The 2023 MLB season will mark the 67th year of Topps producing official baseball cards for Major League Baseball. As the longest running sports card licensee, Topps has established itself as the premier brand for collectors to find rookie cards, memorabilia cards, and chase parallels of today’s biggest stars.
The 2023 Topps base set is expected to feature cards for over 1,000 current MLB players. The design is rumored to take inspiration from classic Topps designs of the past while maintaining a clean, modern aesthetic. Base cards will again be available in both paper and chromium versions. Paper cards are produced on a thinner stock and have a traditional cardboard feel while chromium parallels feature glossy, photo-like images on a thicker plastic-type stock.
Beyond the base set, Topps will release numerous insert sets highlighting different aspects of the game. Fan-favorite traditions like All-Star Cards, Postseason Performers, and Topps Now Moments cards documenting iconic in-season moments are a lock to return. New insert sets often pay tribute to milestones, award winners, league leaders, and memorable individual player accomplishments from the previous season. 2023 also marks the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier, so collectors can expect Topps to produce special Jackie Robinson commemorative cards.
Parallels and short-printed variations add to the excitement of the hobby by creating different levels of scarcity. Topps Chrome is one of the premier parallels, featuring a fully-chrome design on the thick plastic stock. Other popular parallel sets include Rainbow Foil, Gold Foil, Black Foil, Photo Variations, and Refractors. The big chase cards within these parallel sets are 1-of-1 autograph and relic parallels that are nearly impossible to pull from packs. Topps Tribute cards also pay homage to retired legends with parallels that may number as low as 10 copies or less.
Autograph and memorabilia cards remain the true high-end chase for collectors. Topps will include on-card and sticker autographs of rising young stars and established veterans across various insert sets. Game-used memorabilia cards containing pieces of jerseys, bats, gloves, and other equipment worn in MLB games are the pinnacle prizes. Topps Rookies & Stars Autographs and Topps Sterling Memorabilia sets focus specifically on autographed relic cards. Numbered parallels within those sets can be as limited as 1 copy for superstar players.
Beyond the standard baseball card releases, Topps also produces specialized multi-year sets like Topps Heritage which mimics classic designs, Topps Archives reprinting rare vintage cards, and limited high-end offerings like Topps Tribute and Topps Triple Threads. International collectors are served by global editions printed in other languages as well. Additionally, Topps Slam is a non-sport release utilizing similar card designs and technologies to feature pop culture subjects.
The official Topps MLB license, which dates back to 1956, is the cornerstone of the modern sports card industry. As baseball’s longest running partner, Topps sets the gold standard that other sports pursue. The 2023 season will see this iconic brand build upon its rich history by delivering another year of memorable rookie cards, parallels, autographs, and more to fuel the collecting passion of fans worldwide. Whether chasing base cards, building sets, or pursuing 1-of-1 treasures, the 2023 Topps series is sure to make its mark as another classic chapter in the Topps baseball card story.
