Last Updated on July 17, 2024 by Mathew Diekhake
Tracy McGrady was part of the Hall Of Fame class of 2017. He hasn’t had his jersey retired yet, but that’s because he split his prime years between the Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic. McGrady has a lot of fans from his Orlando days when he was at his most explosive, but he admittedly matured mentally as a player in Houston. An unselfish player, it’s hard to say by looking at the stats when T-Mac was at his best because he was never trying to score the most necessarily; he was more interested in maximizing the value of his teams. In this regard, T-Mac has more in common with Magic Johnson or Lebron James than he does Michael Jordan. That said, Kobe Bryant admitted that T-Mac had all the skills he did, only he was several inches taller.
For basketball cards, Tracy McGrady’s rookie year to collect is 1997. Some of his rookie cards may be labeled as 1997-98. Any label without 1997 is not his rookie year, i.e., Tracy McGrady 1998
TRACY MCGRADY ROOKIE CARD CHECKLIST
Tracy McGrady’s top rookie cards:
1997-98 Topps Chrome Refractor #125
1997-98 Bowman’s Best #111
1997-98 SPx Gold #42
1997-98 Flair Showcase Row 0 #21
1997-98 Bowman’s Best Picks Atomic Refractor #BP4
1997-98 Topps Chrome #125
1997-98 SP Authentic #166
1997-98 E-X2001 #79
1997-98 SPx Silver #42
1997-98 Z-Force #172 [Rave]
1997-98 Finest #107
1997-98 Collector’s Choice #335
1997-98 Topps Draft Redemption
1997-98 Fleer #226
1997-98 Hoops #169
1997-98 Metal #42
1997-98 Metal Universe Championship #36
1997-98 SkyBox Premium #79
1997-98 Stadium Club #217
1997-98 SPx Bronze #42
1997-98 Topps #125
1997-98 Flair Showcase Row 3 #21
1997-98 Ultra #138
1997-98 Upper Deck #300
1997-98 Z-Force #172
1997-98 Topps #D6
Notes:
The SPx comes in gold, silver, and bronze, with the gold variant being the most expensive. For many T-Mac collectors, this is the best card in their collection: it’s rare, it’s gold, and it’s original. The reason some would put the Topps Chrome above it is because the SPx card isn’t a full-size card; it’s a unique small shaper.
There are several Flair Showcase Tracy McGrady rookie cards: Row 0, Row 1, Row 2, and Row 3. They are priced accordingly, with Row 0 being the most expensive.
Best Tracy McGrady Rookie Cards
Note: I have put them in rough order of how they are valued. The order of the cards is not grade-specific. The order assumes all cards are in Mint 9 condition rather than the various grades that may be shown. The pictures are intended as samples only.
1997-98 TOPPS CHROME TRACY MCGRADY REFRACTOR #125
This is the godfather of Tracy McGrady cards. In June 2024, I found this example online for sale for US $4,660.94.
There are three versions of this card: the basic Topps rookie card, the Topps Chrome, and the Topps Chrome Refractor. The basic version has white borders; the chrome version has chrome-looking borders; and the refractor has a multi-colored shine. Other collectors will instantly know how rich you are when you whip your version out of the cigar box. The refractor is by far the rarest, hence the hefty price.
Because the Topps Chrome series is so popular, it makes the best version of that card very sort after, which is this Topps Chrome Refractor.
TRACY MCGRADY 1997 BOWMAN’S BEST ATOMIC REFRACTOR #111
The Bowman’s Best Atomic Refractor is better than the Bowman’s Best Chrome version of the same card.
The Bowman’s Best cards are premium cards. There are two version of the #111 available in Tracy McGrady rookie cards. One looks like a standard foil background and the other refractor version shines. The Atomic Refractor is the most sort after of the two.
TRACY MCGRADY ROOKIE 1997-98 SPX GOLD #42 TORONTO RAPTORS
In my opinion, this Upper Deck SPx Gold card should be the holy grail of Tracy McGrady card collecting. Upper Deck made great basketball cards in the 90s, and a rare premium card that featured gold on it and was purposefully designed to become rare and worth a lot of money should be worth a lot of money. The SPx Gold #42 is a very appealing card. Based on my research, the community consensus has the Bowman’s Best Refractor and Topps Chrome Refractor above the SPx Gold regarding its value.
