The hobby of collecting baseball cards is as popular as ever, with new releases coming out every year featuring the game’s top players, rookies, and prospects. With 2023 right around the corner, here’s an in-depth look at some of the best baseball cards to keep an eye out for in the new year based on factors like star power, rookie status, parallels and short prints, autographs and memorabilia cards.
One of the most anticipated rookie classes in recent memory is expected to arrive in 2023. Led by Druw Jones, the #2 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft as well as son of five-time All-Star Andruw Jones. Jones has all the tools to be a perennial All-Star and his cards could skyrocket in value with a strong debut. Another top prospect to watch is Jackson Holliday, the #1 overall pick who has plus power from both sides of the plate. Both Jones and Holliday will have plenty of hype behind them that could drive interest in their rookie cards.
Two other rookies who made their MLB debuts in 2022 and will have their true rookie cards in 2023 sets are Spencer Strider and Michael Harris II of the Atlanta Braves. Strider in particular had a breakout season with an electric fastball and strikeout stuff, posting a 2.67 ERA as a rookie. His cards jumped up in price but should remain affordable in 2023 with the official rookie designation. Harris showed five-tool potential in center field and at the plate, slashing .297/.339/.514 as a 21-year-old and will be a core piece of the Braves for years.
Veteran star power will also be prominent in 2023 releases. Shohei Ohtani had another MVP-caliber season and remains one of the most unique and compelling players in the game. His autograph and memorabilia cards hold huge value. The same goes for reigning back-to-back NL MVPs Bryce Harper and Juan Soto, who could be on the move this offseason. Rookies CJ Abrams and Oneil Cruz made their debuts in 2022 and showed tantalizing upside. Abrams in particular could be a dynamic shortstop for a Padres team that will look to contend.
Parallels and short prints of top players will also be cards to target. Rainbow parallels like Gold, Silver, Black and Refractors add to the challenge of set building and increase rarity. Numbered parallels like /99, /50 and lower provide a scarcity factor for collectors. Printing plates and 1/1 cards showcase the pinnacle of rarity. Autograph and memorabilia cards in these parallel forms multiply the value exponentially. Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome and Bowman Sterling are examples of sets that feature these types of hits regularly.
Vintage players will remain a popular segment of the collecting market. Iconic stars from the past like Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner will always hold cache as the all-time greats of the game despite not having played in decades. Mantle and Wagner in particular routinely shatter auction records with their ultra-rare cards. For collectors chasing condition census-level specimens, vintage cards provide the pinnacle. But more affordable vintage options exist too in lower grades that are still impressive historical artifacts of the early days of baseball cards.
The rookie class isn’t the only place to find emerging star power either. Young standouts like Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr, Vladimir Guerrero Jr and Wander Franco have all cemented themselves as franchise cornerstones at early stages of their careers still. Their cards hold value as they continue ascending towards potential Hall of Fame trajectories. Soto in particular could see his stock rise even higher if he ends up on a new team this winter that provides a new fanbase to rally behind him.
Autograph and memorabilia cards will remain the true blue chips of the hobby. In today’s market, these types of premium hits drive prices much more than base rookie cards. Top rookies like Druw Jones will see big demand for their autographed cards in particular. Game-used memorabilia cards with pieces of a player’s jersey, bat or other equipment integrate the player even closer and command top dollar. Manufacturers like Topps, Panini and Bowman continue innovating with new memorabilia relic types too like patch cards.
Sets focused specifically around a single star player provide another avenue for collecting. Examples include Topps Project 70 for 70th anniversary cards of players or Topps Archives Snapshots focusing on a player’s career. These curated collections highlighting the best images and milestones of icons like Mickey Mantle are prized by collectors looking to deeply follow a favorite player.
With all the factors considered – rookies, veterans, parallels, autos and relics – 2023 has the potential to be another strong year in the never-ending world of collecting baseball cards. Young stars, vintage legends, and the next generation of all-time greats will all be represented across the upcoming releases. With patience and research, savvy collectors can uncover future valuable gems before they skyrocket in the years to come.
