The 2023 Topps Heritage baseball card set is one of the most anticipated releases of the upcoming year. As with every Heritage release, the set pays homage to Topps’ iconic designs from the late 1960s. Heritage has developed a loyal following among collectors looking for a retro-styled set featuring today’s biggest stars. With its March release date approaching, here’s a detailed breakdown of some of the standout cards to target in 2023 Topps Heritage baseball.
One of the marquee rookie cards in the set will undoubtedly be Julio Rodríguez of the Seattle Mariners. Rodríguez had a phenomenal debut season in 2022 that saw him named American League Rookie of the Year. He hit .284 with 28 home runs and 75 RBI and also stole 25 bases. His exciting all-around game has made him one of the faces of the next generation of MLB stars. Rodríguez’s rookie card in Heritage will have tremendous long-term appeal for collectors. Expect his card to carry a hefty premium, especially for higher-numbered parallels.
Another rookie to watch is Seattle teammate George Kirby. Kirby made his MLB debut in 2022 and showed why he was such a highly-regarded pitching prospect. He finished with a 2.81 ERA over 22 starts and struck out 103 batters in 111 innings. Kirby possesses an electric four-pitch mix headlined by a mid-90s fastball. His Heritage rookie will be one of the set’s most sought-after pitcher cards. Collectors would be wise to acquire it sooner rather than later before Kirby’s stock rises even higher.
On the veterans side, Mike Trout remains one of the safest investments in the hobby. Even after a decade of dominance on the field, Trout mania shows no signs of slowing down. His retro-styled Heritage design is always a fan favorite. Low-numbered Trout parallels like auto or memorabilia cards could command four-figure price tags. For average collectors, even his base rookie remains a blue-chip hold that is virtually guaranteed to increase in value long-term.
Another perennial star on track for a big 2023 is Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani followed up his AL MVP season in 2021 by doing it again in 2022, this time winning the award unanimously. He is the best two-way player in baseball today and perhaps of all-time. His popularity shows no signs of slowing down. Ohtani’s Heritage card is sure to be one of the most popular in the set among both collectors and fans.
Rookies C.J. Abrams of the Padres and Oneil Cruz of the Pirates also deserve attention. Abrams made his MLB debut in 2022 and showcased elite defense and speed at a premium shortstop position. Cruz brings tremendous power for a middle infielder and has one of the highest ceilings of any young hitter. Their Heritage rookies could pay major dividends for collectors willing to invest early.
On the veterans side, Aaron Judge’s monster 62 home run season with the Yankees has made him one of the hottest commodities in the hobby. After turning down a contract extension, Judge could be playing elsewhere next season, increasing demand for his Yankees cards. His Heritage design will be a must-have for any collection. Fellow slugger Albert Pujols chasing the 700 home run milestone added intrigue and value to his cards down the stretch of another historic season.
Rookies like Oneil Cruz, Bobby Witt Jr., and Adley Rutschman from last year’s class also deserve mention. While not true rookies anymore, their second year cards in Heritage remain affordable for most collectors and hold long-term potential as those players continue to develop. Parallels of stars like Mike Trout, Fernando Tatis Jr., Ronald Acuña Jr., and Juan Soto should also demand strong premiums due to their widespread popularity.
For teams, cards featuring current Dodgers and their star-studded roster including Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman will be in high demand. The same goes for the defending champion Astros with Jose Altuve, Justin Verlander and company. Yankees cards led by Aaron Judge will sell as well despite their early postseason exit. RCs of the league’s top prospects like Jackson Jobe, Druw Jones and Termarr Johnson provide intrigue for building sets as those players progress.
The 2023 Topps Heritage baseball release is primed to be another outstanding vintage-styled set. With a perfect blend of established veterans, young stars and rookie cards, it offers something for every type of collector. Julio Rodriguez, George Kirby and Oneil Cruz project to have the most valuable rookie cards. Veterans like Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge will lead the way. For collectors, targeting any of these standouts as well as key parallels seems sure to provide strong long-term returns on their Heritage baseball investments.
