Latest revision as of 22:15, 1 February 2022

Description

1997 Flair Showcase (produced by Fleer) was a 540-card fractured set released that summer and consisted of 180 players on three different levels/"Rows", with each Row featuring a unique front design:

Row 2: "Style" design
Row 1: "Grace" design
Row 0: "Showcase" design

The Row 2 cards were easiest to find, while the Row 0 cards were the toughest.

Each "Row" was then sub-divided into three, 60-card sub-sections featuring a different cardback icon:

Showtime: Baseball icon
Showstopper: Batter icon
Showpiece: Glove icon

Each of the 180 players in the set had one card in each of the three rows, with a specifically assigned cardback icon per Row, meaning each player had 3 base cards total. The "Seat" number on back represented the card number in the set.

1997 Flair Showcase was most notable for introducing "Masterpieces", the first ever "true" one-of-one parallel.

Distribution

24 packs per box, five cards per pack (MSRP: $4.99). Hobby only. 67,500 boxes produced.

Insertion Ratios

Cards	Showtime	Showpiece	Showstopper
Style (Row 2)	1-60 (1.5:1)	61-120 (1:1.5)	121-180 (1:1)
Grace (Row 1)	61-120 (1:2)	121-180 (1:3)	1-60 (1:2.5)
Showcase (Row 0)	120-180 (1:5)	1-60 (1:24)	61-120 (1:12)

Although the odds are not listed on the box, a typical 24-pack Hobby box should yield four Showcase Showtime cards, two Showcase Showstoppers and one Showcase Showpiece card.

Cards	Total Cards	Numbered To	Odds
Legacy Collection	540	100	1:30
Masterpiece	540	one-of-one	1:3000
Wave of the Future	27	-	1:4
Diamond Cuts	20	-	1:20
Hot Gloves	15	-	1:90
Million Dollar Moments	45	-	one-per-pack
Alex Rodriguez Emerald Exchange	1	25	1:64,800

Checklist

Promos

Alex-Rodriguez-(uncut-panel).jpg?id=f2d15630-bee8-4805-bc6e-8246e5c625b1&size=original&side=front&.jpg

Alex-Rodriguez-(uncut-panel).jpg?id=f2d15630-bee8-4805-bc6e-8246e5c625b1&size=original&side=back&.jpg

A three-card "strip" was distributed to dealers and the Hobby media a few months prior to the release of 1997 Flair Showcase. The strip contained reprints of the three Alex Rodriguez base cards later issued in packs and featured "PROMOTIONAL SAMPLE" text diagonally across the front and back.

NNO Alex Rodriguez

Base Set (Section 1)

Row 2 (Style front; Showpiece back)

Marty-Cordova.jpg?id=5dec31c6-62a1-4ab0-a927-a9782f8e1034&size=original&side=front&.jpg

Row 1 (Grace front; Showstopper back)

Jermaine-Dye.jpg?id=66f4a88d-c54f-421f-a1ef-a6fbfea59960&size=original&side=front.jpg

Row 0 (Showcase front; Showtime back)

Mariano-Rivera.jpg?id=9707c406-9eb2-4d33-8bab-de05f10ec216&size=original&side=front&.jpg

For brevity's sake, only one "Row" is listed below. The checklist for all three Rows is identical. Also note that only Row 2 cards are considered "true" rookie cards for those players. All base cards are labeled "Section 1" on the back, distinguishing them from the parallel sets, which were labeled "Section 0" on the back.

