Topps 2023 Series 2 baseball cards were released on July 27th, 2022 and contained a variety of highly sought after autograph cards. For collectors looking to add autographed rookies and stars to their collections, Series 2 offered several exciting options. While autograph cards can be quite expensive to hunt on the secondary market, pulling one fresh from a pack is a moment baseball card collectors live for.
Some of the top rookie autographs available in Series 2 included Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez, Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, Detroit Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe, and Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena. Rodriguez broke out as a star in his rookie season, finishing second in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. Rutschman had his inaugural campaign cut short by injury but is considered one of the top catching prospects in baseball. Jobe was the third overall pick in the 2021 draft while Pena brought home a World Series title in his first year and was named ALCS MVP.
On the veteran side, some highly sought autographs included Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo, and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber. Freeman solidified himself as a star after signing with LA in the offseason. Rizzo has been a consistent middle of the order contributor for New York since being acquired at the trade deadline in 2021. Schwarber added to his power numbers after joining Philadelphia and was a key part of their playoff run.
In addition to rookies and active players, Topps Series 2 autograph cards also featured autographed legends of the game. Hall of Famers like Nolan Ryan, Kirby Puckett, Ryne Sandberg, and Robin Yount were some of the retired player autographs available. For collectors who appreciate the history of the game, pulling a once-in-a-lifetime autograph from one of baseball’s all-time greats is truly a dream come true moment.
While the aforementioned players drew plenty of excitement from collectors hoping to pull their autographs, there were also several “hits” that held significant values. For instance, Topps inserted autographs of some of the top rookie prospects who had yet to make their MLB debuts. Cards like Dodgers prospect Diego Cartaya, Mariners prospect Harry Ford, and Astros prospect Julston Atoni carried 4-figure minimum values on the secondary market. An autograph from a player before they achieve stardom holds considerable cache and long term potential.
Another category of highly valuable autograph cards came from Topps’ Traditions inserts, which paid homage to classic designs from the 1950s and 1960s. Signatures incorporated into these retro-styled cards from active stars like Fernando Tatis Jr., Ronald Acuna Jr., and Juan Soto commanded prices well over $1,000 each given their novelty. As collectors seek out unique and visually appealing presentations of autographs, Traditions autographs fulfilled that demand.
The autograph selection in Topps 2023 Series 2 baseball cards offered collectors opportunities to add signature rookies, veterans, legends, and prospects to their collections. While the odds of pulling any single autograph straight from a pack were long, the excitement of the chase and thrill of victory made it a fun product to collect. Whether targeting specific names or just surfing the thrill of the rip, Series 2 autograph cards fueled the hobby throughout the summer and fall seasons. Topps’ baseball release stays true to its motto of delivering the opportunities and moments that keep card collectors involved year after year.
