The 2013 Topps baseball card set was the 72nd release from Topps and included cards featuring players and teams from Major League Baseball. Like most flagship Topps issues from the modern era, the 2013 set has maintained or increased in value for many of its higher-end cards over the ensuing years since its release. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top value cards from the 2013 Topps baseball release and analyze what makes them so desirable to collectors.
One of the strongest value propositions from the 2013 Topps set comes in the form of rookie cards, as is often the case. Featuring future stars early in their careers provides intriguing investment potential if those players go on to stardom. Two rookie cards that have seen tremendous appreciation include Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias and Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant. Urias, considered one of the top pitching prospects in baseball at the time of his 2013 rookie card, has developed into an ace and is a cornerstone of the Dodgers’ rotation. Low-numbered versions of his shiny rookie parallel now sell for thousands of dollars. Meanwhile, Bryant burst onto the scene in 2015 and quickly established himself as a perennial All-Star and cornerstone of the Cubs rebuild. His iconic rookie smiling pose remains one of the most sought-after modern rookie cards in the hobby. Higher-grade Bryant rookies have also cracked the $1000 price point in recent years.
Autograph cards tend to hold extra cachet for collectors seeking a tangible connection to their favorite players. One of the strongest autographed cards from the 2013 Topps set is that of NL MVP and San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner. As one of the top pitchers of his generation with a renowned postseason track record of success on the game’s biggest stages, “MadBum” signings remain hot commodities. His 2013 Topps autographed parallel runs $200-300 in PSA/BGS 10 condition while even raw autographed versions demand over $100. Other coveted autographs from the set include Miguel Cabrera, Clayton Kershaw, Mike Trout, and rookie signings of the likes of Wil Myers and Gregory Polanco.
Perhaps the single strongest 2013 Topps card for accumulated value to date though has been the base rookie card of Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout. After establishing himself as the greatest player of his generation with AL MVP awards and a laundry list of career accomplishments still growing, the demand for Trout’s iconic smiling rookie is through the roof. Pristine PSA 10 examples now sell for over $1000 on average while even well-centered near-mint copies can still fetch over $100. No other modern-era player’s earliest issued card has appreciated quite like Trout’s, a true rarity from the start that collectors snagged up aggressively once his unparalleled abilities became apparent.
Top prospects that have yet to fully blossom can offer substantial upside potential as well if they develop into impact major leaguers. Some in this category from 2013 Topps include shortstops Corey Seager of the Dodgers and Francisco Lindor of the Cleveland Guardians. Early copies of their well-designed rookies in top grades hold steady six-figure valuations already in anticipation of future performance. With both still relatively young All-Star talents, their cards could grow markedly in value riding years of continued production. Similarly, cards of 2013’s top pitching prospects such as Travis d’Arnaud (Mets), Tyler Glasnow (Pirates) and Jameson Taillon (Pirates) show promise for future appreciation tracing any breakout campaigns by those hurlers.
Authentic vintage relic and memorabilia cards are always huge draws due to their one-of-a-kind nature connecting collectors physically to historic players and moments. One that stands out from 2013 Topps is a dual-relic card bearing swatches from Yankees legends Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio. This historic memento of two of the franchise’s all-time icons sold for over $3000 in graded condition. Other noteworthy piece of equipment or material relics from players like Trout, Harper, Kershaw, and rookie pieces of major young stars also command premium prices in the collectibles marketplace.
The 2013 Topps flagship baseball issue like many recent yearly releases from the brand displays impressive long-term value retention and appreciation potential thanks to a mix of rookie phenoms, living legends, unique memorabilia relics, and autographs capturing the industry’s top talents. Keys to maximizing returns remain acquiring the set’s most significant rookies, parallels and hit cards in pristine graded condition early before heightened demand drives up prices enormously in many cases. For today’s savvy investor, it remains a fun vintage set with moneymaking upside still very much in play across several standout components.