1 Andruw Jones
2 Derek Jeter
3 Alex Rodriguez
4 Paul Molitor
5 Jeff Bagwell
6 Scott Rolen
7 Kenny Lofton
8 Cal Ripken, Jr.
9 Brady Anderson
10 Chipper Jones
11 Todd Greene
12 Todd Walker
13 Billy Wagner
14 Craig Biggio
15 Kevin Orie
16 Hideo Nomo
17 Kevin Appier
18 Bubba Trammell
19 Juan Gonzalez
20 Randy Johnson
21 Roger Clemens
22 Johnny Damon
23 Ryne Sandberg
24 Ken Griffey, Jr.
25 Barry Bonds
26 Nomar Garciaparra
27 Vladimir Guerrero
28 Ron Gant
29 Joe Carter
30 Tim Salmon
31 Mike Piazza
32 Barry Larkin
33 Manny Ramirez
34 Sammy Sosa
35 Frank Thomas
36 Melvin Nieves
37 Tony Gwynn
38 Gary Sheffield
39 Darin Erstad
40 Ken Caminiti
41 Jermaine Dye
42 Mo Vaughn
43 Raul Mondesi
44 Greg Maddux
45 Chuck Knoblauch
46 Andy Pettitte
47 Deion Sanders
48 Albert Belle
49 Jamey Wright
50 Rey Ordonez
51 Bernie Williams
52 Mark McGwire
53 Mike Mussina
54 Bob Abreu
55 Reggie Sanders
56 Brian Jordan
57 Ivan Rodriguez
58 Roberto Alomar
59 Tim Naehring
60 Edgar Renteria
61 Dean Palmer
62 Benito Santiago
63 David Cone
64 Carlos Delgado
65 Brian Giles
66 Alex Ochoa
67 Rondell White
68 Robin Ventura
69 Eric Karros
70 Jose Valentin
71 Rafael Palmeiro
72 Chris Snopek
73 Dave Justice
74 Tom Glavine
75 Rudy Pemberton
76 Larry Walker
77 Jim Thome
78 Charles Johnson
79 Dante Powell
80 Derrek Lee
81 Jason Kendall
82 Todd Hollandsworth
83 Bernard Gilkey
84 Mel Rojas
85 Dmitri Young
86 Bret Boone
87 Pat Hentgen
88 Bobby Bonilla
89 John Wetteland
90 Todd Hundley
91 Wilton Guerrero
92 Geronimo Berroa
93 Al Martin
94 Danny Tartabull
95 Brian McRae
96 Steve Finley
97 Todd Stottlemyre
98 John Smoltz
99 Matt Williams
100 Eddie Murray
101 Henry Rodriguez
102 Marty Cordova
103 Juan Guzman
104 Chili Davis
105 Eric Young
106 Jeff Abbott
107 Shannon Stewart
108 Rocky Coppinger
109 Jose Canseco
110 Dante Bichette
111 Dwight Gooden
112 Scott Brosius
113 Steve Avery
114 Andres Galarraga
115 Sandy Alomar, Jr.
116 Ray Lankford
117 Jorge Posada
118 Ryan Klesko
119 Jay Buhner
120 Jose Guillen
121 Paul O'Neill
122 Jimmy Key
123 Hal Morris
124 Travis Fryman
125 Jim Edmonds
126 Jeff Cirillo
127 Fred McGriff
128 Alan Benes
129 Derek Bell
130 Tony Graffanino
131 Shawn Green
132 Denny Neagle
133 Alex Fernandez
134 Mickey Morandini
135 Royce Clayton
136 Jose Mesa
137 Edgar Martinez
138 Curt Schilling
139 Lance Johnson
140 Andy Benes
141 Charles Nagy
142 Mariano Rivera
143 Mark Wohlers
144 Ken Hill
145 Jay Bell
146 Bob Higginson
147 Mark Grudzielanek
148 Ray Durham
149 John Olerud
150 Joey Hamilton
151 Trevor Hoffman
152 Dan Wilson
153 J.T. Snow
154 Marquis Grissom
155 Yamil Benitez
156 Rusty Greer
157 Darryl Kile
158 Ismael Valdes
159 Jeff Conine
160 Darren Daulton
161 Chan Ho Park
162 Troy Percival
163 Wade Boggs
164 Dave Nilsson
165 Vinny Castilla
166 Kevin Brown
167 Dennis Eckersley
168 Wendell Magee, Jr.
169 John Jaha
170 Garret Anderson
171 Jason Giambi
172 Mark Grace
173 Tony Clark
174 Moises Alou
175 Brett Butler
176 Cecil Fielder
177 Chris Widger
178 Doug Drabek
179 Ellis Burks
180 Shigetoshi Hasegawa

Parallels (Section 0)

All 540 base cards (180 players from all three "Rows") are available in a Legacy and Masterpiece parallel. These parallels are distinctive from the base cards as both feature a black and white background and labeled "Section 0" on the cardback, differing from all base cards which are labeled "Section 1".

Legacy Collection

Tony-Graffanino.jpg?id=ccd0403e-1243-48dc-971c-93d7de8a8541&size=original&side=front&.jpg

Legacy Collection parallels are recognizable for the use of a distinctive and reflective-blue foil on the player's nameplate (front and back of card), Flair Showcase logo (front), "Legacy Collection" logo (front), and serial-number stamp (back). However, the player photos, Row design, and holographic finish were the same as the base versions. All Legacy Collections were serial-numbered to 100 copies.

