Description

1997 Leaf is a 400-card set issued in two separate 200-card series. The set contains the following subsets: Legacy (188-197/348-367), Checklists (198-200/398-400) and Gamers (368-397). Rookie Cards in this set include Jose Cruz Jr., Brian Giles and Hideki Irabu.

In a tie in with the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's major league debut, Donruss/Leaf also issued some collectible items. They made 42 all-leather jackets (issued to match Robinson's uniform number). There were also 311 leather jackets produced (to match Robinson's career batting average). 1,500 lithographs were also produced of which Rachel Robinson (Jackie's widow) signed 500 of them.

Distribution

Reviews

Insertion Ratios

Cards	Total Cards	Numbered To	Hobby Odds	Retail Odds	Jumbo Odds
Base	400	-	?	?	?
Fractal Matrix	400	varies	?	?	?
Fractal Matrix Die-Cut	400	varies	?	?	?
Knot-Hole Gang (S1)	12	5000	?	?	?
Get-A-Grip (S1)	16	3500	?	N/A	N/A
Dress For Success (S1)	18	3500	N/A	?	N/A
Banner Season (S1)	15	2500	N/A	N/A	?
Statistical Standouts (S1)	15	1000	?	?	?
Warning Track (S2)	18	3500	?	?	N/A
Gold Leaf Stars (S2)	36	2500	?	?	N/A
Leagues of the Nation (S2)	15	2500	?	?	N/A
Jackie Robinson 1948 Reprint (S2)	1	1948	?	?	N/A
Frank Thomas Collection (S2)	6	100	?	?	N/A

