Target is gearing up for another huge baseball card release in 2023. The retail giant has become a mainstay for budget-friendly card releases in recent years that both collectors and casual fans can enjoy. Their exclusive partnerships with card manufacturers like Topps, Panini, Leaf, and others means lots of new and exciting options will hit Target store shelves and their website next spring. Here’s a deeper look at some of the promising Target 2023 baseball card releases collectors can plan on finding.
Topps Series 1 is always one of the first big releases of the new year, and Target will have exclusive blaster and hanger box variants of the flagship product beginning in late February or early March. The checklist and designs have not been revealed yet, but collectors can expect rookie cards of young stars like Bobby Witt Jr. and dozens of new Red Foil Parallels that are popular Target exclusives. This will be a budget-friendly way for collectors new and old to fill out their rosters ahead of the season.
Bowman’s Best was a surprise hit for Target in 2022 with their retail exclusive Mega Boxes full of high-end paper prospects and parallels. Look for Bowman’s Best 2023 at Target sometime in April or May with another shot at hard signed rookie cards of rising prospects outside of the big box hobby releases. The design direction for next year is still under wraps, but collectors will surely flock to Target store aisles searching for the next superstar signed auto.
Allen & Ginter returns to Target after a two year hiatus, but 2023 should see an expanded release through exclusive blaster and hanger box variants beginning in late May or early June. Past Target exclusives featured unique parallels and bonus hits that made ripping packs very enticing for the lower price point. The Nostalgia-themed inserts and diverse checklist beyond just MLB players gives A&G a fun, retro vibe perfect for Target shoppers.
Heritage Minors is a new Target exclusive brand debuting in Summer 2023 focused on minor league and independent ballplayers. With such a player-heavy checklist and diverse autograph selection, Heritage Minors fills an untapped niche at an affordable level. Variations, parallels and exclusive short prints should give chasers plenty to hunt through cost-effective blaster box breaks. Minor league fans seeking rookie autos of future big leaguers will find Heritage Minors a bright spot.
Target’s partnerships with Panini guarantee some exciting new releases for 2023 as well. Donruss Baseball is slated to return with Target exclusive blaster and hanger boxes loaded with shiny parallels and special Veterans refractors beginning in late May.
Contenders Baseball also has Target retail exclusives planned for August featuring prizm parallels, numbered refractors and coveted on-card rookie autographs of prospects rising through the minors. Contenders is known for ‘hitability’ at the lower hobby levels compared to its high-end counterparts.
Finally, Archives Snapshots is a new retro-themed parallel brand from Panini debuting at Target in September. With retro designs, on-trend variations and autograph options, Snapshots should be a refreshing late-season filler box option for collectors. The brand celebrates the history and iconic photography of baseball card archives from the 1960s-1980s.
With such a wide variety of brands, parallels and special products in the works, Target is sure to be “baseball card central” once again in 2023. Their exclusive nature and solid distribution means products virtually fly off shelves. Collectors marking their calendars now have the best shot at chasing down new rookies, stars and numbered hits throughout the spring and summer ahead of next season. Though release dates may fluctuate, Target’s consistent retail presence is establishing them as a card collector’s best friend.
