The 2023 Topps baseball card set has been highly anticipated by collectors hoping to find valuable rookie cards, short printed parallels, and error cards. While the base cards are readily available in retail packs and boxes, it’s the scarce refractors, autographs, and numbered inserts that hold the greatest potential to increase substantially in value over time. Let’s take a closer look at some of the rarest 2023 Topps baseball cards that collectors will be hunting.
Perhaps the most sought after rookie cards in the 2023 Topps set are those of Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II and Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez. Both Harris and Rodriguez had phenomenal rookie seasons in 2022 that have launched them into stardom. Their base rookie cards can be pulled without too much difficulty. The true valuable versions will be short printed refractors, paralleled autographs, and serially numbered inserts that feature these young superstars. Collectors are likely to pay top dollar for gems like a Harris II green refractor /99 or a Rodriguez auto parallel out of only 10 copies.
Aaron Judge exploded into the record books in 2022 by hitting 62 home runs to break the AL single season record. Naturally, his cards from Topps’ flagship release are highly sought. The standard Aaron Judge rookie card can still fetch hundreds of dollars graded and encased. But the ultra-rare items will be parallels like the Judge refractor, which is rumored to have an exceptionally low print run. Numbered to perhaps only a couple dozen copies or less, a pristine Judge refractor could end up as one of the set’s true crown jewels.
Rookies aside, collectors love chasing cards featuring the games’ biggest stars in short printed versions. For example, a Mike Trout rookie refractor or a paralleled auto of superstar Shohei Ohtani would make excellent centerpieces. Topps is also known to spice things up with incredibly rare 1/1 parallel prints that feature today’s top talents. Think a singular copy of a prospect like Gunnar Henderson or SP variant of an MVP like Christian Yelich. With such a limited quantity, these 1/1 cards explode in collector demand.
In terms of serially numbered inserts, keep an eye out for parallels from sets like Topps Chrome, Chrome Update, and Finest. Cracks at stars like Ronald Acuna Jr., Juan Soto, and Mookie Betts on crips refractors could yield significant returns. Low numbered parallels under 10 copies have the greatest potential. Gold /50, black /10, and especially red /5 parallels ignite bidding wars. For the true high-roller collectors, white refractor parallels numbered to just 1 copy are the golden fleece.
Error and variation cards also hold tremendous fascination. Topps is known for an occasional typo in a nameplate or jersey number variation that cause a stir. Much rarer, however, are printing plate errors which see the stamp used to make cards appear on the face of the card. These types of anomalies can rocket in value regardless of the player featured. For 2023, keep an eye out for any news about miscuts, missing signatures, or other production mishaps.
Wrapping things up, online redemption fulfillment cards from Topps also provide an opportunity. While base level auto and memorabilia redemptions may not move the needle much, successful redemptions of 1/1 game used memorabilia cards or extremely low numbered parallel autographs could make for true blue chip prospects. Players like Bobby Witt Jr. or Adley Rutschman may surface in such limited fashion.
While the 2023 Topps release offers many reachable base cards, collectors will no doubt feverishly hunt through boxes and cases looking to land the biggest whales – short printed parallels, numbering 1/1s, distinctive errors, and incredibly low serialized hits featuring the sports hottest young stars and long tenured greats. With some luck and perseverance, one of these rare gems could pay dividends for years to come.
