The release of new baseball card sets for the 2023 season will begin in December 2022 and continue into early 2023. Most major card companies such as Topps, Panini, Leaf, and Upper Deck plan elaborate release schedules for their upcoming products in order to maximize interest and sales from collectors.
Topps has traditionally been the flagship brand for MLB licensed baseball cards and will likely be the first to release items capturing the 2023 season. In mid-December 2022, Topps is expected to drop their annual flagship “Series 1” set which will feature current stars and prospects from all 30 MLB teams. This release usually includes somewhere between 300-500 cards made of sturdy cardboard stock. Along with player cards, there will be inserts, parallels, autographs, and memorabilia cards randomly inserted. Retail boxes of Topps Series 1 can be found at big box stores, hobby shops, and online for under $20.
Shortly after the New Year in January 2023, expect Topps to then issue their “Series 2” set which provides another collection of base cards to build sets while highlighting additional players. Inserts in Series 2 have more of a retro feel in previous years. Topps Update will follow in September, spotlighting any midseason additions, transfers or award winners. Throughout the season, other Topps baseball products like Series 1 Mini, Archives, Stadium Club, Gallery, and Allen & Ginter help satisfy collector appetites.
Panini is the second biggest player in the licensed baseball card market after acquiring rights in recent years from rivals like Upper Deck. In mid-to-late December 2022, look for Panini to drop a bounty of 2023 releases with their “Contenders” and “Donruss” brands being among the first major products available. Contenders highlights rookies and parallels while Donruss features colorful retro design on base cards. Expect Panini to then roll out items like “Prizm”, “Clembert”, “Chronicle” and others as the calendar year winds down and into January/February 2023 timeframe. Their release schedule tends to align closely with the MLB season.
Upper Deck had traditionally published baseball sets from the late 80s through the 2000s but lost MLBPA licensing which moved to Panini. However, Upper Deck still maintains special rights and produces high-end, limited edition collections that demand premium hobby prices. Around holiday time in 2022, their “Trilogy” and “Artifacts” releases will attract collectors seeking exquisite memorabilia relic and autograph cards unavailable anywhere else. “Ultimate Collection” releases even offer 1/1 printing plates signed by superstars. Though costing thousands per box or item, Upper Deck sets hold lifelong value for appreciating investors.
Smaller publishing houses like Leaf, Dynasty, Score, and Best Threads also join the seasonal baseball card party. Leaf usually drops a set titled after the upcoming season in early winter while Dynasty unleashes artistic, hand-drawn style cards. Score and Best Threads highlight specific players or teams in more limited, niche print runs for aficionados. Almost the entire month of December 2022 through January/February 2023 sees new MLB releases trickle to the market continuously from all facets of the cardboard industry.
Once the 2023 baseball season begins in late March, card manufacturers synchronize additional releases alongside real MLB action and milestones. Topps usually issues special “Opening Day” parallels and inserts. As summer rolls around, products often honor the annual All-Star Game and Home Run Derby events. More artist proofs, autographs, and autographed memorabilia sets emerge for trade deadline periods and postseason runs too. Upper Deck caters to high-roller investment seekers. By season’s end in October 2023, the full-year run of new releases, promotions and special “Stars of…” focus sets leaves avid collectors with an expansive selection of cardboard keepsakes commemorating another baseball year.
The 2023 baseball card release flood truly commences with a bang in December 2022. From holiday through the start of spring training, consumers can expect a steady stream of new sets, products, and promotions hitting the market continuously from all major publishers and smaller independent creators. This prolonged rollout maximizes buzz at card shops and trade shows while maintaining collectors’ attention throughout the winter ahead of the next MLB campaign. Whether hunting retail boxes or high-end autographs, 2023 shapes up as another memorable season for the modern baseball collectibles industry.
