The information for 2023 Topps baseball cards has arrived– several months later than normal– but that doesn’t mean wholesale changes are coming to Series 1. Even with Fanatics fully in charge, it’ll be similar in content to what collectors have come to expect.
The release date for Series 1 is set for Feb. 15, just as spring training camps are opening in Florida and Arizona.
Here’s the complete guide for the annual flagship product that has roots dating back to 1952. A full checklist is available for download at the bottom.
Configurations
Once again, Topps will offer both Hobby and Jumbo boxes of S1 (expect to see Blasters, Hangers, etc., at retail, too).
Hobby boxes will again have 24 packs with 14 cards per pack and one autograph or relic card. Silver Packs are back and packed into each box with veterans, rookies and retired greats printed on chrome technology. There will be numbered autographs and parallels randomly inserted. Cases will have 12 boxes.
Jumbo boxes will have ten 46-card packs and guarantee one autograph, one relic card and one manufactured relic. Jumbo boxes will have two silver packs.
Base Set
The format remains the same: a 330 card base set that includes current stars, rookies, Future Stars, League Leaders, team cards, and other content. There are 56 “official” rookie cards in 2023 Topps Series 1.
Base set parallels are plentiful and include:
• Gold Foil Parallel – Printed on gold foil-board Inserted 1:2 packs (Jumbo Exclusive)
• Rainbow Foil Parallel – Inserted 1:10 packs
• Gold Parallel – #’d to 2023
• Green Foil board Parallel – #’d to 499
• Orange Foil board Parallel – #’d to 299
• Red Foil board Parallel – #’d to 199
• Vintage Stock Parallel –#’d to 99
• Independence Day Parallel – #’d to 76
• Black Parallel – #’d to 72 Hobby/Jumbo Exclusive
• Mother’s Day Hot Pink Parallel – #’d to 50
• Father’s Day Powder Blue Parallel –#’d to 50
• Memorial Day Camo Parallel – #’d to 25
• Clear Variation – #’d to 10 (100 subjects) (Hobby Only)
• Printing Plates – (4 sets) #’d 1/1
• Platinum Parallel – #d 1/1
For those who really want a challenge, each base card will have Golden Mirror Image Variation Short Print variation with a different photo and gold colored card back.
Insert Cards
There are numerous new inserts to look for in 2023 Series 1. Among them is One-Two Punch, a set that “celebrates modern and all-time
great starting pitching duos,” according to Topps. Welcome to the Club will highlight embers of baseball’s 30/30, 40/40, and 20/20/20 clubs.
2022’s Greatest Hits recalls some memorable swings of the 2022 MLB season. They’ll be printed on foilboard stock.
All Aces will mimic playing cards and are also printed on foilboard stock with a focus on great pitchers of the past and present.
Parallels for the above insert sets will include:
• Blue Parallel – limited
• Black Parallel – #’d to 299
• Gold Parallel – #’d to 75
• Red Parallel – #’d to 10
• Platinum Parallel – #’d 1/1
• Autograph Parallel (select subjects) – #’d to 25 or less
Topps once again digs into 1980s baseball designs with its 1988 Baseball 35th anniversary parallels and a checklist of both current and former stars.
They, too, will have multiple parallel possibilities. Blues will be numbered to 600 but also look for:
• Black Parallel – #’d to 299
• “The Real One” Parallel – printed on “Heritage-style” stock #’d to 88 (new)
• Gold Parallel – #’d to 75
• Red Parallel – #’d to 10
• Platinum Parallel – #’d 1/1
New for ’23, Heavy Lumber inserts will feature 20 players on a woodgrain style backdrop. Topps says they’ll be “limited.”
Also new are AKA inserts, which will highlight players with well known nicknames (see Pete “Polar Bear” Alonso).
Exclusive to Hobby and Jumbo boxes, 2023 Topps Sketch cards will feature one-of-a-kind hand drawn art featuring current players and past greats. Both of these two insert sets will be “limited” according to Topps.
Box Toppers
Oversized 1988 Topps League Leaders cards will be part of the Box Topper insert program. They’ll focus on league leaders across various eras and categories. There will be on-card autographs possible with them, too.
Home Run Challenge
The Home Run Challenge contest cards are back. Predict the day that player will hit a home run and Topps will send you some exclusive cards. They’ll will be packed one per Hobby or Jumbo box.
Autographs
Signed cards inside 2023 Topps Series 1 start with Baseball Stars Autographs–the “standard” autos that will be most commonly found. Parallel versions will include:
There will be serial numbered Dual Autograph versions as well.
1988 Topps Baseball Autograph cards will be signed on-card and include rookies, stars and former greats on the 1988 Topps design.
Possible parallels for both Baseball Stars and 1988 autos include:
• Black Parallel – #’d to 199 or less
• Gold Parallel – #’d to 50 or less
• Red Parallel – #’d to 25 or less Hobby Exclusive
• Platinum – #’d 1/1 Hobby/HTA Jumbo
World Series and Postseason Performance autographs will be numbered to 50 or less
Cut Signature cards, as usual, feature autographs of long ago stars and are 1/1.
Relic Cards
Major League Materials and 1988 Topps relic cards will each have four parallels including:
• Black Parallel – #’d to 199
• Gold Parallel – #’d to 50 or less
• Red Parallel – #’d to 25 or less
• Platinum Parallel – #’d 1/1 (Hobby/HTA Jumbo Exclusive)
In The Name relics are single jersey nameplate letters that can be collected to spell out that player’s name. All are 1/1 and Hobby/Jumbo exclusive.
World Series Champion and Postseason Performance relics are numbered to 99 or less with Red (# to 25) and 1/1 Platinum parallels.
Autographed Relics
Topps Reverence Autograph Patch cards will pair on-card autographs and game-used patch pieces of current and former players. They’ll be numbered to 10 and are exclusive to Hobby and Jumbo boxes. Look for Red (# to 5) and 1/1 Platinum parallels.
Sequentially numbered to 50 or less, Major League Material Autograph cards are back with Red (# to 25) and 1/1 Platinum parallels possible.
World Series Champion and Postseason Performance Autograph Relic cards include autographs and game-used material from players who appeared in the playoffs. They’ll be numbered to 50 or less with Red (# to 25 or less) and 1/1 Platinum parallels.
Hobby Exclusive Commemorative Relics
This year’s manufactured relics include City Connect Patch cards. 30 MLB players are paired with cap logo patches from their respective team’s City Connect uniform. They’ll have parallels that include:
• Black Parallel – #’d to 299
• Gold Parallel – #’d to 75
• Red Parallel – sequentially #’d
• Platinum Parallel – #’d 1/1
• Autograph Parallel (select subjects) – #’d to 10 or less
Patchwork of the Past Commemorative Patch cards will feature 25 current players paired with a retro logo from the team’s past. Base versions will be numbered to 399.
• Gold Parallel – #’d to 75
• Red Parallel – # sequentially #’d
• Platinum Parallel – #’d 1/1
• Autograph Parallel (select subjects) – #’d to 10 or less
Checklist
Here’s the checklist for 2023 Topps Series 1:
2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball Checklist
Where to Buy
You can check out 2023 Topps Series 1 on eBay, including Hobby, Jumbo, Retail and Blaster Boxes here and see singles that have been pulled from packs and listed on eBay here.
