Donruss is one of the most iconic brands in the baseball card industry and their 2023 offering continues their tradition of including exciting and collectible inserts in hobby boxes and packs. Insert sets within Donruss releases provide collectors chase cards to aim for outside of the base set and give the product additional value, nostalgia, and fun for players. Here’s an in-depth look at some of the top inserts collectors can find in 2023 Donruss baseball boxes.
Parallels – As with most modern releases, Donruss 2023 includes several parallel versions of base cards that vary in color and print run rarity. The most common are the Green and Orange parallels, followed by the harder to find Red and Pink parallels. The rarest and most sought after are the Gold parallels, limited to only 5 copies per card. Finding any of the rarer parallels is a thrill for collectors and they command strong premiums in the secondary market.
Stars of the Game – One of the flagship insert sets each year focuses on capturing iconic MLB player performances and milestones. The Stars of the Game cards for 2023 highlight big home run, hit, or pitching stats from the previous season. Some examples include Aaron Judge’s 62 home run season with the Yankees or Paul Goldschmidt’s NL-leading 35 doubles for the Cardinals. With photo or artwork variations, these popular inserts capture the essence of the game.
League Leaders – Stat geeks will enjoy chasing the League Leaders inserts highlighting the top performers in major offensive and pitching categories for both the American and National Leagues. Categories featured include batting average, home runs, RBI, wins, ERA, and more. Finding the card of the player who led your favorite team in a category provides an extra thrill. These detailed stats inserts satisfy baseball purists.
Diamond Greats – Paying tribute to the legends of the game, Diamond Greats inserts spotlight iconic players and their career accomplishments. The 2023 set honors stars from across baseball history with photo and artwork highlights of their top seasons, World Series wins, milestones, and more. Examples include cards for Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax, and Cal Ripken Jr. Nostalgic collectors seek out their favorite players in this prestigious insert set.
Rookie Materials – For those chasing the next generation of stars, Rookie Materials inserts showcase top prospects as they begin their MLB journeys. Crafted from memorabilia swatches or autographs, these rookie cards capture the promise and excitement of a player’s early career. The 2023 class features rookies like Bobby Witt Jr, Spencer Torkelson, and Julio Rodriguez. Hits in this coveted set can gain significant long term value.
Stars of the Futures – As a spin-off of the flagship Stars of the Game insert, Stars of the Futures highlights breakout minor league performances from top prospects. Categories like home runs, hits, stolen bases provide a glimpse of future success. While not as valuable as autograph or relic cards, these inserts allow collectors to invest early in players still making their way to the show.
Diamond Icons – Honoring the most elite players in baseball history, Diamond Icons are 1/1 unique memorabilia cards featuring true one-of-a-kind relics from the games legends. Past examples include a piece of a bat used for Barry Bonds’ record breaking 756th home run or a cleat spike from Willie Mays’ 1957 MVP season. The thrill of the hunt for such a rare and meaningful piece of history inspires collectors.
Stadium Sites – For fans of baseball architecture, Stadium Sites inserts showcase iconic ballpark landmarks and environments. Vivid photos capture memorable details like the Green Monster in Boston, the ivy walls at Wrigley Field, or historic plaques from defunct venues. Armchair travelers enjoy collecting views of their favorite and most famous fields of dreams.
League Top Prospects – As a companion to the Rookie Materials set, League Top Prospects provides snapshots of some of the highest rated minor leaguers on the cusp of the majors. While not featuring memorabilia, these inserts allow collectors to invest in top talents like George Kirby, Bobby Miller, and Druw Jones before they hit the bigs. Sleeper prospects can provide long term returns.
Decades Greats – Taking a retrospective look back through baseball history, Decades Greats honors stars and performances from specific eras. The 2023 set features cards highlighting the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Collectors can seek out their favorite old school players like Roberto Clemente, Reggie Jackson, or Pedro Martinez preserved in vintage style photography and artwork true to the period. Nostalgia runs deep with these inserts.
As this overview illustrates, Donruss 2023 offers collectors a wide array of creative and collectible inserts beyond the base checklist across various hobby boxes, blasters, and hangers. Between parallels, rookie and prospects cards, tributes to legends and eras, and one-of-a-kind memorabilia, there are plenty of chase cards to fuel the hunt. The inserts provide additional layers of interest, value, and nostalgia that enhance the Donruss experience for players. With quality photography, creative designs, and subjects spanning all levels of the game, these sets capture what makes baseball card collecting such an enduring hobby.
