The 2023 Topps baseball card set was another highly anticipated release from the legendary card manufacturer. With a wide variety of parallels, short prints, and rookie cards to chase, the 2023 Topps set offered collectors plenty of exciting cards to add to their collections. Let’s take a closer look at some of the standout rookie and veteran cards from the 2023 Topps baseball set.
One of the most sought-after rookie cards in the 2023 Topps set was Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown. As a promising rookie who made his MLB debut in 2022, Brown’s base rookie card carried significant value right out of packs. Additionally, Topps inserted short print and parallel versions of Brown’s rookie that became extremely difficult to pull. For Astros fans and collectors chasing the next big rookie star, Brown’s cards were at the top of many want lists.
Another rookie who generated a lot of buzz was Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez. After winning the AL Rookie of the Year award in 2022, Rodriguez’s base rookie card from Topps sold for over $100. Parallels and short prints of J-Rod’s rookie skyrocketed in value. The refractors and negatives especially became major chase cards. Rodriguez is poised for stardom, making his rookie cards from 2023 an excellent long-term investment for collectors.
On the veteran side, Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts had one of the most coveted base cards in the 2023 Topps set. As one of the game’s premier players, Betts’ marketability and on-field production make him a blue-chip card. The refractors and negative refractors of Betts’ base card were extremely scarce pulls that reached high prices. For Dodger fans and investors, a Betts parallel from 2023 carried substantial cachet.
Another in-demand veteran was New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. After smashing an AL record 62 home runs in 2022 and winning the AL MVP, Judge was the biggest name in baseball. Naturally, collectors scrambled to obtain Judge’s base card from Topps. With his star power and on-base of continued dominance, Judge’s 2023 Topps cards proved to be solid long-term keepsakes, especially for Yankee collectors.
Rookies Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals also enjoyed breakout campaigns in 2022 that translated to strong rookie card sales. Cruz’s immense power and Witt’s all-around skills as the #2 overall pick had collectors excited to chase their base rookies. Short prints and refractors of Cruz and Witt became steep risers on the secondary market. Both players look primed for stardom, underscoring their 2023 Topps cards as blue-chip prospects.
Veteran superstars Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels and Shohei Ohtani of the Angels also had must-have base cards. As two of the game’s most electrifying talents, Trout and Ohtani’s on-card presence increased demand for their 2023 Topps issues. Refractors and negative refractors of Trout and Ohtani sold at top dollar. For Angels collectors and investors, their cards held top-of-the-line cachet as cornerstone pieces.
The 2023 Topps baseball card set had no shortage of elite rookies and veterans to chase. Between standout rookies like Brown, Rodriguez, Cruz and Witt and superstars like Betts, Judge, Trout and Ohtani, the 2023 Topps issues delivered many of the most coveted modern cards. For years to come, the top rookies and parallels from 2023 are sure to retain and gain value in the secondary market. The release captured another year of the game’s brightest young talents and established names, cementing 2023 Topps as a true collector’s set.
