiki>
Series Two
Bronze
<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player,info from cards WHERE (year = '1997') AND (setname='Finest') and (num BETWEEN 176 AND 275) ORDER BY num +0 ASC; </sql2wiki>
Silver
<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player from cards WHERE (year = '1997') AND (setname='Finest') and (num BETWEEN 276 AND 325) ORDER BY num +0 ASC; </sql2wiki>
Gold
<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player from cards WHERE (year = '1997') AND (setname='Finest') and (num > 325) ORDER BY num +0 ASC; </sql2wiki>
Parallels
Refractors
Each of the 350 base cards were available in a Refractor parallel. Just like in the base set, the Bronze Refractors are the easiest to pull (1:12/packs), Silver Refractors were tough (1:48), and Gold Refractors were the toughest (1:288). Unlike the 1996 Finest set, Topps made no statement about the print runs of Gold Refractors
Embossed
This was a partial-parallel as only the 150 Uncommon/Silver and Rare/Gold base cards had an embossed parallel. Each Embossed parallel is imprinted to create a raised image of the player on the front. The Gold Embossed versions had a die-cut, "deckled" edge on all four sides to further distinguish from the base set.
Embossed Refractors
- Silver
- Gold
Another partial-parallel that only applied to cards with an Uncommon/Silver or Rare/Gold distinction, these were the hardest to pull and featured an embossed front with a refractor finish. The Silver Embossed Refractors featured a refractor pattern similar to the 1996 Bowman's Best Atomic Refractors. The Gold Embossed Refractors featured a refractor pattern similar to the 1997 Bowman's Best Atomic Refractors and a "deckled" edge.
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