It’s virtually impossible to find in a PSA or BGS Mint 9. You’ll be lucky to find a PSA or BGS-graded one at all. It’s not hard to find the silver or bronze variant of the same card, but the gold is very rare. I have not found one for the photo yet, but I’ll keep looking for it when one arrives online.
I have seen some of these cards in decent condition such as the one pictured below; however, they always have considerable damage to the corners on the backside. Nevertheless, it’s the front of the card that matters the most. More people should be grading these cards by PSA. They have probably a PSA 7 in their hands but are too worried to submit it.
1997-98 FLAIR SHOWCASE LEGACY COLLECTION – LEGACY COLLECTION-ROW 0
There are a total of four Flair Showcase Tracy McGrady rookie cards: Row 0, Row 1, Row 2, and Row 3. The Row 0 is the most expensive of the four and the Row 3 is the least expensive. The Row 0 is a very popular card among collectors.
Mint 9 PSA population: 8 / population higher: 3 (2024)
1997-98 BOWMAN’S BEST PICKS ATOMIC REFRACTOR TRACY MCGRADY #BP4
There are two version of the Bowman’s Best #111. And there is another Bowman’s Best card (#BP4) that is also a great card: it’s rare, soft after by collectors, and beautiful to look at.
GEM MINT TRACY McGRADY 1997-98 BOWMAN’S BEST #111
The Bowman’s Best #111 is one of T-Mac’s best cards. It features a large image of McGrady and a chrome/foil background capable of losing many specs if not looked after. If you can get the #111 in mint condition, you are winning.
1997 SKYBOX E-X 2001 #79 TRACY MCGRADY
The Skybox E-X 2001 card is in high demand. I love it as well, but the ball looks a slightly odd shape and the cut out around the body doesn’t look as good as it could.
1997-98 FLEER ULTRA GOLD MEDALLION #138G TRACY MCGRADY
You can find this card with McGrady’s head facing up and down, depending on the person grading your card. I prefer it with the writing on the left and his head near the top of the card otherwise he looks upside down to me. As far as value goes, it shouldn’t make much difference, but it is something to look out for since you’re probably buying it to enjoy rather than merely resell one day.
The Fleer Ulta Gold Medallion is a good mid-range card for McGrady collectors. Every time I see the card online in mint conditions, it pops out to me. If you prefer portaits over atheletes playing their sports, you may love this card.
1997-98 FLEER TRACY MCGRADY #226
The Sleer #226 shows Tracy McGrady dunking the ball. The image of McGrady is large and takes up the full length of the card. Fleer chose to remove most of the basketball for the sake of getting as much of his feet in the shot as possible. The photo itself is well done and the card is desirable as a mid-range card for collectors.
TRACY MCGRADY 1997-98 SP AUTHENTIC FUTURE WATCH #166
The Tracy McGrady #166 is not a cheap card. It shows mcGrady going up for a layup. The picture is taken from the same game as the Upper Deck #300 card that I’ve written about more below.
1997 FINEST W/COATING #107 TRACY McGRADY
You can find this card with or without the coating it comes with. Most collectors prefer it with the coating. This is one of T-Mac’s most common rookie cards.
The text that says “Topps finnest protectors peel and remove coating” is the coating PSA is referring to in the description.
What makes the T-Mac #107 card desirable is it’s a big picture showing his full body and it shows his athletic body and confident personality along with the fact that the action shot is well balanced and a nice photo in general. The downside for me is that he’s not playing in a game. That said, there’s no doubting this is a T-Mac rookie card due to the big word “Debute” to the left side of his head.
1997-98 COLLECTOR’S CHOICE TRACY MCGRADY RAPTORS #335
The Upper Deck #355 is one of the more traditional-looking basketball cards. It has a lot in common with Ken Griffey Jr.’s Upper Deck rookie card that he is so famous for. The #335 McGrady card is of McGrady dunking the ball either in practise or a prearranged workout with cameras. I would like to learn more about this photo as the camera location is not one where it could be in an actual game. It gives the card unique value in my opinion.
