The 2023 baseball card season is shaping up to be another exciting year in the hobby. With rookies like Julio Rodriguez and Bobby Witt Jr. breaking out in their first full MLB seasons in 2022, collectors have their eyes on the next wave of young stars to emerge. Veterans like Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and Juan Soto continue producing at elite levels and maintaining their status among the most coveted names in the hobby.
Topps remains the flagship brand for MLB licensed cards, releasing products like Series 1, Series 2, Topps Chrome, and Allen & Ginter each year. Competitors like Panini Donruss and Leaf are gaining more traction with collectors. The competition has led to innovative new card designs and novel insert sets beyond the traditional rookie cards and autographs collectors seek. With more manufacturers in the mix, there are plenty of options at every price point to feed the collecting habit in 2023.
One of the most anticipated rookie classes in years hit the card aisles in 2022. Cards of Julio Rodriguez, Bobby Witt Jr., Spencer Torkelson, and Riley Greene saw huge jumps in demand and price tags as each player made their MLB debuts. Rodriguez in particular exploded onto the scene for the Mariners and took home the AL Rookie of the Year award, rocketing the value of his prized rookie cards. Collectors are eager to see which young talents from the 2022 draft class like Druw Jones and Elijah Green make the biggest splashes in their first seasons.
Veteran superstars like Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, and Ronald Acuna Jr. remain the most sought-after names in the hobby due to their consistent elite production and widespread popularity among fans. Trout has cemented his legacy as the greatest player of his generation, and his rare cards continue climbing to new heights in value. Ohtani’s two-way skills as a top pitcher and hitter make him a one-of-a-kind star attracting card collectors worldwide. Soto was embroiled in contract drama in 2022 but silenced critics with another outstanding season at the plate.
Rookie cards will always be the lifeblood of the hobby, but parallel and short-print inserts containing serial numbers or rare memorabilia pieces can drive huge prices in the secondary market. Popular parallels like Topps Chrome, Topps Sapphire, and Panini Flux have become must-haves for high-end collectors. Newer insert sets like Topps Transcendent honoring historic milestones have also gained traction. Autograph cards remain the holy grail for many, and stars who sign sparingly like Trout and Acuna can fetch five figures for a simple on-card auto.
The 2023 season will see more expansion of digital and memorabilia cards. Topps released its Topps NFT platform in 2022 featuring video highlights and 3D renders of cards. Panini also jumped into the NFT space with offerings on the WAX blockchain. Physical memorabilia cards containing game-used bats, jersey swatches, and signed baseballs will remain a specialty niche as well. As technology evolves, trading card companies are finding new ways to blend the digital and physical worlds.
International stars are also gaining more recognition from manufacturers. Two-way Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani has become a global cover athlete. Young Cuban star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continues producing at an All-Star level for the Blue Jays. European players like Giants outfielder Joc Pederson broaden the game’s reach as well. As the MLB expands its global footprint, trading card companies will showcase more international talent. Korean star Hyun-Jin Ryu and Dominican slugger Juan Soto are examples of players who transcend borders.
The trading card industry overall has seen explosive growth fueled by renewed nostalgia from older collectors and new interest from younger fans. Increased scrutiny around gambling and the business practices of card companies led to reforms and new regulations in 2022. The hobby remains very lucrative for manufacturers who pump out dozens of new sets each year alongside memorabilia products. With a fresh crop of rookies and annual releases from the biggest sports IP, baseball cards will undoubtedly remain one of the most popular collecting categories in 2023 and beyond.
