The 2023 Topps baseball card release is one of the most anticipated issues in recent memory. As baseball fans eagerly await the arrival of Series 1 in retail stores and hobby shops, many are already plotting their chase card strategies. Topps has delivered another impressive checklist packed with rookies, stars, and short printed parallels that collectors will be hunting all year long.
Two of the biggest chase cards in 2023 Topps are likely to be the base rookie cards of Julio Rodriguez and Bobby Witt Jr. Both players had phenomenal debut seasons in 2022 and are considered future superstars. Rodriguez won AL Rookie of the Year after batting .284 with 28 home runs and 75 RBI for the Mariners. Witt Jr. showed five-tool talent for the Royals, slashing .256/.308/.481 with 20 homers and 80 RBI primarily as a 21-year-old shortstop. Their Topps rookie cards will be hot commodities and short printed versions could fetch huge sums.
Another rookie generating major buzz is Reds pitcher Hunter Greene. The flamethrower topped out at 103 mph in his first full MLB season and went 4-13 with a 4.66 ERA in 103 innings. Greene possesses elite stuff and high-end prospect pedigree that make his Topps rookies must-owns for Reds collectors and those chasing the next big arm. Spots rookie cards of Rodriguez, Witt Jr. and Greene will be at the top of many want lists in Series 1.
Veteran superstars also have enticing chase cards up for grabs. Topps typically reserves its lowest printed parallels for legends of the game and current elite talents. Cards like a 1-of-1 parallel of Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, or Aaron Judge would be crown jewels. Even /5, /10 or /25 parallels of these types of all-time great players demand top dollar. Lower numbered refractors, negatives, and other premium parallels are sure to generate collector frenzy.
Topps also thrives on creating short printed parallels of breakout players from the prior season. Some candidates for these types of chase cards in 2023 include Cardinals rookie pitcher Andre Pallante, Marlins outfielder JJ Bleday, and Guardians infielder Steven Kwan. Each player made strong MLB debuts in 2022 that could carry over hype to their Topps cards. Finding their lowest numbered parallels, especially in 1st Edition form, would be a huge win.
Autograph cards are always a major driver of the high-end hobby market. Topps reserves its most limited 1/1 autographs for the sets’ biggest stars. Signatures of players like Soto, Acuna, Guerrero Jr. and Wander Franco would be true white whales. But collectors also love hunting autographs of top prospects and young stars on the rise like Bobby Witt Jr. and Julio Rodriguez. Finding low-numbered parallels or unnumbered refractor autographs of these types of talents could yield a valuable card.
Topps’ various insert sets also provide avenues for chase cards each year. The Flagship set usually features popular inserts like Photo Variations, Negative Photographs, Superfractors, and more. These inserts tend to feature the game’s biggest names, but also spotlight breakout players. Finding a 1/1 Photo Variation of an emerging star like Jonathan India or Joe Ryan would be a huge addition to any collection.
Collectors should also keep an eye out for chase cards from Topps’ special parallel sets like Chrome, Inception, and Finest. These premium products layer in additional short printed parallels and autographs of the sport’s top talents. A 1/1 Inception auto of a player like Wander Franco would be one of the most coveted modern cards in the hobby. Topps Chrome and Finest also feature some of the sharpest on-card autographs and photo variations that collectors love to chase down.
With Series 1 hitting the market soon, the hunt will be on to find 2023’s biggest rookie cards, star parallels, autographs and more. It’s sure to be an exciting year chasing down cards from what looks to be one of Topps’ most anticipated Flagship releases yet. The rookie classes, stars and short prints will keep collectors engaged all year long. For those willing to put in the work, the 2023 Topps series could yield chase cards to remember.
