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BASEBALL CARDS TWENTY TWENTY THREE

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The 2023 baseball card season is shaping up to be another exciting year in the hobby. With new rookie stars emerging and veteran legends continuing their careers, there will be plenty of intriguing cards to collect. Several high-profile players changed teams over the offseason as well, leading to new photo variations and uniforms to look for. Whether collecting for investment potential, to follow your favorite players, or just for the enjoyment of the sport, 2023 cards offer something for all fans.

One of the biggest storylines heading into the new season is Shohei Ohtani cementing his status as the face of MLB. After winning the AL MVP award in 2021 and continuing his two-way dominance in 2022, Ohtani is already assured of having some of the most coveted rookie cards of the decade. Topps, Panini, Leaf, and other manufacturers will feature him prominently in their flagship sets. With any luck, Ohtani can stay healthy and keep producing at his otherworldly level, making his rookie cards from previous years strong long term holdings.

Another young star to watch is Vladimir Guerrero Jr, who had a breakout season in 2022 with his first All-Star appearance and finishing third in MVP voting. As one of the most exciting new power hitters in the game, Guerrero Jr’s cards have plenty of room for growth. Look for him to be one of the cover athletes for Topps Project 70, a high-end set celebrating the top current players. His rookie cards from 2019 also make for solid speculative investments.

On the pitching side, two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani isn’t the only hurler garnering widespread attention. Miami’s Sandy Alcantara had a Cy Young caliber season in 2022 and is poised for a true breakout. Alcantara dazzled with a 2.28 ERA and 228 strikeouts, appearing in every one of the Marlins’ games. His rising star power makes Alcantara cards from past years an intriguing sleeper pickup. Keep an eye out also for Seattle’s George Kirby, who had an excellent rookie campaign and could be a future ace.

Of course, legendary veterans still dot MLB rosters as well. In what may be his final season, Albert Pujols’ quest for 700 career home runs was a riveting storyline. Pujols remains one of the most decorated players of his generation and his classic 2000s-era rookie cards retain tremendous nostalgic appeal. Over in San Diego, Yu Darvish continues pitching at an elite level at age 36. A modern-day Nolan Ryan comp, Darvish keeps collector interest high with his unique arsenal and durability.

Some other veteran superstars who could have big 2023 seasons include Mookie Betts, Jose Ramirez, Aaron Judge and Yordan Alvarez. All are established stars who drive hobby attention. Judge in particular is coming off a historic 62-home run season for the Yankees that saw him break the AL single season record. His 2017 Topps Update rookie card skyrocketed in value and will remain one of the most sought-after modern issues.

On the team front, several franchises made major acquisitions that shake up the card collecting landscape. The Philadelphia Phillies signed AL home run king Kyle Schwarber, AL Cy Young winner Justin Verlander joined the New York Mets rotation, and Carlos Correa bolstered the Minnesota Twins infield. Each player brings new uniform variations and photo opportunities in flagship sets.

The baseball card industry also continued innovating with new types of releases. Topps’ Archive brand focuses on high-end reprints of classic designs from the 1970s-90s era. Panini added baseball to its popular Donruss Optic product that features dazzling refractors. Leaf brought back Metal Universe, encasing cards in authentic metal plates. And Upper Deck introduced The Cup, a new high-end set celebrating the pinnacle of performance each year.

Whether collecting modern stars, chasing vintage legends, or enjoying innovative new sets, the 2023 baseball card season has something for all fans. With talented young players emerging alongside accomplished veterans, intrigue abounds on and off the field. The hobby remains as vibrant as ever, giving collectors plenty to look forward to in the new year.

TWENTY TWENTY THREE TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS

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The 2023 Topps baseball card set is highly anticipated by collectors as it marks the 65th anniversary of the iconic brand. Topps has revealed several exciting product releases as they look to celebrate this major milestone in the hobby. As in years past, the base set will feature over 300 active players along with retired stars and prospects on the rise. Collectors can find a wide range of parallels, inserts, and short prints to chase after as well.

One of the most notable inclusions in the 2023 Topps set is the return of retired superstar Albert Pujols on a Cardinals card after he spent over a decade in Anaheim and St. Louis. Pujols recently announced his retirement after an incredible 22-year career that saw him cement his status as one of the all-time greats. Topps is honoring Pujols by featuring him in a special Cardinals uniform in the base set, giving collectors one last iconic card of the future first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Rookies will undoubtedly be a hot commodity as always. Topps rookies of playoff standouts like Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez and Houston’s Jeremy Peña are sure to be in high demand. Other top rookie cards to watch out for include Cardinals pitcher Andre Pallante, Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan, and Mariners pitcher George Kirby. Topps Series 2 usually provides the rookie cards for players who made their debut late in the previous season or were called up earlier in the current year.

Parallels have become a driving force in the secondary market and Topps continues to deliver appealing variations for collectors to hunt. The ever-popular silver packs will include short printed parallels like Green Foil, Rainbow Foil, and Pink Foil. Other parallel sets include Gold (#/2020), Atomic Refractors, Mini Logos, and more. Exclusive to hobby boxes are the super short printed 1/1 Red Sparkle parallels that practically become works of art for collectors’ collections.

Another major highlight for collectors is the return of the highly coveted Topps Transcendent Collection. This ultra-high end product breaks the bank but contains cards that can fetch five or even six figures. The insert set features modern stars on vintage designs, adding an aura of nostalgia. Popular Transcendent cards from past years, like Mike Trout’s 1964 design, continue climbing steadily in secondary market value. Rookie Transcendent parallels are as scarce and desirable as it gets.

Budding ballplayers can always count on Topps for prospect coverage as well. Their Paper Prospects set showcases the can’t-miss talents still making their way through the minors. Bonus Paper Prospects parallels in flagship products give collectors an early opportunity to stock up on players like Giants catcher Joey Bart or Nationals outfielder Alex Call before they debut in the Show. Topps Chrome and Finest also deliver prospects galore with their sharply photographed designs and refractor technology.

Trading card manufacturers utilize various insert sets each year to highlight special accomplishments, provide fun retro callbacks, or tease future releases. 2023 Topps is no different with headliners like Topps Now Moments, which commemorate historic on-field performances in near real-time printing. Additional inserts likely include Topps Heritage highlights, Topps Gallery artist depictions, and Topps Archives retro reprints from the company’s decades of design treasure trove. The insert checklist always brings plenty of variety for all types of collectors to enjoy.

The true draw remains chasing after autographs and memorabilia cards of today’s biggest names. Topps flagship, Chrome, and Allen & Ginter offer the chance at hitting big with on-card or patch autos from superstars like Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, and Aaron Judge. Exclusive 1/1 Signature Series patch autos within cases take player collection centerpieces to an entirely new level. With the intense competition between card companies, Topps packs continually one-up their peers by making these ultra-rare signature cards seemingly achievable for anyone.

As the original and most iconic brand in the industry, Topps understands its responsibility to produce a product that continues gaining new fans while honoring the traditions of over half a century of production. The 2023 release looks poised to check all the boxes collectors have come to expect, from base cards featuring the latest crop of elite talent to unprecedented short prints for enthusiasts to seek. Combining that heritage with innovative technology and design, Topps aims to keep its baseball crown firmly in place for many years of bringing the card collecting community together.