The 2023 baseball season is shaping up to be another exciting year for Major League Baseball. On the field, new stars are emerging while established superstars continue to dominate. Off the field, the baseball card industry is preparing to release another year of spectacular rookie cards and special insert sets chronicling the game’s top players and moments.
For collectors, 2023 promises to be a banner year for finding coveted rookie cards from the game’s latest young talents. Players like Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals, Adley Rutschman of the Baltimore Orioles, and Spencer Torkelson of the Detroit Tigers all made their MLB debuts in 2022 and are poised for stardom. Their respective rookie cards from 2022 releases like Topps, Bowman, and Panini held strong value and remained hot commodities on the secondary market. Now in their first full big league seasons, these rookies could take the next step towards superstardom in 2023 – and their cards may see a significant spike in demand and price if they do.
Some other rookies who made solid MLB debuts late in 2022 like Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez and Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II will also have their true rookie cards released by the major card manufacturers next year. Rodriguez in particular had a phenomenal rookie campaign and is considered a future star – his official Topps rookie card release in 2023 products will likely be one of the most sought-after cards on the market. Harris also showed five-tool potential and played a key role on the World Series champion Braves, making him another name for collectors to watch.
Of course, established stars will remain at the forefront of the baseball card world as well. Superstar talents like Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, and Mookie Betts continue putting up MVP-caliber numbers and dominating headlines each season. Judge’s chase of Roger Maris’ American League single-season home run record in 2022 took the sports world by storm. His record-setting 62nd home run ball even sold at auction for over $2 million. Cards from his flagship Topps products like Series 1 and 2 from 2022 are some of the most in-demand on the secondary market.
Trout remains the consensus best player in baseball and has cemented his status as a generational talent and sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer. His rare autograph and memorabilia cards continue to rise in value as his career progresses deeper into Cooperstown territory. Ohtani, the two-way phenom who is both an elite pitcher and hitter, has also developed into a true superstar and perennial MVP candidate. He continues to amaze with his unique two-way talents. Cards from these three modern greats, as well as other established stars like Mookie Betts, Juan Soto, Ronald Acuna Jr., and Fernando Tatis Jr., will remain highly sought-after collector’s items.
Manufacturers like Topps, Panini, and Bowman are sure to continue releasing special parallel and short-print cards of the game’s biggest names as well. Topps Chrome, Topps Finest, and Bowman Sterling are examples of sets known to include rare refractors, negatives, and parallels of star players. Insert sets paying tribute to milestones, award winners, and postseason heroes are also a staple of the modern baseball card landscape. These special collector’s cards honoring the top moments in the game add another layer of excitement for those chasing the rarest and most coveted pieces for their collections.
Speaking of the postseason, the 2022 World Series between the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies treated fans to a classic 7-game thriller that saw the Phillies emerge victorious. Topps and other brands are sure to release special World Series-themed cards and memorabilia to commemorate the championship matchup and top individual performances. Bryce Harper led the Phillies to their first title since 2008 and further cemented his star status, while Astros stars like Jose Altuve and Justin Verlander continued adding to their legacies of excellence. Cards paying tribute to these 2022 October heroes will be hot commodities.
The 2023 MLB season promises more great storylines and performances that will make their way onto baseball cards. Rookies like Rodriguez, Harris, and others will look to build on their debut campaigns. Perennial stars like Judge, Ohtani, Trout, and more will continue their pursuit of individual excellence and team success. And special products from Topps, Panini, Bowman and more will keep collectors engaged with inserts, parallels, autographs and more capturing the biggest names and moments. With the never-ending excitement of Major League Baseball fueling the hobby, 2023 looks to be another monumental year for the baseball card industry. Collectors both young and old will eagerly await the arrival of next year’s crop of cardboard to chase their favorite players and relive the thrill of America’s pastime.
