2023 Topps Finest Baseball Cards – An In-Depth Look at the Premium Flagship Set

The 2023 Topps Finest baseball card set is one of the most highly anticipated premium releases each year from Topps. As the flagship high-end product in the Topps baseball lineup, Finest delivers exquisite photography, cutting-edge designs, and coveted parallels and short prints that make it a must-have for collectors. Let’s take a deeper look at what to expect from the 2023 Topps Finest baseball cards.

History and Background of Topps Finest

Topps Finest made its debut in 1999 as Topps’ premium offering beyond the base set. The cards featured state-of-the-art photography and designs that really popped on the glossy stock used. Some of the early parallels like the Refractor parallel became incredibly popular and valuable. Over the years, Topps has continued to innovate with Finest, introducing new technologies, parallel sets, and special inserts.

Today, Finest is one of the top-selling and most collectible modern baseball sets each year. Its combination of high-end photography, designs, and chasing rare parallels makes it a flagship product that collectors look forward to each season. Topps has also incorporated special Finest-exclusive inserts over the years like Finest Moments, which showcase iconic performances and milestones.

What to Expect from 2023 Topps Finest Designs

For the 2023 edition, Topps Finest will stick to the same basic template that has made it such a hit with collectors over the years. Each base card will feature a sharp, high-resolution action photo of the player on a glossy card stock. The photography continues to be one of the best aspects of Finest each year.

The design elements are minimalist to let the photos shine. Players’ names, teams, and positions will be printed cleanly above the photo. Below the image will be the standard Topps Finest logo and copyright information. The designs remain clean and let the photography take center stage as the star of each card.

Parallels and Inserts to Chase

When it comes to parallels and inserts, Topps Finest is one of the most generous modern sets. Here are some of the main parallel and insert sets collectors can expect to chase:

Refractors: The iconic Refractor parallel returns again in 2023 Finest. These feature the same photo and design but with a gorgeous refracting foil treatment that makes the cards really pop.

Printing Plates: Topps Finest will include 1/1 printing plates for some of the biggest stars. These are true one-of-ones that are incredibly rare and valuable.

Atomic Refractors: A new cutting-edge parallel for 2023, Atomic Refractors feature refractors with additional color-shifting ink that changes with the light.

Black Refractors: A fan-favorite parallel returns, with all-black refractors that are incredibly sharp and eye-catching.

Rainbow Foil: A new parallel for 2023, Rainbow Foil cards feature multicolor prismatic foil that creates a beautiful rainbow effect.

Finest Moments: Topps’ iconic insert set returns, highlighting special performances and milestones with sharp photography on card stock.

Autographs and Memorabilia: On-card and relic autographs of star players can be pulled in Finest packs and boxes.

Numbered Parallels: Low-numbered parallels like /10, /25, and /50 will also be available through the standard numbering system.

With so many parallel and insert options, Topps Finest offers collectors a true chase to find their favorite stars in the scarcest and most visually striking versions possible. The hit rate is also very generous compared to other premium products.

Checklist, Boxes, and Release Date

The 2023 Topps Finest baseball card base set checklist is expected to feature all current MLB players, with base cards numbering around 300 cards total. International stars and prospects may also be included.

Topps Finest will be available in March 2023 in traditional wax packs as well as various box configurations. Hobby boxes can be found containing 10 packs with an assortment of parallels and inserts. There will also be higher-end case breaks and box options.

Retail versions of Finest will hit shelves later in Spring 2023 after the initial hobby release. These will include Finest packs available in special retail blaster and mega boxes.

The Verdict on 2023 Topps Finest

All signs point to 2023 Topps Finest being another fantastic installment in this premier flagship product line. With its incredible photography, generous parallels, and history of valuable short prints, Finest continues to be a must-have for collectors every year. Its combination of high-end elements and hittable chase cards make it one of the most popular and collectible modern baseball sets on the hobby market. Whether you’re a player collector, team collector, or chase rare parallels, 2023 Topps Finest is sure to be another outstanding release that lives up to the prestige of this long-running brand.

