The 2013 Topps baseball cards hobby box was released at the beginning of the MLB season in April 2013. The set featured cards of current major league players as well as notable retired players and team logos. Some of the key aspects of the 2013 Topps baseball cards hobby box included:
Card Design and Quality: Topps utilized a classic design for the base cards in 2013. The cards featured players photographed in their uniforms against a white background. Statistics from the previous season were printed on the bottom of the cards. As with past Topps releases, the cards were printed on thick, high-quality stock suitable for long-term storage and display. Hobby enthusiasts praised the clean design and premium feel of the 2013 cards.
Base Card Size and Count: Like most Topps flagship sets in recent decades, the 2013 release featured 524 total base cards divided between Series 1, Series 2, and Update sets released throughout the season. The standard baseball card size of 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches was used. This provided ample space to feature the player photo and stats without feeling too cramped.
Parallels and Insert Sets: Topps added several parallels and insert sets beyond the base cards to provide hobbyists with variety and chase cards. Gold parallels were included at a rate of 1:100 packs. Refractors were even more rare at roughly 1:500 packs. Topps also included popular insert sets like All-Star Cards, Home Run Challenge, and Topps Towns highlighting each MLB franchise.
Rookie Cards: As always, Topps rookie cards of potential future stars were highly coveted. Prospective rookie cards included Wil Myers, Matt Harvey, Travis d’Arnaud, and more. Early rookie cards are key interests for collectors seeking to purchase cards of stars before they achieve superstardom in the majors. The 2013 rookies ended up including some true talent that collectors recognized early.
Autograph and Memorabilia Cards: Topps added value to hobby boxes with randomly inserted autographed cards and memorabilia cards featuring game-used materials. Popular veteran autographs pulled from 2013 Topps boxes included Mariano Rivera, Ken Griffey Jr. and Chipper Jones in their final seasons. Rarer one-of-one autograph parallels added excitement for those who pulled them.
Exclusives for Hobby Shop Purchases: Topps provided several hobby-exclusive chase cards only available in hobby boxes or special multipacks sold through licensed card shops. Highlights included gold parallel autographs and 1/1 autograph parallels of stars. This practice of including premium, limited cards aimed to drive enthusiasts to preferred hobby shops instead of mass retailers.
Hobby Box Contents and Odds: A standard 2013 Topps baseball hobby box sold for around $100 and contained 12 packs with 11 cards per pack. On average, collectors could expect to pull one autographed card or hit every three to four boxes. Memorabilia cards appeared closer to a rate of one every other box. Insert odds varied greatly depending on the parallel, but refractor odds were posted at around one every other box.
Release of Series throughout Season: Topps released Series 1 at the start of the season in late March/early April followed by Series 2 in June and the annual Topps Update set featuring rookie cards and other additions in late August/September as the regular season wound down. This allowed the checklist of cards to reflect the current rosters and call-ups throughout the year.
Overall Reception and Resale: The 2013 Topps release was well-received amongst the baseball card collecting community. Clean design, quality cards, and exciting rookie and star content helped drive interest. Completed sets can now be purchased on the secondary market completed for $75-100 depending on condition. Individual star rookie cards from 2013 have increased greatly in value with top prospects breaking out. For example, a Wil Myers Topps rookie card in mint condition can now fetch over $75-100 compared to just a few dollars initially.
The 2013 Topps baseball card hobby box provided enthusiastic collectors excitement and afforded them an opportunity to acquire classic and contemporary cards from that year’s MLB season. The consistent quality and popularity of Topps flagship sets year over year has helped sustain the baseball card hobby for generations of fans seeking to build complete sets or target particular players. While results will always vary box to box, on the whole the 2013 release seemed to live up to enthusiasts expectations for delivering cards, inserts and autographs to remember that season by.