Checklist

Base Set

Series One

1 Wade Boggs GY
2 Brian McRae BY
3 Jeff D'Amico BY
4 George Arias SY
5 Billy Wagner SY
6 Ray Lankford BZ
7 Will Clark SY
8 Edgar Renteria SY
9 Alex Ochoa SY
10 Roberto Hernandez BX
11 Joe Carter SY
12 Gregg Jefferies BY
13 Mark Grace SY
14 Roberto Alomar GY
15 Joe Randa BX
16 Alex Rodriguez GZ
17 Tony Gwynn GZ
18 Steve Gibralter BY
19 Scott Stahoviak BX
20 Matt Williams SZ
21 Quinton McCracken BY
22 Ugueth Urbina BX
23 Jermaine Allensworth SX
24 Paul Molitor GX
25 Carlos Delgado SY
26 Bob Abreu SY
27 John Jaha SY
28 Rusty Greer SZ
29 Kimera Bartee BX
30 Ruben Rivera SY
31 Jason Kendall SY
32 Lance Johnson BX
33 Robin Ventura BY
34 Kevin Appier SX
35 John Mabry SY
36 Ricky Otero BX
37 Mike Lansing BX
38 Mark McGwire GZ
39 Tim Naehring BX
40 Tom Glavine SZ
41 Rey Ordonez SY
42 Tony Clark SY
43 Rafael Palmeiro SZ
44 Pedro Martinez BX
45 Keith Lockhart BX
46 Dan Wilson BY
47 John Wetteland BY
48 Chan Ho Park BX
49 Gary Sheffield GZ
50 Shawn Estes BX
51 Royce Clayton BX
52 Jaime Navarro BX
53 Raul Casanova BX
54 Jeff Bagwell GZ
55 Barry Larkin GX
56 Charles Nagy BY
57 Ken Caminiti GY
58 Todd Hollandsworth SZ
59 Pat Hentgen SX
60 Jose Valentin BX
61 Frank Rodriguez BX
62 Mickey Tettleton BX
63 Marty Cordova GX
64 Cecil Fielder SX
65 Barry Bonds GZ
66 Scott Servais BX
67 Ernie Young BX
68 Wilson Alvarez BX
69 Mike Grace BX
70 Shane Reynolds SX
71 Henry Rodriguez SY
72 Eric Karros BX
73 Mark Langston BX
74 Scott Karl BX
75 Trevor Hoffman BX
76 Orel Hershiser SX
77 John Smoltz GY
78 Raul Mondesi GZ
79 Jeff Brantley BX
80 Donne Wall BX
81 Joey Cora BX
82 Mel Rojas BX
83 Chad Mottola BX
84 Omar Vizquel BX
85 Greg Maddux GZ
86 Jamey Wright SY
87 Chuck Finley BX
88 Brady Anderson GY
89 Alex Gonzalez SX
90 Andy Benes BX
91 Reggie Jefferson BX
92 Paul O'Neill BY
93 Javy Lopez SX
94 Mark Grudzielanek SX
95 Marc Newfield BX
96 Kevin Ritz BX
97 Fred McGriff GY
98 Dwight Gooden SX
99 Hideo Nomo SY
100 Steve Finley BX
101 Juan Gonzalez GZ
102 Jay Buhner SZ
103 Paul Wilson SY
104 Alan Benes BY
105 Manny Ramirez GZ
106 Kevin Elster BX
107 Frank Thomas GZ
108 Orlando Miller BX
109 Ramon Martinez BX
110 Kenny Lofton GZ
111 Bernie Williams GY
112 Robby Thompson BX
113 Bernard Gilkey BZ
114 Ray Durham BX
115 Jeff Cirillo SZ
116 Brian Jordan GZ
117 Rich Becker SY
118 Al Leiter BX
119 Mark Johnson BX
120 Ellis Burks BY
121 Sammy Sosa GZ
122 Willie Greene BX
123 Michael Tucker BX
124 Eddie Murray GY
125 Joey Hamilton SY
126 Antonio Osuna BX
127 Bob Higginson SY
128 Tomas Perez BX
129 Tim Salmon GZ
130 Mark Wohlers BX
131 Charles Johnson SX
132 Randy Johnson SY
133 Brooks Kieschnick SX
134 Al Martin SY
135 Dante Bichette BX
136 Andy Pettitte GZ
137 Jason Giambi GY
138 James Baldwin SX
139 Ben McDonald BX
140 Shawn Green SX
141 Geronimo Berroa BY
142 Jose Offerman BX
143 Curtis Pride BX
144 Terrell Wade BX
145 Ismael Valdes SX
146 Mike Mussina SY
147 Mariano Rivera SX
148 Ken Hill BY
149 Darin Erstad GZ
150 Jay Bell BX
151 Mo Vaughn GZ
152 Ozzie Smith GY
153 Jose Mesa BX
154 Osvaldo Fernandez BX
155 Vinny Castilla BY
156 Jason Isringhausen SY
157 B.J. Surhoff BX
158 Robert Perez BX
159 Ron Coomer BX
160 Darren Oliver BX
161 Mike Mohler BX
162 Russ Davis BX
163 Bret Boone BX
164 Ricky Bottalico BX
165 Derek Jeter GZ
166 Orlando Merced BX
167 John Valentin BX
168 Andruw Jones GZ
169 Angel Echevarria BX
170 Todd Walker GZ
171 Desi Relaford BY
172 Trey Beamon SX
173 Brian Giles SY
174 Scott Rolen GZ
175 Shannon Stewart SZ
176 Dmitri Young GZ
177 Justin Thompson BX
178 Trot Nixon SY
179 Josh Booty SY
180 Robin Jennings BX
181 Marvin Benard BX
182 Luis Castillo BY
183 Wendell Magee, Jr. BX
184 Vladimir Guerrero GX
185 Nomar Garciaparra GX
186 Ryan Hancock BX
187 Mike Cameron SX
188 Cal Ripken, Jr. LG BZ
189 Chipper Jones LG SZ
190 Albert Belle LG SZ
191 Mike Piazza LG BZ
192 Chuck Knoblauch LG SY
193 Ken Griffey, Jr. LG BZ
194 Ivan Rodriguez LG GZ
195 Jose Canseco LG SX
196 Ryne Sandberg LG SX
197 Jim Thome LG GY
198 Andy Pettitte CL BY
199 Andruw Jones CL BY
200 Derek Jeter CL SY

