Whether 2023 baseball cards hold any value depends on several factors, including the player, the card design,scarcity or rarity, and the cards’ physical condition. Cards from the upcoming 2023 season have uncertain value at the moment, as nothing has been pulled or graded yet. We can look at trends from recent years to make some educated guesses.
One of the biggest determinants of a card’s value is the player featured on it. Rookie cards or early career cards of superstar players typically gain value over time as those players establish themselves in the MLB. For the 2023 season, some top prospects to watch include Yankees catcher Anthony Volpe, Mariners shortstop Noelvi Marte, and Guardians outfielder George Valera. If any of these highly-touted prospects have a breakout rookie year and become elite players, even their common 2023 cards could gain value in future years.
Meanwhile, iconic veteran players who are likely in their final MLB seasons, such as Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander, or Yadier Molina, may see their 2023 cards appreciated more in the short-term. Collectors want to obtain items featuring stars before they retire. Cabrera chasing the 3,000 hit milestone, Verlander possibly adding to his Hall of Fame resume, or Molina setting records for catchers could drive short-term interest in their ’23 cards.
The specific card design and parallel variations also impact collectability and value. Exclusive autos, memorabilia cards, or serially-numbered parallels remain the most coveted. Popular modern sets like Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome, Topps Finest, Topps Sterling, and Bowman Draft tend to hold their value best due to scarce parallel options and attractive designs collectors love. Base rookies are also essential for serious player collections.
Short prints, negative refractors, 1/1 printing plates, or cards with lower serial numbers will naturally be more scarce and valuable. Variations like Sepia, Rainbow Foil, Prism, Black, Gold are highly sought after by collectors willing to pay a premium. Numbered parallels below /10, /25 or occasionally /50 are usually considered true “short prints.” The lower the print run, the better hold the card has on value over the long term.
Condition is critical – the tighter the edges, whiter the corners, and more flawless the surface, the more desirable and valuable the card will be considered, especially for high-end collections. Professionally graded Gem Mint 10 cards typically sell for significantly more than raw or lower graded copies. Collectors know condition impacts long-term preservation of condition-sensitive items like trading cards.
While uncertainty remains about how any individual 2023 rookie will perform or what parallels will emerge, history shows cards from established stars, top prospects, in premium card designs and condition do best at holding collector value in the modern sports card market. Some key considerations that will determine which 2023 cards may have future value include:
Rookies of potential superstars like Volpe, Marte or Valera if they pan out
Early career hits or milestones for aging vets chasing records like Miggy, JV or Yadi
Exclusive autos, mem cards of any high-profile player
Lower numbered parallels (/10 or less) of the above
Base rookies needed to complete long-term player collections
Popular modern sets like Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome
Professionally graded Gem Mint 10 protected cards
While there are never guarantees in the speculation-based collectibles market, history suggests 2023 cards meeting several of the above criteria have the strongest probability of developing value recognition from collectors over the long haul. Savvy investors will focus on scarcer, well-protected cards of players who exceed expectations rather than assume all modern cards are destined to decline in price. With some strategic selection informed by today’s trends, collectors building sets now can potentially enjoy future appreciation.
Whether any specific 2023 baseball card holds value long-term remains unseen. But looking at recent trading card sports market patterns, cards meeting several criteria like starring potential elite talent, inclusion in premium modern sets, lower serial numbers, and top-graded protection generally position themselves best to retain and potentially increase in secondary market price in future years once the 2023 season plays out. While higher risk than established vintage cards, applying proven collectibles sector guidelines suggests some 2023 cardboard merits consideration by forward-looking investors.
