The 2023 baseball season will mark a new era for one of baseball’s oldest franchises as the Cleveland Indians officially become the Cleveland Guardians. This name change will be reflected on the team’s baseball cards for the first time in 2023.
Upper Deck, Topps, and Panini are the main companies that produce MLB licensed baseball cards each year. They will all be releasing sets in 2023 that feature the Guardians for the first time on cards instead of the Indians. Collectors will be eager to see how the name change is incorporated into the designs on the front of the cards as well as any updates to the uniforms or logos shown on the back.
Some key Guardians rookies to watch for in the 2023 sets include outfielders George Valera and Will Brennan. Valera had a breakout season in Double-A in 2022 by slashing .283/.367/.493 with 18 home runs and was added to the 40-man roster. Brennan hit .297 with 13 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A and could make his MLB debut next season. Catcher Bo Naylor also looks primed for his first MLB action in 2023 after hitting .246 with 13 home runs in Triple-A in 2022.
Veteran Guardians stars like Jose Ramirez, Shane Bieber, and Amed Rosario will remain some of the most sought-after and valuable cards. Ramirez is a perennial MVP candidate who hit .280 with 29 home runs and 27 stolen bases in 2022. His autograph and memorabilia cards will be hot commodities. Bieber won the 2020 AL Cy Young Award and remained one of baseball’s best pitchers in 2022 by going 13-8 with a 2.88 ERA. Rosario hit .283 with 10 home runs and 27 stolen bases and continues to improve each year.
Upper Deck is expected to release three main Guardians card products in 2023 – Series 1, Series 2, and Allen & Ginter. Series 1 will likely be the first chance for collectors to see the Guardians name on cards when it releases in late February or early March. This set traditionally features over 400 base cards as well as parallels, autographs, and memorabilia cards. Series 2 then follows in late May or June with another large base set along with additional hit cards.
Allen & Ginter is Upper Deck’s premier retro-style set that releases in July. This set is known for its unique card designs and varied selection of players from all sports mixed in with historical figures, artists, scientists, and more. Guardians fans will want to check this set for special uniform or logo variations showcasing the team’s new identity. Upper Deck also releases high-end products like Ultimate Collection, which features rare 1/1 autograph and memorabilia cards of top MLB stars.
Topps is the longest-running and most iconic baseball card company. They are expected to release flagship products like Topps Series 1, Topps Series 2, Topps Chrome, and Topps Update featuring the Guardians throughout 2023. Topps Chrome in particular is highly anticipated each year for its photo variation parallels and refractors. Topps Tribute may also pay homage to the Cleveland franchise’s history with Indians-era throwback cards mixed in.
Panini has emerged as the third major MLB card licensee in recent years. Their 2023 Donruss Baseball release will mark the Guardians debut. Panini is known for innovative parallels and on-card autographs. Their Diamond Kings brand focuses on capturing the essence of each player and team. Guardians collectors can expect new DK designs showcasing Cleveland’s brand update. Panini also produces high-end products like Immaculate Collection with rare 1/1 patches and autographs.
While the Guardians name is new, the franchise has a rich history dating back to 1901. Collectors of all ages will enjoy seeing how the 2023 cards capture this transition period between eras. Rookie cards of future Cleveland stars and autographed cards from franchise icons like Ramirez will take on greater historical significance. The Guardians first year on cardboard is sure to be a memorable milestone that collectors won’t want to miss chronicling.
