The World Baseball Classic is back in 2023 and Topps is ready to release their highly anticipated World Baseball Classic card set. The WBC is an international baseball tournament held every four years that features the best players from countries around the world competing to be crowned world champions. Topps has produced insert sets and memorabilia cards for past WBC tournaments and their 2023 offering is shaping up to be one of their most extensive yet.
With the tournament taking place in March 2023 in cities across the United States, Japan, and Taiwan, Topps will be releasing cards chronicling the event from player selection through the final championship game. Their base set will feature over 350 cards showcasing the players representing their countries as well as manager/coach cards for each nation’s staff. Topps has obtained rights to use official team logos and uniforms so the cards will have an authentic international baseball showcase feel. Rosters are still taking shape but many of baseball’s biggest stars are confirmed to play including Mike Trout, Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani, and Fernando Tatis Jr.
In addition to the base roster cards, Topps plans several insert sets highlighting different aspects of the tournament. A “Walkoff Winners” parallel insert set will feature key players from past WBC championship teams. A “Clutch Performers” parallel set will call out top individual stats and performances from previous events. Topps also has a “National Pride” insert set planned where each card will showcase a country’s flag and past tournament accomplishments. Numbered parallels and autograph/memorabilia cards of the best players are also in the works.
Topps is going all out with their World Baseball Classic card production and distribution. For the first time, hobby boxes of the base set will be available in addition to traditional packs and blasters. Hobby boxes are expected to contain at least 12 packs with odds of one autograph or memorabilia card per box on average. Topps plans wide retail, hobby shop, and online availability for the full set release in January 2023 immediately before the start of tournament pool play games.
Eager collectors will also have the chance to obtain exclusive preview cards starting in late 2022. Topps is producing a limited “Golden Ticket” promotion where a small number of unannounced bonus cards will be randomly inserted including autographed jersey cards of top players. Anyone finding a Golden Ticket card can redeem it for an exclusive prize like a trip to attend WBC games. Topps Update and High Tek baseball sets releasing later in 2022 will have special World Baseball Classic insert cards as a teaser for the full release.
With countries like Japan, South Korea, United States, Puerto Rico, and Dominican Republic among the favorites, the 2023 World Baseball Classic has all the makings of another exciting international tournament. Topps cards have long captured the moments that baseball fans remember and their upcoming World Baseball Classic set promises to chronicle all the on-field action as national teams and players compete for global bragging rights. Whether collecting the base roster cards, chasing hit parallels and autographs, or hoping for a Golden Ticket, Topps is delivering products that any international or memorabilia card collector can get excited about for the 2023 WBC.