Series Two

201 Chipper Jones GX
202 Albert Belle GY
203 Mike Piazza GY
204 Ken Griffey, Jr. GX
205 Ryne Sandberg GZ
206 Jose Canseco SY
207 Chili Davis BX
208 Roger Clemens GZ
209 Deion Sanders GZ
210 Darryl Hamilton BX
211 Jermaine Dye SX
212 Matt Williams GY
213 Kevin Elster BX
214 John Wetteland SX
215 Garret Anderson GZ
216 Kevin Brown GY
217 Matt Lawton SY
218 Cal Ripken, Jr. GX
219 Moises Alou GY
220 Chuck Knoblauch GZ
221 Ivan Rodriguez GY
222 Travis Fryman BY
223 Jim Thome GZ
224 Eddie Murray SZ
225 Eric Young GZ
226 Ron Gant SX
227 Tony Phillips BX
228 Reggie Sanders BY
229 Johnny Damon SZ
230 Bill Pulsipher BX
231 Jim Edmonds GZ
232 Melvin Nieves BX
233 Ryan Klesko GZ
234 David Cone SX
235 Derek Bell BY
236 Julio Franco SX
237 Juan Guzman BX
238 Larry Walker GZ
239 Delino DeShields BX
240 Troy Percival BY
241 Andres Galarraga GZ
242 Rondell White GZ
243 John Burkett BX
244 J.T. Snow BY
245 Alex Fernandez SY
246 Edgar Martinez GZ
247 Craig Biggio GZ
248 Todd Hundley GY
249 Jimmy Key SX
250 Cliff Floyd BY
251 Jeff Conine BY
252 Curt Schilling BX
253 Jeff King BX
254 Tino Martinez GZ
255 Carlos Baerga SY
256 Jeff Fassero BY
257 Dean Palmer SY
258 Robb Nen BX
259 Sandy Alomar, Jr. SY
260 Carlos Perez BX
261 Rickey Henderson SY
262 Bobby Bonilla SY
263 Darren Daulton BX
264 Jim Leyritz BX
265 Dennis Martinez BX
266 Butch Huskey BX
267 Joe Vitiello SY
268 Steve Trachsel BX
269 Glenallen Hill BX
270 Terry Steinbach BX
271 Mark McLemore BX
272 Devon White BX
273 Jeff Kent BX
274 Tim Raines BX
275 Carlos Garcia BX
276 Hal Morris BX
277 Gary Gaetti BX
278 John Olerud SY
279 Wally Joyner BX
280 Brian Hunter SX
281 Steve Karsay BX
282 Denny Neagle SX
283 Jose Herrera BX
284 Todd Stottlemyre BX
285 Bip Roberts SX
286 Kevin Seitzer BX
287 Benji Gil BX
288 Dennis Eckersley SX
289 Brad Ausmus BX
290 Otis Nixon BX
291 Darryl Strawberry BX
292 Marquis Grissom SY
293 Darryl Kile BX
294 Quilvio Veras BX
295 Tom Goodwin BX
296 Benito Santiago BX
297 Mike Bordick BX
298 Roberto Kelly BX
299 Dave Justice GZ
300 Carl Everett BX
301 Mark Whiten BX
302 Aaron Sele BX
303 Darren Dreifort BX
304 Bobby Jones BX
305 Fernando Vina BX
306 Ed Sprague BX
307 Andy Ashby SX
308 Tony Fernandez BX
309 Roger Pavlik BX
310 Mark Clark BX
311 Mariano Duncan BX
312 Tyler Houston BX
313 Eric Davis SY
314 Greg Vaughn BY
315 David Segui SY
316 Dave Nilsson SX
317 F.P. Santangelo SX
318 Wilton Guerrero GZ
319 Jose Guillen GZ
320 Kevin Orie SY
321 Derrek Lee GZ
322 Bubba Trammell SY
323 Pokey Reese GZ
324 Hideki Irabu GX
325 Scott Spiezio SZ
326 Bartolo Colon GZ
327 Damon Mashore SY
328 Ryan McGuire SY
329 Chris Carpenter BX
330 Jose Cruz, Jr. GX
331 Todd Greene SZ
332 Brian Moehler BX
333 Mike Sweeney BY
334 Neifi Perez GZ
335 Matt Morris SY
336 Marvin Benard BY
337 Karim Garcia SZ
338 Jason Dickson SY
339 Brant Brown SY
340 Jeff Suppan SZ
341 Deivi Cruz BX
342 Antone Williamson GZ
343 Curtis Goodwin BX
344 Brooks Kieschnick SY
345 Tony Womack BX
346 Rudy Pemberton BX
347 Todd Dunwoody BX
348 Frank Thomas LG SY
349 Andruw Jones LG SX
350 Alex Rodriguez LG BY
351 Greg Maddux LG SY
352 Jeff Bagwell LG BY
353 Juan Gonzalez LG SY
354 Barry Bonds LG BY
355 Mark McGwire LG BY
356 Tony Gwynn LG BY
357 Gary Sheffield LG BX
358 Derek Jeter LG SX
359 Manny Ramirez LG SY
360 Hideo Nomo LG GZ
361 Sammy Sosa LG BX
362 Paul Molitor LG SZ
363 Kenny Lofton LG BY
364 Eddie Murray LG BX
365 Barry Larkin LG SZ
366 Roger Clemens LG SY
367 John Smoltz LG BZ
368 Alex Rodriguez GM SX
369 Frank Thomas GM BX
370 Cal Ripken, Jr. GM SY
371 Ken Griffey, Jr. GM SY
372 Greg Maddux GM BX
373 Mike Piazza GM SX
374 Chipper Jones GM BY
375 Albert Belle GM BX
376 Chuck Knoblauch GM BX
377 Brady Anderson GM BZ
378 Dave Justice GM SX
379 Randy Johnson GM BZ
380 Wade Boggs GM BX
381 Kevin Brown GM BX
382 Tom Glavine GM GY
383 Raul Mondesi GM SX
384 Ivan Rodriguez GM SX
385 Larry Walker GM BY
386 Bernie Williams GM BZ
387 Rusty Greer GM GY
388 Rafael Palmeiro GM GY
389 Matt Williams GM BX
390 Eric Young GM BX
391 Fred McGriff GM BX
392 Ken Caminiti GM BX
393 Roberto Alomar GM BZ
394 Brian Jordan GM BZ
395 Mark Grace GM GZ
396 Jim Edmonds GM BY
397 Deion Sanders GM SY
398 Vladimir Guerrero CL SZ
399 Darin Erstad CL SY
400 Nomar Garciaparra CL SZ