1997-98 COLLECTOR’S CHOICE DRAFT TRADE #9 TRACY MCGRADY
TRACY MCGRADY 1997-98 TOPPS DRAFT REDEMPTION #DP9
1997-98 NBA HOOPS #169 TRACY MCGRADY
Price guide PSA Mint 9: $15 (2024)
1997 METAL UNIVERSE #42 TRACY McGRADY RAPTORS
1997 FLEER METAL UNIVERSE CHAMPIONSHIP TRACY MCGRADY
1997 TRACY MCGRADY SKYBOX PREMIUM #79
Mint 9 PSA population: 87 / population higher: 12
1997-98 STADIUM CLUB #217 TRACY MCGRADY TORONTO RAPTORS
1997 Stadium Club #217 has a foil background. Some images show it better than others, but that is Steve Kerr in the background. It’s relatively inexpensive compared to other McGrady cards, but I think it’s one of the most undervalued. I love foil cards in Mint condition. Foil cards are even better if they show some background that was originally in the photo, such as Steve Kerr in this one.
1997 TOPPS #125 TRACY McGRADY RAPTORS
The Tracy McGrady #125 is one of the only McGrady rookie cards with the traditional Topps white borders. The picture Topps has used of T-Mac dunking is one of the better pictures in hos rookie cards, as you can see the ring in the top left corner with the ball going through it and a large picture of T-Mac that takes up the full size of the card.
1997 FLAIR SHOWCASE ROW 3 #21 TRACY McGRADY
The Flair Showcase Tracy McGrady ROW 3 is not a common card to see for sale, but it’s still relatively inexpensive.
What makes the T-Mac #21 ROW 3 card desirable is that it’s a very large picture of McGrady that takes up the full card and the picture is taken of him in a game drunking/near dunking the ball. It also has gold text and a second picture of a closeup of his face. As a bonus, you get another large picture of T-Mac on the back.
1997-98 STADIUM CLUB TRIUMVIRATE MEMBERS ONLY TRACY MCGRADY
1997-98 UPPER DECK TRACY MCGRADY #300 RAPTORS MAGIC ROCKETS HOF
An unusual card, the Upper Deck #300 McGrady card shows a game between Toronto and New Jersey but the court suggests it is being played either on All-Star weekend or something similar. The paint along the baseline says “Hall Of Fame.” It’s not one of my favorite McGrady cards because his face looks hardly recognizable. But it’s also not a photo you would be able to get from a normal game because there aren’t usually cameras in this location taking photos. In that regard, it’s a great photo of T-Mac driving to the basket.
1997-98 SKYBOX Z-FORCE TRACY MCGRADY #172
The Skybox Z-Force is one of McGrady’s most common and cheapest rookie cards. There is also a lot to like with a large T-Mac picture on the front and another large T-Mac picture on the back. Judging my the focus on his face, I’d say he is doing a layup on the front picture. There is a gold circle on the back stating that it is a rookie card with an R in the circle. This is the best starter card for T-Mac collectors.
Note: There is a Skybox Z-Force RAVE version of the card (same number #172) that is much more expensive.
1997-98 TOPPS CHROME – DESTINY REFRACTOR TRACY MCGRADY
The plan is to create a list of the best rookie cards for each Hall Of Famer basketball player. Tracy McGrady is my favorite player and the one I know the best, so he was the first on the list. It took about 24 hours to create this post, so it is a long task ahead of me. But if you check back now and then the list should be coming along.
| TITLE | SET | UNGRADED | PSA 9 | PSA 10 |
| Tracy McGrady #42 | 1997 Metal Universe | $3.87 | $17.50 | $89.38 |
| Tracy McGrady #172 | 1997 Skybox Z Force | $1.88 | $16.07 | $57.44 |
| Tracy McGrady #36 | 1997 Metal Universe Championship | $2.85 | $21.52 | $158.20 |
| Tracy McGrady #79 | 1997 Skybox Premium | $2.00 | $11.01 | $99.25 |
| Tracy McGrady #125 | 1997 Topps Chrome | $5.38 | $15.64 | $74.29 |
| Tracy McGrady #82 | 1998 Upper Deck Black Diamond | $103.56 | $46.71 | $56.00 |
| Tracy McGrady [Rave] #172 | 1997 Skybox Z Force | $179.50 | $286.00 | $663.41 |
| Tracy McGrady [w/ Coating] #294 | 1997 Finest | $5.01 | $18.88 | $93.78 |