The 2023 Topps baseball card release is one of the most anticipated issues in recent years. Topps has the exclusive license with Major League Baseball, so their flagship release each season is the de facto rookie card and base card issuer for current MLB players.
2023 marks Topps’ 65th year as the MLB’s official card maker. To celebrate this milestone, Topps is pulling out all the stops with innovative designs, extensive rookie class coverage, special parallels and inserts, and iconic “retro-style” parallels to honor the company’s rich baseball card history since entering the market in the late 1950s.
Base Card Design
For the base card design, Topps is going with a clean, classic look reminiscent of their 1980s and 1990s issues. The front features a large action photo with minimal borders. Player name and team name/logo are positioned below the image in all capitalized font.
The back provides career stats and bio info in a straightforward layout. Manufacturing info is printed in the lower left with the Topps logo watermark prominently across the bottom. Card stock feels premium – not too glossy or slick. Overall it’s a sharp, understated design that allows the photography to take center stage.
Rookies and Prospects
As always, rookie class coverage is the most anticipated aspect of the Topps release each year. The 2023 set includes over 200+ rookies, including the entire class of players that made their MLB debut in 2022. Top prospects that didn’t debut last year like Gunnar Henderson and Emerson Hancock also receive rookie cards in Series 1.
Paramount Authentic parallels on card #150 and #499 provide the flagship rookie cards for #1 overall picks Druw Jones and Elijah Green. Additional color parallels like Gold, Black, and Rainbow Foil ensure these rookies have plenty of “high-end” versions for collectors. Topps also includes Update rookie cards later in the year for any players who debut after Series 1 is released.
Retro Parallels
Topps has created some truly unique and desirable parallels to celebrate their 65th anniversary. The “65 Years of Topps” inserts feature retro-styled designs inspired by Topps issues from the 1960s through the 1980s.
Parallels include 1965, 1975, 1985 “wood-grain” style, and 1992 “foilboard” designs. Player photos and stats are recreated faithfully in the aesthetic of that respective era. These inserts will undoubtedly become highly sought after by collectors looking to build full rainbow sets in the different retro styles.
Additional Inserts
Topps continues including hit-or-miss inserts in their flagship baseball releases. This year fans can expect:
“Then & Now” – Vintage photos paired with modern shots of the same player
“Stars of the Game” – Highlights big performances from the previous MLB season
“Topps Originals” – Reproductions of some of the most iconic early Topps cards
“65th Anniversary” – Short print retrospective cards honoring Topps history
Autographs, Patch Cards, Memorabilia Cards of current stars
SP and 1/1 parallels throughout the base set and inserts
The 2023 Topps release shapes up to be one of the most complete rookies class sets in years. Between the classic base design, extensive parallels and inserts, and nostalgic “Retro” parallels, Topps is delivering something for collectors both young and old. With the perfect storm of new star rookies and Topps’ 65th anniversary celebration, this issue is sure to be a long-term standout among baseball card investors and enthusiasts.
