Baseball Card Series 2 Release for 2023
The second series of licensed Major League Baseball cards for the 2023 season is set to be released in late June by the major card manufacturers. Series 2 is always highly anticipated by collectors as it provides a midseason update to rookies, prospects and veterans with new photos and stats from the first half of the season. This year’s Series 2 release looks to continue building on the popularity and demand for baseball cards that has surged over the past couple years.
Top Rookies to Watch For
Several top rookies from the 2022 rookie class are expected to have their first base cards in Series 2 now that they’ve had time to establish themselves in the big leagues. Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals had a phenomenal debut season and is poised for another Series 2 rookie card after his debut in 2022 Topps. Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez had a breakout rookie campaign and will see his first Update card after appearing in Series 1. Cardinals pitcher Andre Pallante and Guardians infielder Steven Kwan also had solid rookie seasons and collectors will be hunting their Series 2 rookies. Keep an eye out as well for any top prospects like Dodgers catcher Diego Cartaya who may have received a midseason promotion and first MLB card.
New Team Photos and Stats
One of the main draws of the Series 2 release is that it provides fully updated stats and team photos from the first half of the season. Rookies, veterans and stars will all have their stats bumped up to reflect their performance through June/July. This gives the cards a much more “live” in-season feel compared to the preseason photos and stats used in Series 1. Fans will enjoy seeing cards reflecting how their favorite players currently look in their team’s uniforms. The new stats also make for interesting player comparisons and help track breakout performances versus slow starts or injuries.
Parallels and Inserts to Chase
In addition to the base rookie and star cards, collectors will be on the hunt for scarce parallels and popular insert sets found in Series 2 packs. Topps, Panini and Leaf are expected to include various parallel versions of hits printed on different colored cardboard or with foil/refractor treatments. Popular parallels from past years like Topps Chrome, Topps Fire, Leaf Metal and Panini Flux could return. Insert sets themed around milestones, All-Stars, prospects and more will give collectors chase cards to find. Autograph and memorabilia cards will remain the big ticket chase hits that can yield substantial returns for savvy investors.
Continued Boom in Hobby Participation
The baseball card industry has seen unprecedented growth over the last two years as more fans got back into the hobby or entered it for the first time during the pandemic. Series 2 releases have tended to fuel even more excitement as the season hits the midway point. With attendance up at games and record sales for the major manufacturers in 2022, all signs point to another massive release for 2023 Series 2. Both casual collectors and serious investors will be cracking packs and searching the secondary market to build their PC’s (personal collections) with the latest midseason updates.
Top Rated Rookie Cards to Target
For collectors looking to speculate on the top rookies, here are some cards from Series 2 that have historically held strong long term value:
Topps Chrome Rookie Auto /99 (scarcity drives price up)
Topps Fire Variations 1/1 (ultra rare one-of-one cards)
Topps High Tek Pink Refractor /50
Panini Prizm Silver Prizms /75
Bowman Chrome Color Refractors /25
Leaf Metal Universe Autographs
Topps Finest Patch Autographs
While it’s impossible to predict the next big star, cards from top-rated prospects like Cartaya or rookies like Witt that debut with flashy parallels tend to attract serious collectors willing to invest. With the continued growth of the sport and hobby, prices for premier rookie cards seem poised to keep climbing in the coming years.
2023 Series 2 is shaping up to be another monumental release that captures the excitement of the season and fuels the booming baseball card market. Between new stars, parallels and the midseason card design refresh, it’s sure to be a highly anticipated set for collectors both casual and serious. The hunt will be on this summer to track down the hottest rookie cards, parallels and inserts that could become valuable keepsakes or investments with staying power.
