The 2023 Topps Heritage baseball card set is one of the most anticipated releases each year from Topps due to the retro design paying homage to baseball cards from the late 1960s. While the set just came out in late March/early April 2023, savvy collectors are already speculating on which rookie cards and star players will hold significant long term value.
Heritage has developed a strong reputation for featuring rising young talent in their rookie cards in addition to showcasing current superstars. Many consider Heritage to be the “vintage style” alternative to Topps’ mainstream flagship release. With a nostalgic design that harkens back to the sport’s golden era, Heritage cards immediately command attention from both casual and die-hard collectors.
Some of the top rookies featured in the 2023 Heritage set that are expected to gain value over time include Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez, Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II, Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, and Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts. All four players had breakout rookie campaigns in 2022 and are considered franchise cornerstones for their respective teams going forward. Rodriguez in particular had a monster season that culminated in an AL Rookie of the Year award. His base rookie card could realistically be a $100+ card within 5 years if he continues on his current career trajectory.
In addition to top rookies, the 2023 Heritage set also highlights many of the game’s current superstars who are likely to maintain and even increase their popularity and production over the next few seasons. Cards of reigning NL MVP Freddie Freeman (Dodgers), AL MVP Shohei Ohtani (Angels), Mets pitcher Max Scherzer, and Yankees slugger Aaron Judge are almost guaranteed to hold value long term. Judge is especially interesting – after smashing an AL record 62 home runs in 2022, his star power is at an all-time high and any of his cards from the upcoming season, including his Heritage base card, could explode in value with another huge year.
Parallels and short prints from the 2023 Heritage set also offer intriguing long shot speculative opportunities. Topps produces parallels with lower print runs like Gold, Silver, and Refractor versions that are inserted much less frequently than the base cards. They tend to attract premiums from collectors looking to add the “shinier” versions of stars to their collections. Short prints like the coveted #/150 cards can also gain significant value over time, especially for star players. Keep an eye out for Gold/Silver parallels and short prints of the top rookies and players previously mentioned that could multiply in price with increased demand.
When it comes to grading, securing a Gem Mint (GM) 10 grade from SGC or BGS dramatically increases a card’s worth. The 2023 Heritage set is still new, so ungraded copies of key rookie and star cards will likely be more available and affordable for now compared to once they’ve been on the market longer. Discerning collectors seeking top-graded examples may be willing to pay sizable premiums right out of the gate. It’s not uncommon to see the price of a BGS/SGC 10 card jump 2-5x or more compared to its PSA 10 equivalent down the road as supplies dwindle.
The 2023 Topps Heritage baseball card set shapes up to be one that could produce numerous long term blue chip investments. While prices may fluctuate in the short term, cards of breakout rookies like Rodriguez, Harris, Rutschman and Bogaerts as well as superstars Freeman, Ohtani, Scherzer and Judge seem poised to steadily appreciate over the next 5-10 years or more if they live up to their potential. Keeping raw copies in your collection is a low risk way to gain exposure, but high graded examples offer greater upside for discerning investors. As with any investment, do your research, buy what you believe in, and be willing to hold items for the long haul to fully maximize their value.
