The 2023 Topps Chrome Baseball set is set to release in late 2022/early 2023 and collectors are already excited about the chase cards they may find. Topps Chrome has long been known as one of the premier flagship baseball card products, featuring shiny refractors and top rookies. While the base cards can be found with relative ease, there are always a select few prized cards that collectors search packs feverishly for. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the top 2023 Topps Chrome Baseball chase cards collectors will be hunting.
One of the biggest chase cards in any Topps Chrome set is always the prized 1/1 printing plate autograph. For 2023, collectors can hunt for a true one-of-one card featuring a current star player’s autograph on the actual printing plate used to create the Chrome set. Past years have featured plates of superstars like Mike Trout, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Juan Soto. Landing a 1/1 plate is the ultimate trophy card. While odds of finding one are extremely slim, the hype surrounding these ultra-rare pieces makes them hugely desirable. Prices for 1/1 plates from previous Topps Chrome sets have reached well into the thousands of dollars, so landing one in 2023 would be an incredible hit.
Another major Chrome chase are the prized autograph and memorabilia rookie cards, headlined by the class of 2022’s top prospects. Cards like Druw Jones, Termarr Johnson, and Elijah Green are sure to be at the top of want lists. But one rookie who is generating especially huge buzz is Cardinals’ catcher/outfielder Dillon Paul. The 21-year-old had a monster pro debut in 2022, slashing .340/.405/.640 with 13 home runs between Low-A and High-A. With huge upside and playing for a major market team, Paul’s Chrome autographs are already in high demand on the secondary market. Collectors will be on the hunt for any of his autographed Chrome rookie cards, from base to parallels, as a potential future star player.
A perennial favorite among Chrome collectors are the prized refractor parallels. From the iconic base refractors, all the way up to the ultra-rare 1/1 dual autographs, refractors provide that true “chrome” experience collectors love. Some specific 2023 refractors that will draw major attention include prized parallels like Gold /50, Rainbow Foil /25, Black /10, and the elusive Platinum /5. Even the base Orange and Blue refractor parallels have a special allure in the set. Finding any big name star on a low-numbered refractor parallel would be a true score, with values often exponentially higher than the base card.
Another exciting Chrome chase will be the new Prizm parallels featuring cutting edge refractors with bright colors and 3D-like textures. Topps is debuting these innovative new parallels for the first time in 2023 after acquiring the technology from Panini. Ranging from the /99 Green Prizm all the way down to the ultra-rare Red Prizm /10, Pink Prizm /5 and 1/1 White Prizm, these new cutting edge parallels are sure to generate huge buzz. Finding any major star, especially rookies, on these innovative new parallel designs would be an incredible hit. With their new technology and limited print runs, Prizm parallels have potential to become highly coveted new chase cards.
Of course, no discussion of Topps Chrome chase cards would be complete without mentioning the iconic base refractors of the set’s biggest stars. While they may not have the allure of low-numbered parallels, finding the prized refractor of a player like Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto or Ronald Acuña Jr. is always a major thrill. These serve as the iconic “hit” cards that make up the core appeal of Topps Chrome each year. Even base refractors of emerging young talents like Bobby Witt Jr. or Julio Rodriguez will excite collectors. The thrill of the refractor chase is half the fun of each Topps Chrome release.
And for those super collectors with an unlimited budget, the true high-end chase cards of 2023 Topps Chrome will be the prized 1/1 dual autographs. Past years have featured one-of-a-kind pairs like Mike Trout & Albert Pujols, Clayton Kershaw & Kenley Jansen, and Mookie Betts & Jackie Bradley Jr. Estimated odds of finding one are around 1 in a million packs. But the prestige and value of these 1/1 dual hits know no bounds. Prices have reached tens of thousands, and sometimes over $100K for the most iconic pairings. While out of reach for most collectors, the allure and excitement of the 1/1 dual auto chase adds to the thrill of each new Topps Chrome release.
The 2023 Topps Chrome Baseball release promises to deliver another exciting array of chase cards across its prized rookie autos, refractors, parallels and one-of-one hits. Whether a collector’s budget allows for base cards or true high-end trophies, the refractor chase experience is half the fun. With another strong rookie class and starring the game’s biggest names, Topps Chrome looks poised to thrill collectors yet again in 2023. The hunt will be on come release time to find those prized chase cards that become collection cornerstones. Topps Chrome continues to fuel the excitement year after year.
