2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball: The Beginning Of A New Baseball Card Season Is Upon Us [Checklist Updated]

Mike D February 14, 2023

2023 topps mike trout

February means a lot of things to sports fans. The Super Bowl. The start of Spring Training. And perhaps most important of all, the release of 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball.

This annual rite of “spring is coming” kicks of the new baseball card season in style, with collectors relishing the renewed chase a new year of cards and the Topps flagship product bring.

But what can collectors find in 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball? What are the details of the release formats, base set, and hits? And when is the big day?

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2023 Topps Series 1 release date & release formats

The release date for 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball is scheduled for February 15, 2023 (subject to change).

2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball will of course also be available in a variety of retail blasters and other retail options, but info on those is not yet available, so today we’ll focus on hobby offerings.

These hobby offerings include both a standard hobby box and hobby jumbo boxes, which just might be the steal of the release.

2023 Topps Series 1 Hobby Packs have 14 cards per pack. 2023 Topps Series 1 Hobby Jumbo Packs contain 46 cards per pack.

Hobby Boxes contain 24 hobby packs, while Hobby Jumbo boxes contain 10 jumbo packs. 2023 Topps Series 1 Hobby cases consist of 12 boxes per case. Hobby Jumbo cases contain 6 Jumbo Hobby Boxes.

Hobby Boxes are pre-selling for around $90, with Hobby Jumbo boxes pre-selling for $150-160.

Each Hobby Box guarantees one hit per box, either an autograph or relic. Jumbo Hobby Boxes guarantee 3 hits, including at least one autograph.

2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball carries forward the continuity program that is Silver Packs. Hobby Boxes contain 1 Silver Pack per box, while Hobby Jumbo Boxes contain two Silver Packs.

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2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball base set & design

The 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball base set consists of 330 cards. The checklist includes the standard mix of veterans and rookie cards, plus League Leaders, Future Stars, and team cards.

The design, which we received a sneak peak of back in September, is a solid design in the opinion of most collectors who have seen it. The cards feature an insert photo and team logo that bring to mind a “scoreboard” feel.

The use of a second photo on the card front brings to mind classic Topps designs such as 1963, 1983, 1984, and 2003 Topps.

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Topps Series 1 2023 Baseball parallels

As with prior Topps flagship products, 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball offers a variety of color and finishes on its many parallel offerings. Print runs range from the fairly pedestrian to the downright tough to the elusive 1/1.

• Rainbow Foil – 1:10 packs
• Gold Rainbow Foil – 1:2 hobby jumbo packs (exclusive)
• Gold – /2023
• Green Foil Board – /499
• Orange Foil Board – /299
• Red Foil Board – /199
• Vintage Stock – /99
• Independence Day – /76
• Black – /72 (hobby and hobby jumbo only)
• Father’s Day Powder Blue – /50
• Mother’s Day Hot Pink – /50
• Memorial Day Camo – /25
• Printing Plates – 1/1
• Platinum – 1/1

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2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball Short Prints & Variations

Golden Mirror Image Variation Short Prints exist for all 330 cards in the base set. These tough variations feature different photos and golden backs.

100 cards from the base set get Clear variations. Exclusive to standard hobby packs, these are a tough pull with a print run of only 10 copies per card.

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Topps Series 1 2023 Baseball inserts

A variety of insert sets dot the 2023 Topps Series 1 baseball product, with a variety of fun themes.

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One-Two Punch

This new for 2023 insert features pitching duos, both modern and all-time greats.

Parallels include:

• Blue Parallel
• Black Parallel – #’d to 299
• Gold Parallel – #’d to 75
• Red Parallel – #’d to 10

Platinum Parallel – #’d 1/1

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Welcome to the Club

Another new 2023 insert set, this one features members of the 30/30, 40/40, and 20/20/20 clubs.

Parallels include:

• Blue Parallel
• Black Parallel – #’d to 299
• Gold Parallel – #’d to 75
• Red Parallel – #’d to 10
• Platinum Parallel – #’d 1/1

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2022’s Greatest Hits

Featuring some of the “biggest swings of 2022” with a foil board finish.

Parallels include:

• Blue Parallel
• Black Parallel – #’d to 299
• Gold Parallel – #’d to 75
• Red Parallel – #’d to 10
• Platinum Parallel – #’d 1/1

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All Aces

These playing card-inspired cards celebrate some of the top pitchers of yesterday and today. They are die-cut cards with a foil board finish.

Parallels include:

• Blue Parallel
• Black Parallel – #’d to 299
• Gold Parallel – #’d to 75
• Red Parallel – #’d to 10
• Platinum Parallel – #’d 1/1

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1988 Topps Baseball

Much like 2022 Topps celebrated 1987 Topps, 2023 Topps celebrates the 35^th anniversary of 1988 Topps. Wait, 35 years? Damn, that doesn’t feel possible.

While not the most inspired design, 1988 Topps gets to highlight some of the best players of today as well as all-time greats.

Parallel versions include:

• Blue Parallel – limited to 600
• Black Parallel – #’d to 299
• The Real One Parallel – printed on “Heritage-style” stock #’d to 88
• Gold Parallel – #’d to 75
• Red Parallel – #’d to 10
• Platinum Parallel – #’d 1/1

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Heavy Lumber

Another new offering, this one features 20 of the game’s best hitters with a wood grain design.

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Sketch Cards

Exclusive to hobby and hobby jumbo, these 1/1 cards feature hand-drawn images of top players of today and yesterday.

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AKA

This limited set offers players with famous nicknames.

