The Houston Astros are coming off another successful season that saw them make the World Series for the second time in six years. While they ultimately fell short against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Astros remain one of baseball’s premier franchises heading into 2023. With another season on deck, collectors can look forward to a new crop of Astros baseball cards hitting the market highlighting the team’s top stars.
Some of the biggest names to watch for in 2023 Astros baseball card sets include Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Justin Verlander, and Yordan Alvarez. Altuve remains the face of the franchise as the longest-tenured Astro and a career .300 hitter. His cards always hold value due to his status as a fan favorite and 2017 World Series MVP. Bregman is another cornerstone player who is coming off a solid 2022 campaign where he hit .259 with 22 home runs and 93 RBI from the hot corner. Verlander, meanwhile, had an age-defying season in his return to Houston, winning the AL Cy Young award at age 39 by going 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA. His cards are sure to be some of the set’s most coveted after such a dominant season. Alvarez further cemented himself as one of baseball’s premier sluggers with 37 home runs and 97 RBI in 2022. The 26-year-old left fielder has already developed a cult following among collectors.
Beyond the big four of Altuve, Bregman, Verlander, and Alvarez, there are several other Astros who could emerge as hot ticket cards in 2023 sets. Shortstop Jeremy Peña had a breakout rookie campaign and is poised to build on a stellar debut season that saw him win World Series MVP honors. His rookie cards from 2022 sets skyrocketed in value and collectors will be eager to snap up his sophomore issues. Outfielder Kyle Tucker also broke out in 2022 with career-highs in batting average (.257), home runs (30), and RBI (107). The 25-year-old is entering his prime and developing into a true five-tool threat. Pitchers Framber Valdez and Luis Garcia further solidified themselves as rotation anchors last season and could see their star rise, especially if they flirt with All-Star or Cy Young consideration in 2023. And don’t forget about catcher Martin Maldonado, who has become a fan favorite for his defense behind the plate and knack for clutch hitting – especially in the postseason.
For collectors, some of the top licensed brands releasing 2023 Astros baseball cards include Topps, Panini, Leaf, Bowman, and Donruss. Each brand brings something unique to the table in terms of photo and design variations as well as special parallels and autograph/memorabilia cards of the team’s stars. Topps Series 1 is usually the first major set to hit shelves each year in late January or early February, offering traders and collectors their initial fix of the newest Astros. From there, sets like Topps Series 2 and Update Series will deliver more cards throughout the spring and summer. Bowman and Panini also offer some of the flashiest parallels and on-card autographs of Houston’s top prospects working their way through the minors.
Speaking of prospects, the Astros farm system remains one of baseball’s best and collectors will want to pay close attention to the emergence of young talents like shortstop Jeremy Pena’s brother Mauro Peña, outfielder Drew Gilbert, and pitchers Hunter Brown and Chayce McDermott. Their rookie cards could explode in value with a strong 2023 campaign. And don’t forget international signings like shortstop Lazarz Brito, who just signed a $5 million bonus in 2022 at only 16 years old. His first Bowman cards may someday be worth a fortune.
As always, special parallel inserts like Topps Chrome, Topps Fire, Topps Inception, and Topps Holiday will give collectors premium versions of stars like Altuve, Verlander, and Alvarez to chase. Autographed and memorabilia cards from brands like Topps Authentic, Panini Impeccable, and Topps Transcendent also provide unique collectibles from Houston’s biggest names. And for diehard Astros fans, sets released around the postseason like Topps Finest offer a chance to potentially land serial-numbered parallels of heroes from October runs.
Whether collecting for investment purposes or to cheer on their favorite team, Astros fans will have no shortage of enticing cardboard to pursue throughout the 2023 season. With a talented roster and farm system, the franchise’s future remains bright on the field. And with the continued production of high-quality baseball cards from the leading sports brands, Houston’s stars are sure to dazzle collectors for years to come as well. The 2023 season can’t come soon enough for those eager to start accumulating the newest Astros issues.