Parallels

Fractal Matrix

Randomly inserted in packs, this 400-card set parallels the Leaf base set and features color player photos with either a bronze, silver or gold finish. No card is available in more than one color. The set is broken into nine tiers based on three colors (Bronze, Gold and Silver) and three axes (X, Y and Z). The non-die-cut cards do NOT designate which axis the card belongs to.

In each series, 100 cards were designated Bronze, 60 Silver, and 40 Gold; 125 were X-Axis, 50 Y-Axis, and 25 Z-Axis.

2000 copies of each Bronze, 1000 of each Silver, and 500 of each Gold card were produced. For the die-cuts, the first 400 copies (regardless of color) of each X-Axis card are die-cut, 200 Y-Axis, and 100 Z-Axis.

This chart shows exactly how many of each card were produced.

regular/die-cut	X-Axis	Y-Axis	Z-Axis
Bronze	1600/400	1800/200	1900/100
Silver	600/400	800/200	900/100
Gold	100/400	300/200	400/100

For the sake of brevity, we have denoted each card's Axis and Color in the base set checklist.

Inserts

Knot-Hole Gang

These cards were inserted across all Series One packs and are serial-numbered to 5000 copies.

In addition, a promo edition of this set was also produced and distributed to dealers and The Hobby Media. The promos are serial-numbered "PROMO/5000" on the back.