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Home Run Challenge

A little interactive fun seeded 1 per box. Predict the date your superstar will hit a home run, and win exclusive cards.

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Oversized 1988 Topps League Leaders Boxtoppers

Oversized cards that feature league leaders from today and the past on the 1988 Topps design.

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Topps Series 1 2023 Baseball memorabilia/relics

2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball has a number of memorabilia or relic card offerings to let collectors hold a piece of the game in their hands. With a relic or autograph per box, these should be some exciting pulls.

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City Connect Patch Cards

This 30-card offering features players with a cap logo patch from their City Connect uniform.

Parallels include:

• Black Parallel – #’d to 299
• Gold Parallel – #’d to 75
• Red Parallel – sequentially #’d
• Platinum Parallel – #’d 1/1

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A patchwork of the Past Commemorative Patch Cards

Features 25 of the most collectible current major league stars paired with a retro logo from their team’s past.

Parallels include:

• Gold Parallel – #’d to 75
• Red Parallel – sequentially #’d
• Platinum Parallel – #’d 1/1

1988 Topps Baseball Relics

The classic junk wax era set again gets featured, this time with relics. Black (/199), Gold (/50 or less), Red (/25 or less) and Platinum (1/1, hobby and hobby jumbo only) parallels are even tougher pulls.

2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball autographs

Autographs are always a big draw, and 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball is no different. The product offers a number of different autograph themes for your chasing delight.

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Baseball Stars Autographs

While the name is vague, that gives that a lot of leeway on the checklist, I guess. Black (/199 or less), Gold (/50), Red (/25) and Platinum (1/1) parallels are also available.

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Baseball Stars Dual Autographs

Like the single-signed version, but with two signatures. Sequentially numbered.

1988 Topps Baseball Autographs

On card autographs of current veterans, rookies, and former players. Parallels include Black (/199 or less), Gold (/50 or less), Red (/25 or less, hobby only) and Platinum (1/1 hobby only).

World Series Champion Autograph Cards

Featuring autographs of members of the 2022 World Series. Base cards are sequentially numbered to 50 or less, with Red (/25) and Platinum (1/1) parallels.

Postseason Performance Autograph Cards

Autographed card signed by players who appeared in the 2022 postseason. Base cards are sequentially numbered to 50 or less, with Red (/25) and Platinum (1/1) parallels.

Cut Signatures

1/1 cut signature cards that offer premium pulls and long odds.

One-Two Punch Dual Autographs, Welcome to the Club Autographs, 2022’s Greatest Hits Autographs, and All Aces Autographs

Limited cards from 2022 Topps Series 1 Baseball insert sets get signed and numbered to 25 copies or less per card.

2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball Autographed Relics

Autographs are a key part of any modern baseball card offering. While the autographs in 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball aren’t guaranteed, or even fully front-and-center in the product, they do offer some great hits, from the usual autographs of young players and stars to some really interesting combined relic/auto cards. 

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Topps Reverence Autograph Patch Cards

With a game-used patch and an on-card autograph, these hobby exclusive cards are a hard pull with only 10 copies of each. The checklist features baseball greats past and present.

Parallels include Red (/5) and Platinum (1/1).

Major League Material Autograph Cards

Base versions are numbered to 50 copies, with Red (/5) and Platinum (1/1) parallels also available.

World Series Champion Autograph Relic Cards

Featuring an autograph and a relic from stars of the 2022 World Series Champions. Sequentially numbered to 50 copies with Red (/25 or less) and Platinum (1/1) parallels also available.

Postseason Performance Autograph Relic Cards

Featuring players from the 2022 Postseason with an autograph and a game-used relic. Sequentially numbered to 50 copies with Red (/25 or less) and Platinum (1/1) parallels also available.

City Connect Patch Card Autographs, Patchwork of the Past Commemorative Patch Card Autographs

Autographed versions of these relic cards are numbered to 10 or fewer.

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Oversized 1988 Topps League Leaders Boxtoppers

Select subjects from the box topper insert set to get sequentially numbered autographs.

2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball value

2023 Topps has been pre-selling for around $90 for a hobby box and $150-160 for a hobby jumbo box. But how does that compare to prior years? Is flagship Topps a good “buy and hold” candidate?

As you can see, a look at the last few years shows that while these boxes tend to hold at least most of their value, they’re not really a good candidate to buy and hold sealed hobby boxes or jumbos.

This isn’t shocking, as flagship Topps is a baseline product meant to be opened, not hoarded.

2023 Topps Series 1 baseball singles

What about singles? While flagship Topps cards may not sell for the prices of some of the more premium brands, there is value to be found here, for sure.

From a base set perspective, it’s usually all about the rookie cards when it comes to top value. Some years get an exciting rookie card, like 2022 Topps and the Wander Franco rookie card within. In PSA 10, the card sells for $25-40. Parallel versions, which are a tougher pull, sell for significantly more in PSA 10, ranging from a little more to hundreds of dollars.

The 2023 rookie class looks promising, but that’ not always the case.  Both the 2020 and 2021 Topps rookie classes don’t have a player on the level of Franco. Sure, there are players of considerable promise, but none offer the potential (or the value) of Franco.

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Final thoughts on 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball

The drop of Topps Series 1 is a bit of a hobby holiday, and 2023 should be no different. It’s a good time to reflect on the past hobby year, look forward to 2023, and it gives us a little taste of spring and summer when we can really use it.

Breaking a box of 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball? Love the design? Hate the design? Looking forward to any particular hits? Let us know at card_lines on Twitter.

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2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball checklist