1997 Topps is a 495-card set released in two series of 275 and 220 cards, respectively.
Card 42 is a special Jackie Robinson tribute card commemorating the 50th anniversary of his contribution to baseball history and numbered for his Dodgers uniform number.
Topps announced in 1996 that beginning in 1997, card number 7 would no longer exist in future Topps Baseball sets; it would be "retired" in honor of Mickey Mantle. Card number 84 does not exist because Mike Fetters' card was incorrectly numbered 61. Card number 277 does not exist because Chipper Jones' card was incorrectly numbered 276.