The 2023 Topps Chrome Baseball set is one of the most highly anticipated issues of the year. As a high-end complementary set to the standard Topps flagship release, Topps Chrome provides parallel versions and refractors of the base cards in addition to short printed rookie cards and autographs of the game’s newest stars. While retail boxes can be hit or miss in terms of value, savvy collectors know that Topps Chrome often houses some true gems that can boom in worth in a short time. With the rookie class headlined by names like Julio Rodriguez, Bobby Witt Jr., and Adley Rutschman delivering impressive campaigns, let’s take a look at some of the cards from 2023 Topps Chrome that could become extremely valuable in the years to come.
Leading the way has to be any prizm, negative, or red parallel of Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez. The AL Rookie of the Year runner up had a monster debut season batting .284 with 28 home runs and 75 RBI. His combination of five-tool talent and big market team makes him a rock solid foundation piece for the Mariners moving forward. Numbered parallels of his base rookie card could climb well into the triple digits within a couple years. The really short printed refractors and autographs have potential to eventually reach four figures or more. Rodriguez continues to prove he’s a true superstar and any prime rookie cards from his inaugural Topps Chrome set will be in high demand.
Another rookie destined for card value stardom is Kansas City Royals pitcher Brady Singer. The 2020 first rounder took a huge step forward in 2023, making the All-Star team while compiling a winning record and 179 strikeouts across 32 starts. The 24 year old looks primed to assume an ace-type role for the Royals in the years ahead. His prizm, negative, and red refractors from Topps Chrome are sure to rise quickly given Singer’s continuing emergence. Numbered autos could easily hit $500+ within the next year or two. And low serial numbered 1/1 parallels have a shot at $1,000+ if he maintains this career trajectory.
Topps Chrome always produces some of the most iconic rookie cards, and Adley Rutschman’s are no exception. The Baltimore Orioles backstop lived up to immense hype by batting .254 with 13 home runs in 2022 and looks to be a franchise cornerstone. Short prints and refractors of the switch hitter will steadily rise as he helps push the O’s back into contention. Autographs may reach $300-500 as Rutschman becomes a household name. And true 1/1 rarities could breach $1,000 down the road if he makes an MVP caliber player. His cards will be hugely popular with both Oriole and baseball card collectors.
Another surefire breakout star with cards primed to boom is Toronto Blue Jays pitching prospect Mackenzie Gore. Traded to Toronto at the deadline, the lefty showcased tremendous upside by limiting opponents to a .186 batting average down the stretch. Numbered refractors and autos from his Topps Chrome rookie issuance are buys in the $50-100 range now but have easy $200-300 potential within a couple seasons. Gore owns true ace ability and will be a cornerstone of a perennial contender’s rotation for many years. Top blue chip rookie cards usually surge in value as predictions are realized.
While the rookie cards get the hype, established star performers usually see their Topps Chrome cards rise too as accomplishments accumulate. Cards of Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker, who launched a career-high 30 home runs in 2023, could double or triple from current $10-20 prices within a few years if he repeats his production. The same goes for Guardians ace Triston McKenzie, whose prizm and negative refractors in the $30-50 range now have capability of reaching $100-150 down the road as he solidifies himself as a staff leader and All-Star presence for Cleveland.
Base cards may not offer huge returns, but short prints and parallels of superstars like Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, and Ronald Acuña Jr. are always solid long term holds. A numbered refractor of Ohtani underneath $100 today could be a $500 card within 5 years if he keeps up his video game stats and popularity surge. The same applies to Soto refractors in the $50 range or Acuña in the $20-40 prices – their future Hall of Fame trajectories make such cards strong bets to at least 5x or more as years pass. Being a premier product, 2023 Topps Chrome parallels are sure to retain a premium over the standard base issues for such legendary talents.
With rookies like Oneil Cruz, Emmanuel Clase, and Alek Thomas delivering strong campaigns too, their Topps Chrome rookie cards also carry plenty of potential. Lower numbered parallels and refractors in the affordable $10-30 prices now will easily zoom up as production and popularity rise over the coming years if they keep developing. And who knows – breakout seasons from relative unknowns like Michael Harris II or Brennan Davis could suddenly catapult some affordableChrome rookie cards into must-have status too with an exciting ‘24 campaign. There’s always hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
The volatile nature of the sports card market makes any predictions speculative. But Topps Chrome has proven time and again to feature some of the safest long term investments in the entire hobby. Savvy collectors who accumulate prized rookies, stars, and short prints of impending talent at reasonable initial prices regularly reap the rewards as predictions unfold on the diamond. The 2023 edition looks primed to keep that tradition alive with one of the most storied rookie classes in recent memory. With patience, some Topps Chrome cards from this set couldgrow to become true collector gems worth small fortunes to the original owners down the road.