1 Chuck Knoblauch
2 Ken Griffey, Jr.
3 Frank Thomas
4 Tony Gwynn
5 Mike Piazza
6 Jeff Bagwell
7 Rusty Greer
8 Cal Ripken, Jr.
9 Chipper Jones
10 Ryan Klesko
11 Barry Larkin
12 Paul Molitor

Get-A-Grip

This set was exclusive to Series One Hobby packs and is serial-numbered to 3500 copies.

16 Mariano Rivera / Ken Caminiti
15 Cal Ripken / Bill Pulsipher
14 Derek Jeter / Al Leiter
13 Mo Vaughn / Andy Benes
12 Ivan Rodriguez / Paul Wilson
11 Roger Clemens / Brian Jordan
10 Andruw Jones / Troy Percival
9 Hideo Nomo / Albert Belle
8 Barry Bonds / Mike Mussina
7 Juan Gonzalez / Kevin Brown
6 Jeff Bagwell / Pat Hentgen
5 Alex Rodriguez / Tom Glavine
4 Chipper Jones / Randy Johnson
3 Mike Piazza / Andy Pettitte
2 Frank Thomas / John Smoltz
1 Ken Griffey, Jr. / Greg Maddux

Dress For Success

This set is exclusive to Series One retail packs and features cards printed on nylon. Each card is serial-numbered to 3500 copies.

1 Greg Maddux
2 Cal Ripken, Jr.
3 Albert Belle
4 Frank Thomas
5 Dante Bichette
6 Gary Sheffield
7 Jeff Bagwell
8 Mike Piazza
9 Mark McGwire
10 Ken Caminiti
11 Alex Rodriguez
12 Ken Griffey, Jr.
13 Juan Gonzalez
14 Brian Jordan
15 Mo Vaughn
16 Ivan Rodriguez
17 Andruw Jones
18 Chipper Jones

Banner Season

This set is exclusive to Series One jumbo packs and features cards printed on canvas. Each card is serial-numbered to 2500 copies.

1 Jeff Bagwell
2 Ken Griffey, Jr.
3 Juan Gonzalez
4 Frank Thomas
5 Alex Rodriguez
6 Kenny Lofton
7 Chuck Knoblauch
8 Mo Vaughn
9 Chipper Jones
10 Ken Caminiti
11 Craig Biggio
12 John Smoltz
13 Pat Hentgen
14 Derek Jeter
15 Todd Hollandsworth

Statistical Standouts

These cards were inserted across all Series One packs and are serial-numbered to 1000 copies. Each card is die-cit and folds out to look (and feel) like a baseball glove.

1 Albert Belle
2 Juan Gonzalez
3 Ken Griffey, Jr.
4 Alex Rodriguez
5 Frank Thomas
6 Chipper Jones
7 Greg Maddux
8 Mike Piazza
9 Cal Ripken, Jr.
10 Mark McGwire
11 Barry Bonds
12 Derek Jeter
13 Ken Caminiti
14 John Smoltz
15 Paul Molitor

Warning Track

This set is exclusive to Series Two packs and features cards printed on canvas. Each card is serial-numbered to 3500 copies.

1 Ken Griffey, Jr.
2 Albert Belle
3 Barry Bonds
4 Andruw Jones
5 Kenny Lofton
6 Tony Gwynn
7 Manny Ramirez
8 Rusty Greer
9 Bernie Williams
10 Gary Sheffield
11 Juan Gonzalez
12 Raul Mondesi
13 Brady Anderson
14 Rondell White
15 Sammy Sosa
16 Deion Sanders
17 Dave Justice
18 Jim Edmonds

Gold Leaf Stars

This set is exclusive to Series Two packs and features cards stamped with real 24K gold leaf. Each is serial-numbered to 2500 copies.

