The 2023 Topps Update Series baseball cards will be released in late August or early September of 2023 and will feature players performances and roster moves from the second half of the 2022 MLB season. As with every year, the Update Series provides baseball card collectors the opportunity to get cards of players who were called up, traded, or had breakout seasons after the regular Topps Series 1 and Series 2 releases earlier in the year. Given how active the 2022 MLB trade deadline was and some of the young stars who emerged late in the season, the 2023 Topps Update Series promises to be one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year.
Some of the big names likely to appear prominently in the 2023 Topps Update Series after standout second half performances or trades in 2022 include Cardinals rookie sensation Jordan Walker, Mariners rookie sensation Julio Rodriguez, Astros ace pitcher Justin Verlander after being traded from the Tigers at the deadline, and Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber after being acquired from the Red Sox. Roster and performance changes are also likely to lead to the first Topps cards as members of their new teams for players like Luis Castillo after being traded from the Reds to the Mariners, Clayton Kershaw after signing with the Dodgers in the offseason, and Andrew Benintendi after being traded from the Royals to the Yankees at the deadline.
Rookies who made their MLB debuts late in 2022 like Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn, Marlins outfielder JJ Bleday, and Rangers outfielder Evan Carter will also receive their premier Topps rookie cards in the 2023 Update Series. Top prospects like Padres lefty MacKenzie Gore and Dodgers catcher Diego Cartaya who were called up late in the season and could play bigger roles in 2023 will get their first Topps rookie cards as well. And breakout young stars from 2022 like Mariners centerfielder Julio Rodriguez and Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan who had huge second halves are locks to be featured prominently after likely only receiving base cards in the regular Series 1 and 2 releases.
In addition to base cards, the 2023 Topps Update Series is also sure to include a variety of popular insert sets. Annual inserts like Gold Label parallels, Rainbow Foil parallels, and Refractors can be expected. Topps may also create new insert sets highlighting some of the big storylines from the 2022 season like a “Midseason Acquisitions” set featuring players like Verlander, Castillo, and Benintendi or a “September Callups” set focusing on rookies who debuted late like Winn, Bleday, and Gore. Topps often also does an “All-Rookie Team” insert set in the Update, so Rodriguez, Kwan, and others are likely candidates to be featured there. Autograph and memorabilia card inserts of the top rookies and veterans are also a staple in Update Series releases each year.
When it comes to the base card design for the 2023 Topps Update Series, collectors can expect Topps to continue with an artistic, photography-focused design similar to what they have used for the regular flagship releases the past few years. The cards will feature individual headshots of the players on the left side with action photography covering the right side and back. Base parallel variants like Gold, Silver, and Refractor can be expected to use similar photography but with foil treatments added. Topps Update Series base cards in recent years have also included team logo patches on the uniform photos to denote any roster changes. Numbering on the base cards is also likely to follow the standard Update pattern of serial numbering from #U-1 and up for each team set.
In addition to packs, boxes, and hobby cases of the 2023 Topps Update Series being available through the usual hobby shop and online retail channels, Topps also releases a high-end exclusive product each year focused on the Update release. In 2022, this was the Topps Chrome Update product which featured the base card designs on Chrome card stock with serially numbered parallels and autograph/memorabilia inserts. A similar high-end 2023 Topps Update product is expected, whether under the Chrome name or another title. These exclusive products offer collectors a more premium product focused on the key rookies, veterans, and big moments from the second half of the 2022 season.
With so much roster movement and young star emergence after the 2022 MLB trade deadline and down the stretch, the 2023 Topps Update Series has all the makings of one collectors will be itching to rip packs from come late summer 2023. Featuring the first cards in new uniforms of trade deadline acquisitions, premiere rookie cards of September callups, and showcase cards for breakout performers will make the 2023 Update one of the most highly anticipated issues in the annual Topps baseball card calendar. Between the standard release and anticipated high-end exclusive product, collectors have lots to look forward to continuing to chronicle the 2022 MLB season through cards from the busy second half.
