The new year brings with it a fresh crop of baseball cards from the top manufacturers like Topps, Panini, and Leaf. 2023 promises several highly anticipated rookie cards as well as cards featuring major milestones and achievements from the previous season. Several factors influence which modern-era cards stand to gain significantly in value in the coming years. Rookie cards of emerging young stars, prestigious vintage parallels, and cards commemorating historic career stats are usually a safe bet. Let’s take a closer look at some select baseball cards to watch out for in 2023.
Perhaps the biggest story in baseball cards for 2023 will be the arrival of phenom Julio Rodriguez’s rookie offerings. The Seattle Mariners’ 21-year-old wunderkind had a stellar rookie campaign that saw him named American League Rookie of the Year. His spectacular combination of power, speed and defense have cemented him as a budding superstar. Julio’s flagship Topps Chrome Refractor rookie card #184RC is poised to become one of the most desirable modern rookie cards. Limited parallels like the /5, /10, Auto, and 1/1 Rainbow Foil versions have the potential to gain the most value in the years ahead as Rodriguez’s career blossoms. His flagship Topps base paper rookie #338 sells for around $50-100 already and may fetch triple digits within a couple years.
Another can’t-miss rookie to follow is Atlanta Braves’ starter Spencer Strider. The flame-throwing 23-year-old broke out in 2022 with an 11-5 record and 2.67 ERA over 31 games started. Strider’s electric fastball-slider combo has drawn comparisons to Jacob deGrom. His Topps Chrome rookie refractor #336RC sells in the $30-50 range but offers huge long-term upside. Limited parallels, autographs and memorabilia cards may be worthwhile holds. Rookies like Braves’ centerfielder Michael Harris II and White Sox prospect Oscar Colas also deserve attention after impressive debut campaigns.
Vintage collectors will want to seek out 2023 issues celebrating the trading card debuts of all-time greats like Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, and Roberto Clemente. Topps’ 2023 Legacy set is expected to feature cards honoring these Hall of Famers’ first ever appearance in the 1952 Topps set. Numbered parallels and autograph cards highlighting their rookie seasons could prove exceptional long-term investments. Upper Deck’s Allen & Ginter set may also pay tribute to vintage stars with retro-style artwork and serial-numbered inserts.
Milestone accomplishments in 2023 create exciting modern card chasing opportunities as well. Cards marking Albert Pujols’ 700th home run from 2021 are hot. In 2022, Miguel Cabrera reached 3,000 hits – a feat only accomplished by 33 players in MLB history. His Topps Update #US375 parallel rainbow foil sell for $200-400 already. Should Aaron Judge eclipse Roger Maris’ AL home run record of 61 this season, any card showing that achievement would be iconic. Autographs, patches, and 1/1 versions of such landmark stats secure cards’ legacies for generations of collectors.
Subset and insert sets also gain followings. Topps’ Top Ten parallels featuring the year’s best at each position are popular, as are similar sets released by Leaf, Panini, and Bowman’s Best. Players like Shohei Ohtani who dual-position stars often gain added appeal. Serial-numbered parallels sell for premiums. insert sets highlighting young All-Star performers like Brewers’ Christian Yelich or Mariners’ Ty France can foreshadow future success. Autograph and memorabilia cards inserted in products like Topps Chrome, Allen & Ginter, Topps Tier One and Bowman Sterling command high prices.
All in all, 2023 promises a year of opportunity for card collectors following the performances of rookie stars as well as cards commemorating history-making milestones. With patience and an eye towards notable achievements, a prudent collector can diversify across players, inserts and parallels that appear attractively priced but poised to increase in value over the long run. While new cards carry risks inherent in any investment, the hobby remains a reliable way to appreciate iconic moments in baseball’s storied past and emerging present. With smart collecting guided by the fundamentals, 2023 cards offer prospects for building collections that may gain value for generations to come.