The 1998 Topps Finest baseball card set was a highly anticipated and popular release during the height of the 1990s baseball card boom. Finest was Topps’ flagship high-end card set that featured premium foil stamped parallels of all major league players in slick plastic cases. The base 1998 Finest set included 132 cards spanning all 30 MLB teams at the time. Some of the biggest baseball stars featured included Ken Griffey Jr., Mark McGwire, Cal Ripken Jr., Tony Gwynn, Greg Maddux, and Pedro Martinez.

Topps Finest cards from the late 90s/early 2000s are still highly sought after by collectors today due to the amazing photo quality, intricate card designs, and parallel variants included. The 1998 release was no exception, boasting beautiful player photography against colorful artistic backgrounds. Each card front showcased a main action photo of the player surrounded by team logos and colors specific to their uniform. Player stats and career highlights were featured on the backs. What set 1998 Finest apart from other Topps flagship releases of the time was the incredibly sharp, high resolution photos printed on a glossy coated stock.

In addition to the base set, 1998 Finest also included several parallel insert sets at various printing levels. The most common and lowest print run parallel was the Silver Signature parallel bookended between #1-10 cards. These featured the same design as the base cards but with silver ink stamping and a sharply embossed silver signature of the player across the bottom. A bit more scarce were the much sought after Gold Signature parallels featuring gold stamped ink instead of silver. The true short prints and biggest chase cards from 1998 Finest though were the Crown Royale parallels featuring intricate crown graphics and a regal color combination on the borders. Only 10 copies of each Crown Royale card were produced, making them extreme high-dollar hits.

Another cool variation found in 1998 Finest packs was the Atomic Refractors parallel inserts. Selected players had special photo negative refractors alongside their base cards that displayed intensely vibrant colors when held to light. Ken Griffey Jr. was one of the featured players in the Atomic Refractor set and his card remains a premier key card today. Overall condition of 1998 Finest cards has held up very well due to the durable plastic cases protecting the cardboard cores inside from damage over time. Near mint copies in case tend to bring strong prices from collectors nostalgic for the late 90s sports card boom era.

While the base set of 1998 Finest only had 132 total cards, the mammoth checklist grew exponentially once all the inserts and parallels were accounted for. Somewhere around 3,000+ total unique cards exist within the 1998 Finest product line when all variations are tallied up. In addition to the parallels already mentioned, Topps also offered several special numbered parallels like Black Gold (#/150), Red (#/75), and Blue (#/25). Master sets combining a complete base run plus one of each parallel variation are extremely rare to surface 25+ years later. Near pristine unopened 1998 Finest factory sealed boxes can still command prices well over $1,000 given their epic nostalgia and collectibility among baseball card aficionados.

Overall the 1998 Topps Finest release was a true high point among 1990s sports card sets. Combining the peak popularity of baseballSluggers like McGwire, Ripken and Griffey alongside an unmatched combination of superb photography, intricate designs, and abundant parallel variants captured the imagination of collectors. While the financial card market crash of the late 90s soured many on the hobby for a period, Finest has endured to this day as one of the most iconic annual card brands. The brand continues on today with newly issued Finest cards maintaining the same high quality standards. But for collectors of a certain generation, that 1998 release will always hold a special place as representing the best Topps had to offer during the sport’s golden age.

The 1998 Topps Finest baseball card set played a major role in popularizing premium foil stamped parallels and maintaining status as the pinnacle product during the sport’s late 90s revival and growth period for the trading card market. Far beyond just nostalgia, authenticated examples graded and encased in pristine condition still command substantial modern prices for collectors seeking a piece of the glory years attached to mega stars like Ken Griffey Jr. and Mark McGwire featured so vividly in the legendary 1998 Finest set. It achieved iconic status then, and history has shown it deserves that place in retrospect when discussing the best and most influential high-end sports card releases ever produced.

The 2007 Topps Finest baseball card release was one of the most highly anticipated high-end card releases of that year. Topps Finest had built up a reputation as one of the premier inserts and parallels in the hobby due to the incredibly sharp photography, hallmark refractor parallel inserts, and desirable rookie cards of future stars. The 2007 edition lived up to the hype and is still considered one of the best Finest releases of all-time by many collectors and investors.

