The 2023 baseball season is fast approaching which means new baseball card releases are on the horizon. Card manufacturers like Topps, Panini, Leaf, and more have been revealing details on their upcoming flagship baseball card products in preparation for the new year of baseball. Let’s take a look at what we know so far regarding some of the biggest and most anticipated 2023 baseball cards checklists.
Topps Series 1 is usually one of the first major baseball card releases each year coming out in late February/early March. The checklist for Topps Series 1 2023 has not been fully revealed yet but we can expect rookie cards and base cards for all 30 MLB teams. Some of the top rookies to watch for in Series 1 include Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals), Spencer Torkelson (Tigers), Julio Rodriguez (Mariners), and C.J. Abrams (Padres). Superstar veterans like Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, Juan Soto, and Ronald Acuña Jr. will also have prominent base cards. Topps usually includes around 300 total cards in a Series 1 checklist. Insert sets and parallels will add to the overall product count.
Panini Donruss is also an early release that typically hits shelves in March. The Donruss 2023 checklist is not public yet but past years have featured a similar scope to Topps Series 1 with base cards for all active players and top rookie class members. Donruss inserts in 2023 may include “Contenders” parallels and “Momentum” parallels highlighting big plays. “Diamond Kings” and “Rated Rookie” are other popular Panini insert sets collectors can expect to find. Around 300-350 total cards make up the average Donruss release.
Topps Series 2 is planned for a May release. This series usually has a stronger focus on rookie talent that made their MLB debuts after Series 1. Some top names to watch for in Series 2 rookies include Gunnar Henderson (Orioles), Oneil Cruz (Pirates), and Michael Harris II (Braves). Base cards of established veterans will again be included along with popular Topps inserts like “Photo Variations”, “Topps Now”, and “All-Star”. The Series 2 checklist is estimated to mirror Series 1 with around 300 total cards.
Topps Chrome and Bowman Chrome are two of the highest-end baseball card products that arrive in the summer months. Topps Chrome in particular is a collector favorite known for its refractors and parallels printed on chrome card stock. The 2023 Topps Chrome checklist will feature the same core base cards and rookies as the standard Topps Series releases but with a premium, eye-catching presentation. Bowman Chrome focuses exclusively on top prospects and recent draft picks with their first pro cards including high school, college and international signees. Chrome products tend to have smaller checklists around 100-150 cards that command higher secondary market prices.
Panini Prizm is the brand’s premier baseball release that also comes out during the summer. Similar to Topps and Bowman Chrome, Prizm features the same base rookies and veterans as Donruss but on the highly sought after “prism” refractors and parallels. Popular Prizm inserts to find include “Fluorescent”, “Green Prizm”, and “Gold Prizm”. The 2023 Prizm checklist will likely showcase around 200-250 total cards when accounting for all parallels and short prints.
Topps Finest is one of the final major flagship releases each season arriving in the late summer/early fall. The ultra-premium Finest cards are printed on a textured stock with vivid colors and embedded refractors. Base cards will mirror Topps Series 1-2 with additional rookie talent that debuted over the second half of the season. Sought after Finest inserts tend to be “Negative Refractors”, “Rainbow Foil”, and “Gold Medallion”. The Finest checklist usually comes in around 150-200 total cards.
While the above checklists are not fully revealed yet, based on past year trends we can expect each brand to feature the top rookie classes, established veteran stars, and popular insert sets. Stay tuned to each manufacturer’s website and social media channels over the coming months for first looks at rookie photoshoot images and checklist previews. The 2023 season is shaping up to deliver another exciting year of new baseball cards for collectors to chase after. Be sure to check with your local card shop for release date information and product allocations once details are announced.