Masterpiece

Dan-Wilson.jpg?id=5fd7fa58-3c36-4233-9439-0b0735b97d27&size=original&side=front&.jpg

Masterpiece parallels are recognizable for the use of a distinctive and reflective lavender foil on the player's nameplate (front and back of card), Flair Showcase logo (front), "Legacy Collection" logo (front), and serial-number stamp (back). However, the player photos, Row design, and holographic finish were the same as the base versions. All Masterpieces were stamped: "The Only 1 of 1 Masterpiece" on the back.

The Masterpiece parallel was a notable set in Hobby history as it was the first set to reduce a print run to only a single set. At a time when scarcity and serial-numbered inserts/parallels was at its peak, the creation of the one-of-one was a landmark concept that forever changed The Hobby. It was the ultimate chase card as it was the only one of its kind. Masterpieces brought almost as much criticism as it did praise from collectors as it effectively eliminated player collectors' chances to procure one copy of every card of their favorite star. Nonetheless, in response, other card companies developed their own one-of-one parallels in the subsequent months and following years and has remained a Hobby staple today.

Given the buzz around this set, a detailed history of one particular high-profile Masterpiece chase was reported on by Beckett Baseball Card Monthly: in 1997, a California dealer sought to acquire all three Ken Griffey, Jr. Flair Showcase Masterpieces. He was able to purchase two of the three for $14,000 and $15,750, respectively; however, the third Masterpiece was found by a teenager in Alaska who was offered an amount rumored to be around $24,000, which he refused. While the collector was scrutinized, he refused temptation and stated that he had found the ultimate card of his favorite player and wanted to keep the card. As a post-script, in the fall of 1999 the two other Griffey Masterpieces were auctioned on eBay. The final bid of $6800 for one of them did not come close to meeting the seller's reserve price.

Inserts

Wave of the Future

Bubba-Trammell.jpg?id=0dea2a8d-0451-4168-b034-be9603c54682&size=original&side=front&.jpg

NOTES

Cards #WF1 and #WF2 were added late in the production run. All of the other cards are sequentially-numbered "X of 25".
Card #11 is a rookie-year card (but NOT a "Rookie Card") of David Ortiz (billed as "David Arias-Ortiz"), who, for some reason, was not included in the base set.

1 Todd Greene
2 Andruw Jones
3 Randall Simon
4 Wady Almonte
5 Pat Cline
6 Jeff Abbott
7 Justin Towle
8 Richie Sexson
9 Bubba Trammell
10 Bob Abreu
11 David Ortiz (billed as "David Arias-Ortiz" on front)
12 Todd Walker
13 Orlando Cabrera
14 Vladimir Guerrero
15 Ricky Ledee
16 Jorge Posada
17 Ruben Rivera
18 Scott Spiezio
19 Scott Rolen
20 Emil Brown
21 Jose Guillen
22 T.J. Staton
23 Eli Marrero
24 Fernando Tatis
25 Ryan Jones
WF1 Hideki Irabu
WF2 Jose Cruz, Jr.

Diamond Cuts

Frank-Thomas.jpg?id=24925226-58a2-463f-bd9b-89d438612147&size=original&side=front&.jpg

1 Jeff Bagwell
2 Albert Belle
3 Ken Caminiti
4 Juan Gonzalez
5 Ken Griffey, Jr.
6 Tony Gwynn
7 Todd Hundley
8 Andruw Jones
9 Chipper Jones
10 Greg Maddux
11 Mark McGwire
12 Mike Piazza
13 Derek Jeter
14 Manny Ramirez
15 Cal Ripken, Jr.
16 Alex Rodriguez
17 Frank Thomas
18 Mo Vaughn
19 Bernie Williams
20 Matt Williams

Hot Gloves

Barry-Larkin.jpg?id=2e95c20b-2faf-47d5-bb32-05130a6d7201&size=original&side=front.jpg

1997 would mark the final year for Hot Gloves, which had been a staple of the Flair/Flair Showcase brand dating back to 1994. This year's set featured a die-cut flame design (instead of a die-cut glove in previous years) with heat-sensitive ink. The fire design all around the card would change from bright red-orange to light-orange and white when when touched or exposed to heat.