Some of the key storylines and highlights from the 2007 Topps Finest baseball card set included:

Star Power – The base set checklist was loaded with superstars and future Hall of Famers like Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter, Ichiro Suzuki, Chipper Jones, Vladimir Guerrero, and Johan Santana. Collectors knew any card from those players would hold value for years.

Rookie Class – Top prospects like Evan Longoria, Troy Tulowitzki, Max Scherzer, Colby Rasmus and Daniel Bard had collectors scrambling to pull their shiny refractors. Many have since become perennial All-Stars, further driving interest in their rookie cards years later.

Parallels Galore – In addition to the highly sought after refractor parallel inserts, Finest also included four different color parallel insert sets – Blue, Red, Orange, and Green. The odds of pulling each parallel color out of a pack increased the rarer the parallel, making the Green parallels extremely hard to find. Refractors and color parallels of stars and rookies could fetch hundreds or thousands of dollars graded and preserved in mint condition.

Autograph Chase – The autograph checklist included Pujols, Jeter, Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and Tom Glavine. Pulled autos were one-per-case hits that could really add up in value over time. Even base autographs of burgeoning stars like Evan Longoria or Max Scherzer became hot commodities.

Finest Moments – The insert set paid tribute to milestone accomplishments and special career moments from players like Barry Bonds, Greg Maddux, Mike Mussina and more. These inserts captured some of the most memorable performances and were popular with collectors.

Additional Inserts – Other inserts like Finest Flair, Canvas, Stadium Club, and Threads gave collectors various photography styles and parallels to collect throughout the base set and special chase cards.

So what made the 2007 Topps Finest design so iconic and memorable compared to previous years? The photography and parallel inserts were certainly top-notch as always, but some standout features included:

Distinctive Border – The asymmetrical border framing each player photo popped more than prior designs. The blue bursting waves added motion and depth.

Finest Font – The metallic foil “Finest” lettering stamped across each card exuded luxury and high-end status.

Refractors Glisten – The refractor parallels truly shone under light, drawing in collectors to the allure and investment potential of hit cards. Green parallels could run $500+ raw at the time.

Canvas Feels Artistic – The Canvas insert set photos were borderless and printed on heavy, textured stock, giving them a true artistic aesthetic that collectors loved.

Additional Insert Variety – With inserts like Finest Flair featuring player headshots on a glittery background, Stadium Club with old-timey uniforms, and Threads showcasing unique uniforms, there was something for every collector specialty.

In the short-run after release, boxes of 2007 Topps Finest flew off shelves as the excitement was at a fever pitch. A retail box cost around $100-150 but within a year boxes could be resold for $300-500 still sealed as interest grew. Singles also exploded in the secondary market – base cards of stars doubled or tripled in value quickly. But it’s in the long-run appreciation where 2007 Finest has really shined.

Fifteen years later, the star rookies and parallel hits from 2007 Finest are true collector gems. An Evan Longoria refractor rookie PSA 10 just sold at auction for over $15,000. Color parallels of stars like Chipper Jones and Albert Pujols routinely sell for thousands. Even base cards of future Hall of Famers consistently sell for several hundred dollars graded mint.

For modern investors, 2007 Topps Finest established itself as one of the most valuable releases in the past couple decades. The photography, inserts, and star power combined to create lasting cardboard assets. While boxes today sell for thousands, even common base cards hold significant value. Its reputation has only grown stronger with time. For those who ripped packs or built the set in 2007, it’s proven to be one of the best long-term sports card investments they could have made. The 2007 Topps Finest release is certainly one of the most memorable and investment-worthy in the hobby’s history.

In summary, 2007 Topps Finest captured lightning in a bottle by featuring star-studded photography on luxurious designs with highly collectible parallel inserts and rookie cards of future stars. While expensive at the time, it has given investors and collectors who participated huge returns over the past 15 years. The combination of factors came together to create one of the most seminal modern releases in the industry. Its legacy and collectibility will surely continue to grow for decades to come.