The 2013 Topps baseball card set was the 72nd edition of the long-running flagship baseball card series put out annually by Topps. As with each year, the 2013 set showcased photos and stats for players from both the American and National Leagues during the 2012 season. Some key things to know about the 2013 Topps baseball card release:
Size of the Set – The standard release of the 2013 Topps baseball card set contained a total of 750 cards. This included photography cards of current MLB players as well as retired stars, managers, and team checklists. There were also 12 cards in the set that were devoted to “Traditions” highlighting retired greats like Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial, and more.
Rookie Cards – A number of top prospects and young players made their Topps rookie card debuts in the 2013 set. This included Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Yu Darvish, Manny Machado, and Freddie Freeman among others. Rookie cards are always sought after by collectors looking to invest in emerging talents early in their careers. Trout and Harper in particular skyrocketed in value since their impressive major league debuts.
Insert Cards – As with most modern Topps releases, the 2013 set included a variety of “insert” cards sprinkled throughout the base packaging. These included “Top Prospects”, “Mini” photo variations, “Graphic Greats” combining photos with cartoons, and “Team Medallions”. The most coveted insert was likely the limited “5 Tools” parallel showing players’ speed, power, fielding, hitting, and arm strength ratings. Only one of each player was produced.
Design Elements – The iconic yellow borders and color scheme remained integral to the 2013 design aesthetic. However, Topps did incorporate more graphical elements and textures compared to prior years. Player photos were placed atop patterned gradients with statistics listed on a side panel. Each card back also gained diagonal stripes similar to a baseball uniform and listed career batting stats. The set number was enlarged for easier sorting as well.
Short Prints – Topps inserts a limited number of “short print” cards each year meant to be more difficult finds for collectors. In 2013, the short prints included stars like Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Miguel Cabrera, and Joey Votto signed to special contracts. The signings of these bigger names to one-year deals made for timely short prints in high demand.
Packaging and Distribution – As with many years, the 2013 Topps baseball card standard issue was sold in 24-count wax packs as well as various box configurations holding between 102-198 cards depending on the product. Hobby boxes guaranteed one autographed card or relic card while retail boxes were more affordable but contained fewer chase hits. The release began at the tail end of spring training ahead of Opening Day.
Secondary Market – Starting in the months after its release through present day, the 2013 Topps set saw a lively aftermarket for collectors pursuing needs and investments. Rookie cards of breakouts like Trout and rookie “short prints” of Jeter gained significant long-term value as their careers progressed. Parallel “refractors” of stars also attracted premium secondary pricing. Condition sensitive vintage-style “Traditions” cards also trade hands actively online through websites like eBay.
The 2013 Topps baseball card release was another highly anticipated annual set from the flagship brand. It captured an entire season of MLB while also becoming an accessible investment for collectors both short and long-term. Main rookies like Trout and inserts like “5-Tools” ensured the 2013 issues would remain collector favorites for years ahead as the careers and legends they depicted continued to unfold. The basic formula of current stars, prospects and parallels made it an accessible entry point for new collectors as well.
