The 2023 Topps baseball card release is one of the most anticipated issues in recent memory. With rookies like Julio Rodriguez, Bobby Witt Jr., and Adley Rutschman establishing themselves in the big leagues this past season, collectors are eager to get their hands on cards featuring these young stars from their rookie campaigns. Veterans continuing to produce at an elite level like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani also make for highly sought after cardboard. With so many exciting players and storylines from the 2022 MLB season to highlight, 2023 Topps looks to continue the brand’s tradition of producing some of the collectible industry’s most iconic and valuable modern baseball cards.

Some early favorites that collectors are buzzing about and will be hunting for in 2023 Topps Series 1 (scheduled for release in late January/early February 2023) include:

Aaron Judge #132 – After smashing an AL record 62 home runs in 2022 and coming within a hair of hitting baseball’s first triple crown since 1967, Judge’s rookie card skyrocketed in value this past season. His flagship Topps card from Series 1 will undoubtedly be one of if not the most sought after rookie in the set.

Shohei Ohtani #156 – The two-way Japanese phenom put together another MVP caliber season and remains one of the most unique and captivating players in the game today. Any Ohtani rookie or base card parallels could hold huge value long term.

Julio Rodriguez #171 – The Mariners rookie wunderkind announced his arrival in dominant fashion, making the All-Star team, winning a Gold Glove, and finishing second in the AL ROY vote. J-Rod’s Topps rookie card will be a must-have for any collector.

Bobby Witt Jr. #189 – Like Rodriguez, Witt burst onto the scene for the Royals and had an electrifying first year in the bigs. His combination of five-tool talent and marketability in Kansas City make him poised for stardom.

Adley Rutschman #211 – After years of hype, Rutschman lived up to expectations as the Orioles’ franchise catcher and is already being hailed as a future star. His rookie card will be hot.

Ronald Acuña Jr. #251 – The Braves’ electrifying outfielder returned late in 2022 from a torn ACL and looks primed for a huge bounce back campaign. Any Acuña parallels or short prints could gain value quickly.

Wander Franco #271 – The Rays’ young phenom continued to impress in his first full season and may have the highest upside of any player in the game today. Franco rookies remain a collector favorite.

In addition to base rookie cards, collectors will be on the hunt for popular Topps parallels and short prints that can exponentially increase a card’s value. Topps Chrome, Paper, Negative, and Refractor variants of the above rookies as well as other stars like Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, and Juan Soto will be in high demand. Numbered parallels like Gold /50, Silver /75, and Red /25 are always collector favorites due to their low print runs. Ultra-short prints like the coveted Topps 1/1s that feature unique designs or autographs could fetch thousands if pulled.

Topps Series 1 will also include the annual Topps Designs insert set. These artist-conceived cards have become a highly anticipated modern parallel set. Past popular Designs cards include Acuña swinging a lightsaber bat and Ohtani surfing. Collectors will be eager to see what creative concepts Topps comes up with to highlight the game’s current stars.

Other insert sets to watch for include Topps Fire, which features refractors and color-matched parallels of top players. Topps Chrome Update Series will be released later in 2023 and is famous for housing some of the season’s best rookie cards after players get their first MLB cups of coffee. International players like Wander Franco and Shohei Ohtani first appeared in Update as rookies.

Topps Allen & Ginter will also be released in Summer 2023, containing cards featuring non-sports related designs and talents. Past A&G cards have paid homage to music legends, actors, and historical figures. The set is renowned for its unique parallels like embossed, die-cut, and laser-etched variations that collectors feverishly pursue.

While the above young stars and parallels will be the initial 2023 Topps chase, the true value of any modern baseball card lies in the long-term progression and success of the player on it. Rookies of past legends like Mickey Mantle, Tom Seaver, and Ken Griffey Jr. were not hugely valuable upon release but gained thousands and even millions in worth as their careers blossomed. The same could very well be said for cards featuring today’s brightest talents like Acuña, Guerrero, Soto, and Ohtani down the road.

With so much excitement around both established veterans like Judge continuing to shine and a new wave of young stars making their mark, 2023 Topps looks to be a seminal release that collectors will be opening and chasing cards from for decades. Between the always anticipated base rookie cards, short prints, parallels, and innovative inserts, this issue has all the ingredients to produce some of the hobby’s future most prized possessions.