1 Roberto Alomar
2 Barry Bonds
3 Juan Gonzalez
4 Ken Griffey, Jr.
5 Marquis Grissom
6 Derek Jeter
7 Chipper Jones
8 Barry Larkin
9 Kenny Lofton
10 Greg Maddux
11 Mike Piazza
12 Cal Ripken, Jr.
13 Alex Rodriguez
14 Ivan Rodriguez
15 Frank Thomas

Million Dollar Moments

See 1997 Fleer Million Dollar Moments

Autographs & Game-Used

Alex Rodriguez Emerald Exchange

Twenty-five Alex Rodriguez Emerald Exchange cards (good for a fielding glove autographed by A-Rod) were randomly seeded into packs. The card fronts were similar in design to the regular Row 2 card, except for green foil accents. The cardback, however, consisted entirely of text explaining prize guidelines.

This card expired August 1st, 1998.

Flair
1993 - 1994 - 1995 - 1996 - 1997 Flair Showcase - 1998 Flair Showcase - 1999 Flair Showcase - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 Flair Showcase
Other Flair sets: 2003 Flair Greats

Fleer Showcase
2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005

Other Showcase Sets: 1997 Flair Showcase - 1998 Flair Showcase - 1999 Flair Showcase - 2003 Fleer Avant - 2004 Fleer Sweet Sigs

