The 2023 baseball card season is shaping up to be another exciting year in the hobby. With new rookie classes featuring some of the game’s brightest young stars and veteran players continuing to produce on the field, there will be no shortage of collectibles hitting the market in the new year.
Two of the biggest names to watch for in 2023 are Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels and Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves. Ohtani, the reigning American League MVP and one of the most unique talents in baseball history, will again be one of the faces of the hobby after another historic season both at the plate and on the mound. Meanwhile, Acuña is looking to bounce back from a torn ACL that cost him much of the 2022 season. He remains one of the game’s most electrifying players when healthy and his cards hold tremendous value.
Topps, as the industry leader, will once again be the first major brand to release cards for the new season. The flagship Topps Series 1 is scheduled to arrive in hobby shops and retail outlets in late January or early February. This set typically features many of the top rookies and stars from the previous season. Parallels, autographs, and memorabilia cards of key players can drive significant collector interest. Topps Chrome, with its refractors and other foil variants, usually follows Series 1 in March.
Panini will look to build on the momentum of its licensed MLB trading card rights with another year of Donruss and Contenders releases. Donruss Baseball, the brand’s flagship set, is expected to hit shelves in April or May after Panini gained the exclusive right to produce cards beyond the regular season in 2022. Contenders Baseball, with its focus on memorabilia and autographs, will be another highly anticipated release later in the year.
Bowman, the exclusive MLB rookie card brand owned by Topps, will unveil several sets highlighting top prospects coming through the minor league system in 2023. Bowman Draft and Bowman Platinum are set standards that debut each spring, while Bowman Chrome and Bowman’s Best offer high-end parallels and autographs. Cards of emerging stars like Gunnar Henderson, Bobby Witt Jr., and Julio Rodriguez remain hot commodities for collectors.
Several 2023 rookie classes look particularly strong. Catching prospects Daniel Susac (Oakland A’s), Andrew Knizner (St. Louis Cardinals), and Dillon Dingler (Detroit Tigers) all had breakout seasons in 2022. Shortstops Gunnar Henderson (Baltimore Orioles), Oneil Cruz (Pittsburgh Pirates), and Jordan Walker (St. Louis Cardinals) could be future stars. Pitchers like George Kirby (Seattle Mariners), Hunter Brown (Houston Astros), and Shane Baz (Tampa Bay Rays) also made impressive MLB debuts last season. Their rookie cards will be targeted.
On the veteran side, superstar talents like Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Aaron Judge, and Juan Soto continue producing at elite levels and will anchor the high-end card market. Young standouts like Wander Franco, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Julio Rodriguez are also establishing themselves as cornerstone franchise players. Parallels and autographs of these household names command top dollar from collectors.
Players who switched teams via free agency or trade in the offseason may also see a bump in card values as fans of their new clubs look to add them to their collections. Dansby Swanson (signed with Phillies), Trea Turner (signed with Phillies), Xander Bogaerts (signed with Padres), and Carlos Correa (signed with Twins) are some names who will have dual allegiances in 2023.
The 2023 season also marks the debut of the MLB’s new 12-team wild card playoff format. This increases the number of postseason games and playoff teams, creating more opportunities for star players to etch their names in October lore. Standout playoff performances tend to bolster the popularity and value of players’ cards long-term.
While the trading card market has cooled slightly after a pandemic boom, 2023 still shapes up as another strong year for the hobby. With a fresh crop of rookies, perennial stars, new uniforms, and expanded playoffs on tap for Major League Baseball, collectors will have plenty to hunt for in the upcoming series and releases from Topps, Panini, and others. For those looking to invest in the next generation of baseball legends, 2023 may provide that opportunity.
