The 2013 edition of Topps Triple Play Baseball was the ninth installment in the popular Triple Play baseball card series. Released on June 5, 2013, the set featured 297 base cards, including short prints and rookie cards of future stars such as Manny Machado and Jose Fernandez. While the 2013 Triple Play cards are not considered to be among the most valuable baseball card sets overall, some of the cards have proven very appealing to collectors in the years since the set was released.
Perhaps the most iconic card from the 2013 Triple Play set is the Mike Trout rookie card. Trout had just won the American League Rookie of the Year award in 2012 and was coming off a spectacular season that saw him hit .326 with 30 home runs and 83 RBIs for the Los Angeles Angels. His outstanding rookie campaign sparked significant collector interest in his cards, including the flagship Topps rookie card from that year. Trout continued his emergence as one of the game’s true superstars, going on to win the AL MVP award in 2014 and 2016. As a result, the 2013 Topps Trout rookie card climbed steadily in value in the secondary market, thanks to its scarcity and attached to one of the greatest players of this generation. Mint condition PSA 10 examples of Trout’s 2013 Topps Triple Play rookie currently trade hands on the secondary market for upwards of $800-1000, a steep climb from its original pack/box price of around $2-3. Lower graded versions in the PSA 8-9 range still fetch $250-500 due to Trout mania among collector.
Another star player whose 2013 Topps Triple Play rookie is highly sought after is light-hitting shortstop Xander Bogaerts of the Boston Red Sox. Bogaerts made his MLB debut in 2013 at age 20 and showed solid offensive skills from the left side of the plate. He developed into a consistent .300 hitter and middle-of-the-order force for Boston’s championship teams of the late 2010s. Mint PSA 10 Bogaerts rookies from the 2013 Triple Play set now sell for around $150-200, a respectable price for a Red Sox player of his caliber. Lower grades in the PSA 8-9 range can still find buyers in the $50-100 range.
In addition to rookies of future stars, there were also some uniquely numbered parallel and short print cards included in the 2013 Triple Play checklist that added layers of scarcity and collector interest. The most notable of these were the gold parallel cards, limited to only 50 copies each. Some key gold parallels that command a premium today include Mike Trout (#/50), Manny Machado (#/50), and Clayton Kershaw (#/50). These scarce parallels tend to sell in the $150-250 range even in lower PSA 8-9 grades due to their limited print run. Another category of short prints were the “Photo Variation” cards, featuring alternate action shots from the base cards. Examples of some of the more valuable photo var cards are Yasiel Puig (#/299), Matt Harvey (#/299), and Adam Wainwright (#/299), which can sell in the $50-100 range in PSA 10.
While stars like Trout and rookie cards of future impact players gained favor with collectors, there were also veteran players included in the 2013 Triple Play set whose on-field performance and brand carried memorable cardboard. Hall of Fame-bound Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander had arguably his best season in career in 2011 when he won the AL MVP and Cy Young awards. As one of the faces of the game at the time, his base card from the ’13 Triple Play set maintains popularity. PSA 10 examples sell in the $25-50 range. Four-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers was also one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers by 2013. His base card can be acquired for $15-30 in top NM-MT condition.
Many noteworthy rookies and veterans made their 2013 Triple Play cardboard debuts, but as with any large mainstream release, the majority of base cards from the set hold relatively modest long-term value based solely on the player featured or the statistics on the back of the card. Outside of stars, parallels and short prints, most base cards from commons to stars tend to trade hands for mere dollars even in top grades. But for avid player collectors focused on specific teams or players, these affordably priced base rookies and veterans can still serve as enjoyable pieces for a collection despite not possessing enormous long-term monetary worth.
While the 2013 Topps Triple Play set overall does not rank among the most valuable modern issues, there are certain standout rookie cards, parallel inserts, and stars from that year that hold lasting collector demand and value appreciation potential. Cards of emerging talents like Trout and Bogaerts have proven especially desirable long-term investments. But the set also provided more reasonably priced opportunities to obtain cardboard of other notable players from that season across MLB. Several years later, the 2013 Triple Play release continues offering diverse affordable and higher-end collecting options for both team and investor-minded baseball card aficionados.
