The 2023 Topps baseball card checklist shapes up to be another exciting year in the hobby, with several inserts and parallels that could become highly sought after cards for collectors in the coming years. While we won’t know for sure which specific cards from the upcoming release will become the true rare gems until matters of supply and demand play out post-release, here’s a look at some of the sets, parallels and inserts from 2023 Topps that have potential to become increasingly valuable down the road.
One insert set that will surely attract attention from collectors is Topps’ Heritage Minors set, which showcases some of the top prospects in baseball. With the popularity of prospects and young stars on the rise, any cards from this set that feature players who go on to stardom in MLB could end up being quite valuable long term. A particularly rare parallel available will be the Topps Heritage Minors Autograph parallels, which will feature on-card autographs of top prospects. With a limited print run, these autograph cards will be highly sought after.
Another insert set worth keeping an eye on is Topps Archives Silver Pack Parallels, featuring current players reimagined in retro uniform designs on high-end silver foil cards. These unique retro-styled parallels will be tough pulls, increasing their appeal to collectors. Another retro-styled parallel some believe could emerge as a future key rookie card is the 1979-style design used for Top Prospects in the base sets. If any of the top rookies featured end up becoming star players, those 1979-style design cards could become quite valuable someday.
When it comes to the base Topps sets themselves, the short print parallels will be the versions to target for future rare potential. The Topps Gold Label parallels, featuring a sharp gold foil design on the rare hits, may stand out years from now if prized rookies are pulled in those parallel formats. The Platinum Anniversary parallels, which mark Topps’ 75th year in the hobby in 2023, will also be tremendously limited and sought after long term if big names are featured.
Topps’ ongoing tradition of putting one highly coveted 1-of-1 parallel within their release each year is also something to watch. The 2023 edition of this elusive 1-of-1 parallel will likely garner immense attention from collectors frenzied to obtain the singular unique card. No matter the design or theme Topps goes with, that lone 1-of-1 parallel insert will be a true heavyweight in the hobby years down the line.
Of course, rookie cards will remain the gems attracting the greatest attention when it comes to long term value appreciation. While it’s impossible to predict breakthrough rookies a year in advance, one rookie parallel above the others that could really pay off is the Topps Chrome Red Refractor parallels, which feature the prospect on striking red stock. These rare hits have produced gems like Kris Bryant and Juan Soto in years past. Another parallel that typically looks phenomenal and features premium prospects is the Topps Chrome Orange Refractor parallel, which is one step rarer than the red.
Topps also includes retail exclusive inserts in its hobby box releases that may feature future stars and end up being quite valuable. One such exclusive insert planned for 2023 is Topps Fire, which highlights prospects photography on textured “Fire” style cards that are sure to entice collectors. The autograph and memorabilia inserts found in Topps products also tend to hold long term interest if they land big names pre-fame, such as Topps Triple Threads, Photo Material, and Topps Autographs.
Supply will be key in determining which cards really stand out long term. The 1/1 parallels and short printed versions of standard parallels like gold, orange, and red refractor rookies will have the most rarity driving their value. But even base rookies or standard prospects can rise to elite value if the player blossoms and their card maintains relatively tighter supplies compared to their production levels in other years and sets.
With Topps’ proven history of producing valuable vintage cards year after year, their 2023 release is poised to yield plenty of “hits” that could become true future keys for savvy collectors willing to hold long term. While it’s unsure exactly which players may emerge, having the rare and limited parallels of future stars in your collection is a recipe for potentially great rewards years down the road. That makes the risk of ripping packs of the 2023 Topps baseball release a calculated gamble for those playing the long game in the hobby. Stay tuned for the unveiling of the full checklist in January 2023.