1 Frank Thomas
2 Alex Rodriguez
3 Ken Griffey, Jr.
4 Andruw Jones
5 Chipper Jones
6 Jeff Bagwell
7 Derek Jeter
8 Deion Sanders
9 Ivan Rodriguez
10 Juan Gonzalez
11 Greg Maddux
12 Andy Pettitte
13 Roger Clemens
14 Hideo Nomo
15 Tony Gwynn
16 Barry Bonds
17 Kenny Lofton
18 Paul Molitor
19 Jim Thome
20 Albert Belle
21 Cal Ripken, Jr.
22 Mark McGwire
23 Barry Larkin
24 Mike Piazza
25 Darin Erstad
26 Chuck Knoblauch
27 Vladimir Guerrero
28 Tony Clark
29 Scott Rolen
30 Nomar Garciaparra
31 Eric Young
32 Ryne Sandberg
33 Roberto Alomar
34 Eddie Murray
35 Rafael Palmeiro
36 Jose Guillen

Leagues of the Nation

This set is exclusive to Series Two packs and features die-cut cards printed on felt. Each is serial-numbered to 2500 copies.

15 Vladimir Guerrero / Tony Clark
14 Darin Erstad / Wilton Guerrero
12 Alex Rodriguez / Tony Gwynn
11 Mo Vaughn / Gary Sheffield
10 Jeff Bagwell / Matt Williams
9 Albert Belle / Deion Sanders
8 Paul Molitor / Barry Larkin
4 Derek Jeter / Kenny Lofton
3 Mark McGwire / Ken Caminiti
1 Juan Gonzalez / Barry Bonds
2 Cal Ripken, Jr. / Chipper Jones
5 Mike Piazza / Ivan Rodriguez
6 Ken Griffey, Jr. / Larry Walker
7 Sammy Sosa / Frank Thomas
13 Scott Rolen / Tino Martinez

Jackie Robinson 1948 Leaf Reprint

This reprint of Jackie Robinson's 1948-49 Leaf card was inserted in all Series Two packs and was serial-numbered to 1948 copies.

NNO Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson Scratch 'N Win Game Card

Randomly inserted into Series Two packs at the rate of 1:12 were "scratch-off" game cards which could be redeemed for prizes. Donruss repurchased six 1948-49 Leaf Jackie Robinson cards and gave away five as part of this promotion -- the sixth could be had by submitting non-winning Scratch 'N Win cards. Other prizes sch as commemorative leather jackets and lithographs could also be won.

Frank Thomas Blister Card

Inserted on the top of each 12-card Series Two Blister pack is a special Frank Thomas card. The front of the card is a facsimile of his base card while the back has information on the 1997 Leaf set.

Frank Thomas "The Big Heart" Leukemia Charity

This four-card set was produced by Donruss as a fund raiser for the Frank Thomas Charitable Foundation. Thomas established the Foundation in memory of his sister, whom he lost to Leukemia. The cards could be ordered by mail for $20 each and information on how to order the cards was printed on each 1997 Leaf wrapper. All proceeds from the sale of the set went to the Thomas Foundation and only 2500 serial-numbered copies of each card was produced.

Card #1 in the set features Thomas with Hall of Famer Rod Carew. The back of the card features a picture of Carew's daughter Michelle who passed away from Leukemia in 1996.

1 Frank Thomas / Rod Carew / Michelle Carew
2 Frank Thomas
3 Frank Thomas
4 Frank Thomas

Autographs & Game-Used

Frank Thomas Collection

This six-card set commemorates the multi-faceted talents of first baseman and at the time, Leaf Company spokesman, Frank Thomas with actual pieces of his game-used hats, jerseys (home and away), sweatbands, batting gloves or bats embedded in the cards. Only 100 of each card were produced and are each serial-numbered.

This set, along with the 1997 Upper Deck Game Jersey inserts, represents one of the earliest forays by an MLB-licensed manufacturer into game-used memorabilia inserts.

1 Frank Thomas HAT
2 Frank Thomas HOME JSY
3 Frank Thomas BTG GLV
4 Frank Thomas BAT
5 Frank Thomas WRISTBAND
6 Frank Thomas AWAY JSY