In the modern hobby, it feels like there is a constant battle to define a new level of opulence. Topps Transcendent Baseball is perhaps the reigning champion, with an offering that pushes the limits of the reasonable (and most budgets) to its breaking point.
2023 Topps Transcendent Baseball has a slightly different format than in the past, but the fact that it’s a super high end product remains.
But what will you find in 2023 Topps Transcendent Collection Baseball? What are the hits, autos, and 1/1’s that make up the offering? And what is the price tag?
If you pull this card in one of your boxes, the $25k price point will definitely have been worth it.
The release date for 2023 Topps Transcendent Baseball is scheduled for March 27, 2024 (subject to change).
The product will be limited to only 190 boxes, which is still almost double the 2022 print run of 99.
The makeup of these boxes also changes in some significant ways from 2022, although the theme of ultra-premium, low print run autographs as the main value remains the same.
For example, gone is the complete 50-card base set included in each box. It is replaced with 10 Transcendent Icons Chrome 4-card packs.
In total, each box contains:
In general, collectors can expect one Superfractor and a number of 1/1s per box. There are 84 total cards per box.
Pre-sales for 2023 Topps Transcendent Baseball are currently for $25,000, making these the highest end of the high end card baseball card products.
As mentioned above, each box of 2023 Topps Transcendent Baseball contains 10 packs of 4 cards each containing Chrome cards.
Transcendent Icons Chrome Refractor cards are numbered out of 25 copies each.
Parallels include:
Transcendent Icons Chrome Refractor Image Variations are also numbered out of 25 and as the title suggests contain different images than the base refractors.
Parallels include:
At least one Superfractor is guaranteed per box.
Autographs, whether found in the Chrome packs or separately, as a huge part of the draw of the 2023 Topps Transcendent Baseball product.
Transcendent Icons Chrome Autograph Gold Refractor are found in the Transcendent Icons Chrome packs. They are numbered out of 15 with Red Parallels (/5) and 1/1 Superfractor parallels.
Transcendent Collection Gold Framed Autographs come 20 per box and are numbered out of 20. Parallels include Blue (/10), Emerald (/5), Platinum (1/1), Red (1/1) and Rose Gold (1/1).
Transcendent Collection Rookie Showcase Autographs are also numbered out of 20 and you’ll find a total of 10 of these or the Patch version per box. Parallels include Blue (/10), Emerald (/5), Platinum (1/1), Red (1/1) and Rose Gold (1/1).
Ichiro or 2023 Rookies Through the Years Autographs are 1/1 autographs featuring either baseball legend and 2025 Hall of Fame candidate Ichiro or top 2023 rookies on cards featuring some of the best designs from the long history of Topps.
Ichiro/Shohei Ohtani. Through the Years Dual Autographs feature autographs from the two biggest baseball sensations ever to come out of Japan, Ichiro and Shoehei Ohtani. 1/1 cards featuring great Topps designs of the past.
1959 Topps SuperFractor Autographs are seeded 1 per box and are all 1/1’s. Feature top talent of today on the classic 1959 Topps design.
Adding a relic to the ink, autographed relics are sure to be another popular pull out of every box of 2023 Topps Transcendent Baseball.
Transcendent Collection Patch Autographs come 10 per box, and are serial numbered out of 15.Include a jumbo strip relic. Blue (/10), Emerald (/5), Platinum (1/1), Red (1/1) and Rose Gold (1/1) parallels are also available.
Transcendent Collection Rookie Showcase Patch Autographs are numbered out of 10 and collectors will find a mix of 10 of these and the straight autographed version in every box. Feature top 2023 rookies and each have a jumbo strip relic. Blue (/10), Emerald (/5), Platinum (1/1), Red (1/1) and Rose Gold (1/1) parallels are also available.
Transcendent Autographs Relic Book Card contain a jumbo authentic relic along with a signature. Numbered out of 5 copies, with 1/1 Platinum parallels also available. Seeded one per box.
MLB Logo Autograph Patch Card are all 1/1’s and feature the MLB Logo patch from uniforms of some of the biggest names in the game.
Cut signatures of deceased stars of the past offer a unique way to acquire a truly epic collectible. Seeded 1 per box.
Subjects include:
Transcendent Cut Signatures feature a cut signature from a great from the past, from baseball, history, and pop culture. All 1/1s and standard-sized.
Dual or Quad Cut Signature Cards are jumbo-sized and include two or four cut signatures, offering up some amazing pairings.
Cut Signature Relic Book Cards feature both a relic and a cut signature from a great of the past. All are 1/1 and are sure to be tough pulls.
In addition the cards in the box, 2023 Topps Transcendent Baseball also includes an invite to a special VIP event in every box.
VIP Gold Tier Event Invitation Cards entitles the bearer admittance into a VIP hobby event where they can mingle with other high end collectors and baseball greats. May come with additional cardboard treats, as well. 180 total copies exist.
VIP Transcendent Tier Event Invitation Cards offers an even greater experience. Pull one of these nine cards, and you get to be the VIP of the VIPs.
2023 Topps Transcendent Baseball is a massively high end product. But how do these rare boxes hold their value unopened? I’d typically show you recent comps for boxes from the last few years, and see how they hold up.
But due to the extremely low print run and high price tag, there isn’t a single box of Topps Transcendent Baseball listed on eBay, either recently sold or for sale. If someone bought one of these and hasn’t broken it, they also haven’t listed it for sale (at least on eBay).
What about singles? Let’s take a look at recent sales of 2022 Topps Transcendent Baseball to see what the potential is here for ROI.
Interestingly, five of the top ten highest recent sales were for a single card, all sold by the same seller. That was for a 1/1 William Henry Harrison Cut Auto Signature, which was sold for anywhere from $2,000 to $3,600. It’s hard to determine which of these were true sales and which aren’t, but they represent much of the high end of recent sales.
Beyond the dead presidents, a 1/1 cut signature of Alexander Graham Bell, a 1/1 autographed patch card of Aaron Judge, and a cut signature bat knob card of Gil Hodges all sold for over $2,000. Several other sales between $1,000 and $2,000 show there is some potential in these boxes.
All products have pros and cons to consider when deciding whether they’re worth your hobby dollar. 2023 Topps Transcendent Baseball is no different, although as an ultra-high end product some of the considerations are obvious.
Pros
Cons
2023 Topps Transcendent Baseball is the product for the hobby high roller. With a buy-in of $25K, most collectors won’t get a spot at the table. But if you’re the type of high-end collector that has a hobby budget that can take the hit, you can do a lot worse than 2023 Topps Transcendent Baseball.
The cards are attractive, plenty rare, and offer at least a solid chance at some level of ROI (although making your money back is far from guaranteed).
What’s your take on 2023 Topps Transcendent Baseball? Are you rolling the dice? Or sitting on the sidelines? And what would you spend $25K in hobby funds on, given the chance? Tell us what’s on your mind at card_lines on Twitter.
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