The 2023 baseball season will mark the start of a new era for the sport, with new stars emerging and fan favorites entering the later stages of their careers. As always, the upcoming year will see the release of various baseball card sets from the major manufacturers, giving collectors the opportunity to acquire cards showcasing the latest season.
Perhaps the most popular complete set each year is Topps Base cards. For 2023, Topps will continue producing the standard 520-card base set along with various parallels and short prints to drive collector interest. Some key rookie cards to watch for in the Topps set include Bobby Witt Jr., Spencer Torkelson, and Julio Rodriguez, who all made their MLB debuts in 2022 and look poised to become superstars. Veteran stars like Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and Juan Soto will remain highly sought after by collectors as well.
Panini has emerged as one of Topps’ main competitors in recent years thanks to sets like Donruss and Contenders. For 2023, Panini Donruss is expected to feature the standard base checklist along with popular inserts like Phoenix parallels and Donruss Rookies. Top rookies to watch for include catcher Adley Rutschman and pitcher George Kirby after strong debut campaigns in 2022. Veteran parallels like “Donruss Originals” featuring stars from the 1980s and 1990s will also be collector favorites.
Another Panini offering, 2023 Contenders Baseball, focuses more on memorabilia cards with on-card autographs and relic swatches of current players. Top rookies to target include catcher Gabriel Moreno and outfielder Esteury Ruiz after breakout minor league seasons. Veteran autographs of legends like Derek Jeter, Ken Griffey Jr., and Chipper Jones always sell well due to their rarity. Contenders is known for producing short print parallels as well, making each box a gamble for collectors.
Upper Deck has found success in recent years with its MLB-licensed offerings like Black, Clear Vision, and Artifacts. For 2023, Upper Deck Black will feature the standard base checklist along with popular inserts like Black Parallels and Black Gold Refractors. Top rookie cards to watch include catcher Dillon Dingler and outfielder Daniel Brito after strong showings in the minors. Black is also known for tough pulls like 1/1 printing plates, making it an enticing product for high-end collectors.
Upper Deck Clear Vision and Artifacts focus more on memorabilia cards with on-card autographs of current MLB stars. Top rookies to target in these sets include pitcher Brandon Hughes and infielder Jordan Walker after breakout 2022 campaigns. Clear Vision is especially sought after for rare 1/1 parallels featuring swatches from game-used jerseys. Meanwhile, Artifacts is a favorite for its on-card autographs of veteran stars like Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and Juan Soto.
While Topps, Panini, and Upper Deck produce the major licensed MLB card sets, other companies still find niches as well. In 2023, Leaf will release its Metal Universe and Valiant base sets, focusing on parallels and memorabilia cards of top prospects and veterans. Bowman will produce sets highlighting top prospects in the minors before their MLB debuts. And collectors can still find unique vintage-style releases from companies like Stadium Club, Allen & Ginter, and Topps Heritage as well.
As the 2023 MLB season approaches, baseball card collectors have plenty to look forward to from the major manufacturers. With new stars emerging and veterans entering the later stages of their careers, next year’s rookie cards and parallel pulls will take on added significance that could make them valuable for years to come. The start of a new season also means the release of fresh complete sets showcasing the latest campaign, captivating collectors yet again with the never-ending thrill of the card collecting hobby.
