2023 Topps Tribute Baseball: A High-End Tribute To Baseball’s Best
With a $500 per box price tag and only 3 cards per pack, 2023 Topps Tribute is undeniably a high-end product. But what will collectors find inside? What are the hits? And what can we determine about value?
Topps Tribute 2023 Baseball release date & release formats
The release date for 2023 Topps Tribute Base is scheduled for May 31, 2023 (subject to change).
Hobby packs contain 3 card per pack. Each hobby box contains 6 packs per box. Hobby cases contain 6 boxes per case.
Hobby boxes contain 3 autograph or autograph relics and 3 relics per box. Pre-sales of Hobby boxes of 2023 Topps Tribute are running at $500 per box.
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2023 Topps Tribute Baseball base set & design
The 2023 Topps Tribute base set contains 100 cards. The first 90 active veteran players and legends of yesteryear. The final 10 cards are short-printed (SP) rookie cards that are seeded 1:18 packs. The checklist, being fairly small, is heavy on stars and household names.
With six hits per box, there are only 12 base or parallel cards per box. With a $500 price per card, this is not a product for set builders.
From a design perspective, the base cards feature a mixed-pattern, stylized frame around a player photo. The design is a bit busy for some collectors liking, although I’m sure others will find it classy.
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Topps Tribute 2023 Baseball parallels
The parallel offerings, like everything about 2023 Topps Tribute, are a little sparse, but rare. Having “only” five parallels feels light by ultra-modern standards. With the most populous parallel having only 99 copies, these are some good pulls.
Parallels include:
- Green – /99
- Gold – /75
- Purple – /50
- Red – /10
- Black – 1/1
2023 Topps Tribute Baseball memorabilia cards
Relics are seeded 3 per hobby box, and all have limited print runs and some tough parallels.
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Stamp of Approval
These relics contain a swatch that has MLB Authentication sticker, so the swatch can be traced to a specific game from which it came. Limited to 199 copies each.
Parallels include:
- Green Parallel: /99
- Gold Parallel: /75
- Purple Parallel: /50
- Orange Parallel: /25
- Red Parallel: /10
- Black Parallel: 1/1
Tribute Dual Relics
These have two relics and a print run of just 199 copies.
Parallels include:
- Green Parallel: /99
- Gold Parallel: /75
- Purple Parallel: /50
- Orange Parallel: /25
- Red Parallel: /10
- Black Parallel: 1/1
Tribute Triple Relics
Add an additional relic to the mix to get the total to three per card. Again has a print run of 199 copies.
Parallels include:
- Green Parallel: /99
- Gold Parallel: /75
- Purple Parallel: /50
- Orange Parallel: /25
- Red Parallel: /10
- Black Parallel: 1/1
Milestone Relics
Numbered to just 10 copies each, these are a tough pull. 1/1 Black parallels are an even tougher pull.
2023 Topps Tribute Baseball autographs
Autographs, which are seeded three per hobby box, are sure to be a popular hit in 2023 Topps Tribute.
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Tribute Autographs
The largest autograph offering in the product, with varied print numbers.
Parallels include:
- Blue (/150)
- Green (/99)
- Gold (/75)
- Purple (/50)
- Orange (/25)
- Red (/10)
- Printing Plates (1/1)
- Black (1/1)
Olympus Autographs
Featuring the players who belong among the gods on Mt. Olympus, these are new for 2023.
Orange (/25), Red (/10) and Black (1/1) parallels are also available.
Tribute to Nicknames Autographs
Another new offering for 2023, these pay tribute to some of the best nicknames in the game.
Parallels include: Orange (/25), Red (/10) and Black (1/1)
League Inauguration Autographs
Limited to 99 copies each. Orange (/25), Red (/10) and Black (1/1) parallels are also available.
Iconic Perspectives Autographs
Limited to 50 copies each. Orange (/25), Red (/10) and Black (1/1) parallels are also available.
Tribute Tandem Book Cards
These book cards feature dual signatures and are numbered to just 25 copies each. Red (/10) and Black (1/1) parallels are also available.
Career Achievement Award Continuity Autographs
This year the career achievement award goes to two-way star Shohei Ohtani. Each card in this set is a 1/1. In addition, 1/1 dual-signed versions are also available.
2023 Topps Tribute Autographed Relics
A number of autographed relic offerings are also available in the product. Again, each hobby box has three autographs or autographed relics, plus three relics. Count me as thankful that this isn’t another product with “one autograph OR relic per box”.
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Earned Stripes Autograph Relics
New for 2023, these feature a stripe, in this case, a pinstripe, from the player’s uniform. Limited to 50 copies each.
Parallels include Red Parallel (/10) and 1/1 Black Parallels.
Autograph Patches
The name says it all…an autograph and a patch. Not a bad combo! Limited to 50 copies each.
Red Parallel (/10) and 1/1 Black Parallels also available.
Prime Patch Autograph Relics
1/1 patch signature cards.
Names That Made the Game Cut Signatures
1/1 cut signatures of baseball players and celebrities. The theme is famous quotes and baseball-isms.
2023 Topps Tribute Box Toppers
Select hobby boxes contain a box topper of an original 1954 Topps Buyback card in a Topps Tribute frame. These are likely to be quite rare, but a cool vintage pull.
2023 Topps Tribute Baseball value
2023 Topps Tribute Baseball is clearly a premium product, but how does it fare as a “buy and hold” candidate? Let’s look at recent comps for the last few years Topps Tribute hobby boxes.
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| Year | Recent Comp |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $500 |
| 2022 | $500 |
| 2021 | $325-400 |
These prices suggest that this probably isn’t going to be a big winner as a long-term hold. They do seem to hold their value decently, but probably best to break these if you’re buying in.
From a singles perspective, a number of 2022 Topps Tribute singles in PSA slabs have sold recently for $300-500. These are of low-pop autographed cards of players like Mike Trout, Ken Griffey Jr., and Albert Pujols.
So, from the value perspective, there’s an opportunity here, although covering the cost of a box is certainly not a guarantee.
Final thoughts on 2023 Topps Tribute Baseball
2023 Topps Tribute is an interesting mix of a high-end product with a touch of sparseness. Not a lot of cards per pack. Not a big set. Not a lot of parallels. But with three autographs and three relics per box, there’s still a lot to like in this product.
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2023 Topps Tribute Baseball Checklist
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