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[File:1997flairbox.jpg|frame|1997 Flair Showcase box]]
 =Description=
@@ Line 101: / Line 99: @@
 ==Parallels (Section 0)==
-All 540 base cards (180 players from all three "Rows") are available in a Legacy or Masterpiece parallel.  These parallels are distinctive from the base cards as both feature a black and white background and labeled "Section 0" on the cardback, differing from all base cards which are labeled "Section 1".
+All 540 base cards (180 players from all three "Rows") are available in a Legacy and Masterpiece parallel.  These parallels are distinctive from the base cards as both feature a black and white background and labeled "Section 0" on the cardback, differing from all base cards which are labeled "Section 1".
 ===Legacy Collection===
@@ Line 115: / Line 113: @@
 https://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/1997/Flair-Showcase---Base---Legacy-Collection-Row-1-Masterpiece/152/Dan-Wilson.jpg?id=5fd7fa58-3c36-4233-9439-0b0735b97d27&size=original&side=back&.jpg
-Masterpiece parallels are recognizable for the use of a distinctive and reflective-purple foil on the player's nameplate (front and back of card), Flair Showcase logo (front), "Legacy Collection" logo (front), and serial-number stamp (back).  However, the player photos, Row design, and holographic finish were the same as the base versions.  All Masterpieces were stamped: '''"The ''Only'' 1 of 1 Masterpiece"''' on the back.
+Masterpiece parallels are recognizable for the use of a distinctive and reflective lavender foil on the player's nameplate (front and back of card), Flair Showcase logo (front), "Legacy Collection" logo (front), and serial-number stamp (back).  However, the player photos, Row design, and holographic finish were the same as the base versions.  All Masterpieces were stamped: '''"The ''Only'' 1 of 1 Masterpiece"''' on the back.
-The Masterpiece parallel was a notable set in Hobby history as it was the first set to reduce a print run to only a single set. At a time when scarcity and serial-numbered inserts/parallels was at its peak, the creation of the one-of-one was a landmark concept that forever changed the Hobby.  It was the ultimate chase card as it was the only one of its kind.  Masterpieces brought almost as much criticism as it did praise from collectors as it effectively eliminated player collectors' chances to procure one copy of every card of their favorite star.  Nonetheless, in response, other card companies developed their own one-of-one parallels in the subsequent months and following years and has remained a Hobby staple today.
+The Masterpiece parallel was a notable set in Hobby history as it was the first set to reduce a print run to only a single set. At a time when scarcity and serial-numbered inserts/parallels was at its peak, the creation of the one-of-one was a landmark concept that forever changed The Hobby.  It was the ultimate chase card as it was the only one of its kind.  Masterpieces brought almost as much criticism as it did praise from collectors as it effectively eliminated player collectors' chances to procure one copy of every card of their favorite star.  Nonetheless, in response, other card companies developed their own one-of-one parallels in the subsequent months and following years and has remained a Hobby staple today.
-Given the buzz around this set, a detailed history of one particular high-profile Masterpiece chase was published by ''Beckett Baseball Card Monthly'': in 1997, a California dealer sought to acquire all three Ken Griffey, Jr. Flair Showcase Masterpieces.  He was able to purchase two of the three for $14,000 and $15,750, respectively; however, the third Masterpiece was found by a teenager in Alaska who was offered an amount rumored to be around $24,000, which he refused.  While the collector was scrutinized, he refused temptation and stated that he had found the ultimate card of his favorite player and wanted to keep the card. As a post-script, in the fall of 1999 the two other Griffey Masterpieces were auctioned on eBay. The final bid of $6,800 for one of them did not come close to meeting the seller's reserve price.
+Given the buzz around this set, a detailed history of one particular high-profile Masterpiece chase was reported on by ''Beckett Baseball Card Monthly'': in 1997, a California dealer sought to acquire all three Ken Griffey, Jr. Flair Showcase Masterpieces.  He was able to purchase two of the three for $14,000 and $15,750, respectively; however, the third Masterpiece was found by a teenager in Alaska who was offered an amount rumored to be around $24,000, which he refused.  While the collector was scrutinized, he refused temptation and stated that he had found the ultimate card of his favorite player and wanted to keep the card. As a post-script, in the fall of 1999 the two other Griffey Masterpieces were auctioned on eBay. The final bid of $6800 for one of them did not come close to meeting the seller's reserve price.
 ==Inserts==
@@ Line 128: / Line 126: @@
 https://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/1997/Flair-Showcase---Wave-of-the-Future/9/Bubba-Trammell.jpg?id=0dea2a8d-0451-4168-b034-be9603c54682&size=original&side=back&.jpg
-'''NOTE:''' Cards #WF1 and #WF2 were added late in the production run.  All of the other cards are sequentially-numbered "X of 25".
+'''NOTES'''
+* Cards #WF1 and #WF2 were added late in the production run.  All of the other cards are sequentially-numbered "X of 25".
+* Card #11 is a rookie-year card (but NOT a "Rookie Card") of David Ortiz (billed as "David Arias-Ortiz"), who, for some reason, was not included in the base set.
 <sql2wiki database="carddb">
@@ Line 136: / Line 137: @@
 ===Diamond Cuts===
-[[File:1997flairdc.jpg]]
+https://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/1997/Flair-Showcase---Diamond-Cuts/17/Frank-Thomas.jpg?id=24925226-58a2-463f-bd9b-89d438612147&size=original&side=front&.jpg
 https://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/1997/Flair-Showcase---Diamond-Cuts/17/Frank-Thomas.jpg?id=24925226-58a2-463f-bd9b-89d438612147&size=original&side=back&.jpg
@@ Line 147: / Line 148: @@
 https://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/1997/Flair-Showcase---Hot-Gloves/8/Barry-Larkin.jpg?id=2e95c20b-2faf-47d5-bb32-05130a6d7201&size=original&side=back&.jpg
-was the last time Flair's staple, Hot Glove insert was produced in the decade as it was not featured in the [[1998 Flair Showcase]] or [[1999 Flair Showcase]] products.  It featured a die-cut design of fire (instead of a die-cut glove in previous years) that was heat-sensitive.  The fire design all around the card would change from bright red-orange to light-orange and white when exposed to heat, via touch or other heating methods.
+would mark the final year for Hot Gloves, which had been a staple of the Flair/Flair Showcase brand dating back to [[1994 Flair|1994.]]  This year's set featured a die-cut flame design (instead of a die-cut glove in previous years) with heat-sensitive ink.  The fire design all around the card would change from bright red-orange to light-orange and white when when touched or exposed to heat.
 <sql2wiki database="carddb">
@@ Line 161: / Line 162: @@
 ===Alex Rodriguez Emerald Exchange===
-Twenty-five Alex Rodriguez Emerald Exchange cards (good for an autographed Rodriguez fielding glove) were randomly seeded into packs. The card fronts were similar in design to the regular Row 2 card, except for green foil accents. The cardback, however, consisted entirely of text explaining prize guidelines. The deadline to exchange the card was 8/1/98
+Twenty-five Alex Rodriguez Emerald Exchange cards (good for a fielding glove autographed by A-Rod) were randomly seeded into packs. The card fronts were similar in design to the regular Row 2 card, except for green foil accents. The cardback, however, consisted entirely of text explaining prize guidelines.
+This card expired August 1st, 1998.
 <sql2wiki database="carddb">
@@ Line 167: / Line 170: @@
 </sql2wiki>
 {{Flair}}
+{{Showcase}}
 [[Category:Fleer]]
 [[Category:1997]]