The 2023 baseball season was one of continued success for the Atlanta Braves franchise. Coming off their 2021 World Series championship, the Braves found ways to stay competitive despite facing challenges with injuries and free agent departures. Their resilient play throughout the year led them to yet another NL East division title and playoff appearance. As baseball card collectors looked ahead to the 2023 release season, there was great excitement surrounding the rookie cards and standout performers from this Atlanta ballclub.
One of the most highly anticipated rookie cards came from young starting pitcher Spencer Strider. After making his MLB debut in 2021, Strider seized an opening in the Braves rotation in 2023 and emerged as one of the best rookie pitchers in baseball. Posting a 2.67 ERA over 31 starts and 202 innings pitched, Strider struck out 202 batters and established himself as a future ace. His impressive rookie campaign made his 2023 Topps, Bowman, and Stadium Club cards some of the most sought after on the hobby market. Many believe Strider has the potential to develop into a true ace and perennial All-Star, giving his rookie cards strong long term value and investment potential.
Another Braves rookie generating buzz was outfielder Michael Harris II. After a brief cup of coffee in 2022, Harris claimed an everyday role in center field in 2023 and never looked back. The 21 year old hit .297 with 19 home runs and 64 RBI while playing Gold Glove caliber defense. Harris established himself as not just the Braves centerfielder of the present, but perhaps of the future as well. His sterling rookie campaign made cards from sets like Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome, and Topps Finest some of the breakout rookie hits of the year. Many see All-Star upside in Harris and believe his cards could appreciate significantly if he continues developing into a true star player.
While rookies Strider and Harris stole much of the spotlight, the Braves continued to see strong production from established veterans as well. Shortstop Dansby Swanson had arguably the best season of his career, hitting .277 with 25 home runs and 96 RBI. The impending free agent put himself in position for a massive payday and raised the stock of his 2023 cards in the process. Fellow infielder Austin Riley also continued building on his breakout 2021 campaign. Riley clubbed 33 home runs and drove in 93 while hitting .301, cementing his status as one of baseball’s most feared sluggers. Both Swanson and Riley’s accomplishments made their flagship rookie cards from past years more desirable as collectors looked to add centerpiece cards of the Braves young core.
On the pitching side, Max Fried further solidified himself as the Braves ace after another excellent season. Across 32 starts, Fried posted a 2.48 ERA and threw 201 innings while continuing to miss bats. The impending free agent is seen by many as one of the top arms potentially available this winter. His continued strong play boosted the values of his rookie cards and made parallel and autograph cards from recent years more appealing investments. Meanwhile, veteran reliever Kenley Jansen cemented his Hall of Fame resume with his 400th career save, done as the Braves closer after inking a free agent deal. The milestone triggered a surge of interest in Jansen’s rookie cards from 2009 and 2010 Bowman issues.
While injuries slowed him at times, veteran first baseman Matt Olson still provided thump in the middle of the Braves order. Olson clubbed 34 home runs and drove in 111 in his first full season in Atlanta after being acquired in a blockbuster trade. The consistency and power Olson brought to the Braves lineup raised the profile of his flagship Topps cards from earlier in his career with the A’s. Veterans like Olson, Swanson, and Riley helped the Braves young core of Acuna, Harris, Strider and others remain in playoff contention all year. Their continued production made cards from their early careers more appealing to collectors.
In the end, the 2023 Braves fell just short of a repeat World Series title. But their gritty play and emergence of new young stars like Harris and Strider generated plenty of excitement that carried over into the baseball card marketplace. From prized rookie cards to investments in established veterans, Braves cards were a hot commodity as the 2023 release season got underway. With this talented roster, led by a mix of veterans and rising young talent, the future remains very bright in Atlanta. Their success on the field in 2023 translated directly to strong collector demand for Braves cards across the hobby.
