2023 Baseball Cards at Target – What to Expect for the New Season
The 2023 MLB season is right around the corner, which means it’s time to start thinking about collecting the new baseball cards that will be released. Retail giant Target is always one of the top destinations for finding the latest baseball card products, so here’s a look at what collectors can expect to find on shelves at Target for the 2023 season.
Topps Series 1 and Series 2
As always, Topps will be the major brand launching the first baseball card sets of the new year. Topps Series 1 is usually one of the earliest releases, hitting Target shelves in late February or early March. This flagship set is the most widely distributed and features current stars, rookies, and base cards in the traditional Topps design. Series 2 then follows a few months later, usually arriving at Target in May. Both sets will include the standard assortment of base cards, parallels, short prints, autographs, and memorabilia cards. Topps Chrome and Allen & Ginter will also likely be stocked, offering refractor and insert variations of Series 1 and 2 cards.
Bowman Baseball
Target will carry Bowman’s flagship rookie card products as well. Bowman Baseball is the set that features the best prospects and top draft picks from the previous year. It provides collectors their first cardboard look at the game’s future stars. Bowman Mega Boxes and Blaster Boxes are usually stocked on shelves in March and April. Bowman Platinum and Bowman Chrome also hit Target around the same time, offering premium parallels and refractor versions of the top prospects.
Donruss Baseball
Panini’s Donruss brand will return to Target in 2023 after a multi-year absence. Donruss Optic is expected to be one of the earlier releases, arriving in March with its refractors and parallels of current MLB players. The standard Donruss set then follows in May. Collectors can expect to find Donruss Blaster and Hanger Boxes at Target, offering affordable ways to build sets while hunting for rookie cards, short prints, and autographs.
Stadium Club and Triple Threads
For high-end products, Target will stock several of Topps’ premium baseball card releases. Stadium Club is one of the most visually striking sets of the year, known for its crisp photography on a glossy stock. Boxes and blasters of Stadium Club can be found on shelves in June. Triple Threads then arrives in July, combining game-used memorabilia with dual and triple autographs on its exquisite patch cards. Both sets provide collectors chances at valuable hits inside Target’s price points.
Retail Exclusives and Special Editions
Target often gets exclusive baseball card releases only available at their stores. In past years, this has included special parallels, autographed memorabilia cards, and box configurations unique to Target. Red parallel inserts, for example, have been Target-exclusive in Topps Chrome and Bowman Chrome. Special “Target Red” autographs and relics have also popped up. Keep an eye out in 2023 for any Target-themed baseball card products and parallels only found on their shelves.
Value Packs and Value Boxes
For those looking to fill out sets or try multiple products, Target will stock value-oriented multi-pack options. Topps Series 1 and 2 Value Packs contain 12 packs for around $20. Bowman and Donruss Value Boxes include 10 packs plus extras starting around the same price point. These affordable ways to rip packs in bulk have been very popular for collectors of all ages and budgets. Expect to see value configurations for the major releases stocked throughout the season.
End Cap and Season-Long Displays
In addition to individual products, Target allocates large seasonal displays for baseball cards. Many stores set up towering baseball card end caps stocked from floor to ceiling starting in late winter. These showcase the full array of upcoming releases all in one location. As the season progresses, the displays rotate inventory but remain baseball card central. Collectors will be able to see all the latest offerings and specials assembled together at these prime retail real estate spots.
In summary, Target provides collectors access to the full spectrum of major league baseball cards each season. From affordable packs and boxes to high-end parallels and autographs, the retail giant carries options across all price points and product levels. Their baseball card displays and exclusive offerings also enhance the in-store shopping experience. With the 2023 season fast approaching, Target shelves will once again be stocked with the newest cardboard for fans and collectors to enjoy.
