The 2023 Topps Series 1 baseball set is one of the most anticipated releases of the new year. As the flagship product in Topps’ annual baseball card lineup, Series 1 is where fans can find rookies, stars, and short prints that become highly valuable in the years to come. With its March 2023 release date approaching, here are some of the key cards collectors will be hunting for.
One of the top priorities for any Series 1 collector will be rookie cards of baseball’s brightest young talents. 2023 may feature the highly anticipated rookie cards of players like Druw Jones, the #2 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. As the son of five-time All-Star Andruw Jones, Druw has tremendous upside and his rookie cards could skyrocket in value early. Other top prospects like Gunnar Henderson, Emerson Hancock, and Drew Waters may also have their true rookie cards in this set. Keep an eye out for parallels and autographs of these players, which will hold premium value for years.
Established stars always make for desirable Series 1 cards as well. Look for base rookies or updated cards featuring reigning MVPs like Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Paul Goldschmidt. RCs or new designs featuring superstars in the making like Ronald Acuña Jr., Juan Soto, and Wander Franco will attract lots of collector interest too. Parallel and autograph versions of these elite talents can fetch four-figure prices for the right parallels.
Short prints are a fun chase every year and 2023 Series 1 will continue that tradition. Look for lower numbered SPs of top players like Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, and Bryce Harper. Autograph SPs are true hits that can be worth thousands. Rarest of all are 1/1 printing plates, which feature the blank card stock without the image. These are the holy grails that can sell for five figures or more for star players.
Veteran talent like Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera chasing major career milestones will also have collectors searching packs. Pujols needs just 21 home runs to reach 700 for his career. Cabrera sits at 2,990 hits and may reach 3,000 this season. Milestone parallels and memorabilia cards for these living legends could hold significant long term value.
Rookies and prospects from smaller market clubs may get overlooked but can pay off big later. Look under the radar for players like Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals), Adley Rutschman (Orioles), and Spencer Strider (Braves). Their base rookies may be affordable now but could multiply in value as they emerge as stars. International prospects like the Twins’ Luis Arraez, Guardians’ Oscar Gonzalez and Reds’ Aristides Aquino also have breakout potential.
Autograph cards remain one of the most exciting chases in Series 1 each year. Top young stars and veterans alike sign for Topps, so any on-card auto from this set holds value. Watch closely for 1/1 printing plates with signatures, which become true holy grails. Multi-sport signers like Bo Bichette and Michael Conforto add intrigue as well.
Don’t overlook base cards of franchise legends, especially if they feature new photos or pose updates not seen in years. Cards for icons like Derek Jeter, Ken Griffey Jr., and Chipper Jones will always find buyers, and parallel and serial-numbered versions command top dollar. These are foundation pieces for any collection.
With such a wide range of rookies, stars, and short prints to pursue, the 2023 Topps Series 1 release is primed to create a new wave of valuable cards. For collectors, the chase is half the fun. By focusing on the players and cards outlined here, your odds of finding a future gem to hold onto are much greater. With just a few boxes or blasters, you never know – your next big hit could be waiting in the next pack.
