The hobby of collecting baseball cards is always evolving, with new rookie stars and relic cards driving excitement each year. As we enter 2023, here are some of the hottest baseball cards that enthusiasts will likely be chasing over the next 12 months.
Rookie Cards of 2022 First-Year Sensations
Many top rookies from the 2022 season broke out and are poised to become franchise cornerstones, making their rookie cards especially desirable. Cards from printing plants like Topps, Bowman, and Panini featuring these young talents will be hot commodities. Some of the top rookies to watch include Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez, Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II, Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, and Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña. Rodriguez in particular had a stunning rookie campaign that saw him finish second in AL Rookie of the Year voting. His cards will be at the top of many wish lists.
Autograph Rookies of Superstar Prospects
While they didn’t debut in the majors in 2022, some elite prospects generated major buzz in the minors and their autograph rookie cards will surge in 2023 as they prepare for “the show.” Two names topping many prospects lists are Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez and Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris. Baez has dazzling defensive skills and hit .297 in 2022 split between High-A and Double-A at age 19. Harris mashed 36 home runs in the minors last year. Autograph rookies of these potential future stars could yield strong returns.
Sapphire, Inception, & Other Luxury Parallels
In recent years, trading card companies have released increasingly rare parallel versions of stars as “hits” in high-end products like Club, Flawless, and National Treasures. These parallel types tend to feature dazzling color combinations and low print runs numbered to single digits. The “Sapphire” parallel from Topps products and “Inception” parallel from Panini tend to generate the most buzz. Landing the right Sapphire or Inception parallel of a young superstar like Tatis Jr. or Soto could net a top collector tens of thousands of dollars.
Acuna Jr. & Eloy Jimenez Injury Return Relic Cards
Two of baseball’s brightest young stars missed most or all of 2022 recovering from injuries – Braves OF Ronald Acuna Jr. from a torn ACL and White Sox OF Eloy Jimenez from a torn hamstring. As both are expected to return to elite form in 2023, their first Cards featuring new relic material marking their comeback will be enormously popular. Examples could include Topps Opening Day with Acuna game-worn jersey fibers or Panini Contenders with Jimenez bat knob relics. Their on-field triumphant returns make these special cards very compelling.
Rookie Autographs of 2023 Draft Picks
While they haven’t reached the majors yet, the top selections from the 2023 amateur draft are already generating buzz among investors. Names projected to go very early include shortstops Termarr Johnson, Brock Porter, and Anthony Hall. Their autograph cards from Bowman Draft and Sapphire will invite premium prices long before their pro careers begin. Investing early in autographs of blue-chip draft talents has yielded huge returns for far-sighted collectors in recent years.
1st Bowman Autographs of Int’l Prospects
Much like rookie draft picks, the top international prospects signing big-money bonuses also see their autograph cards trade at premium prices before ever taking an affiliated ball. Players like switch-hitting Cuban infielder Lazaro Montes are already speculated to land eight-figure bonuses. Montes’ first Bowman autographs, featuring one of the game’s next superstars in his first professionally licensed card, will entice collectors’specific focus on the cards of elite international talents poised to jumpstart lucrative MLB careers in the next 2-3 years makes their rookie autographs from pack-to-portfolio purchases very appealing long-term propositions.
Gold Parallel Legend Relics
Among the most costly modern baseball cards prized by aficionados and investors alike are 1/1 parallel hits fusing superstar names of the past with on-field material. Examples include Topps Gallery of Legends parallels with jersey fibers from legends past and present. Landing a card pairing a current icon like Mike Trout alongside a threads relic of Mickey Mantle or Willie Mays could fetch a six-figure sum. The combination of literal living history woven together makes Gold parallels among the holy grails sought annually.
This covers some of the top baseball cards positioned to generate huge enthusiasm and activity among collectors in 2023. With marquee rookies, elite prospects, and rare parallel cards of established legends, there will be no shortage of investments that could yield large profits for those able to acquire the hottest pieces. As always, discerning collectors will target cards of those players likely to sustain long, successful MLB tenures.
