Topps baseball cards are among the most recognizable and collected trading cards in the world. Each year since 1952 Topps has produced a new set of cards for the upcoming Major League Baseball season. The 2013 Topps baseball card set had its usual vast array of cards focused on players, teams, and stats from the previous season. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the most notable aspects and cards from the 2013 Topps flagship baseball release.
The 2013 Topps set continued Topps’ long tradition of cards in the standard design format – a front photo with stats/info on the back. The main set contained 108 total cards in Series 1, 66 in Series 2, and 61 in the All-Star subset for a total of 235 cards in the base set. Topps also produced additional inserts, parallels, variations, and short prints beyond the standard issue cards. Some of the insert subsets included Topps Greats remembering past stars, Topps Legends focusing on retired players, and Topps HeroicMoments depicting iconic playoff performances. Topps also offered “Hit Parade” and “Turn Back The Clock” inserts showcasing career hit milestones and retro uniform designs respectively.
In terms of parallels and variations, Topps produced several versions of cards with different coloring/designs including Gold, Silver, Refractors, Rainbow Foil, and Allen & Ginter style parchment versions. Short prints were also a big part of the set, with several highly sought after stars and rookies only appearing in very limited numbers. Some of the most notable short prints included Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, and Manny Machado who all had true rookie cards only available in the short printed versions. Topps also paid tribute to retired stars like Barry Larkin who returned for one final card appearance in the 2013 set.
Individual cards that stood out included any cards featuring the star rookies who made an impact in 2012 like Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, and Manny Machado. Trout’s main base card showed him mid-swing with stats from his incredible rookie season that saw him finish second in AL MVP voting. Bryce Harper’s powerful swing was depicted on his base card while batting right handed alongside stats from his NL Rookie of the Year campaign. Manny Machado seemed poised to break out after playing superb defense at third base as a call up late in 2012, highlighted on his base issue card.
Veteran superstars were also represented, including the typically smiling face of Albert Pujols on his Angels card after signing a massive free agent deal. Mariano Rivera, arguably the greatest closer of all time, received a classy send off on his final Topps card appearance in pinstripes. Other stars like Miguel Cabrera after winning the first Triple Crown in 45 years, Buster Posey following his second straight World Series title, and Mike Trout topping the 2013 All-Star fan voting all had defining cards. International stars like Yoenis Cespedes also made their Topps debut after defecting from Cuba.
In terms of team cards, Topps paid tribute to recent champions like the 2012 World Series winning San Francisco Giants as well as long suffering franchises on the rise like the Baltimore Orioles after snapping their lengthy playoff drought. Topps also produced subsets highlighting each MLB team with cards of franchise greats, current stars, and classic uniforms through their history. Update sets later in the year caught roster changes and mid-season trades like the blockbuster deal sending Justin Upton to Atlanta.
As with any highly collectible set, there was no shortage of 2013 Topps base cards as well as scarce parallels and inserts on the secondary market. Cards of new stars, legends, and teams still retained high values for collectors and investors. The 2013 Topps set demonstrated the enduring appeal of the classic Topps design while spotlighting many of the MLB’s most memorable performances and personalities from the previous season. With over 70 years of history, Topps baseball cards continued their tradition as the most prized trading cards in the hobby through another highly successful release.
