2023 Topps Update Arrives To Close Out The 2023 Topps Flagship Trilogy [Checklist Added]

Mike D October 10, 2023

2023 Topps Update is the last release in the 2023 Topps Flagship trilogy.  It also provides a final chapter to the 2023 baseball card season, including players who changed uniforms or broke into the big leagues for the first time.

What can collectors expect in 2023 Topps Update?  What are the release formats? And what are the hits worth chasing?

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2023 Topps Update release date & release format

The release date for 2023 Topps Update is scheduled for October 11, 2023 (subject to change).

Topps Update comes in a variety of different configurations, including both hobby and retail offerings.

Hobby Boxes contain 24 packs of 14 cards each. There are 12 hobby boxes per hobby case. Each hobby box contains 1 autograph or relic card. Hobby Boxes are pre-selling for $80.

Hobby Jumbo Boxes contain 10 packs of 46 cards each. There are 6 hobby jumbo boxes per case. Each hobby jumbo box contains one autograph and two relic cards. Hobby Jumbo boxes are pre-selling for $150.

Retail Boxes contain 20 packs of 14 cards each. There are 12 retail boxes per case. Retail boxes do not offer guaranteed hits, and autographs will be fairly tough in all retail products. Prices for Retail boxes are not yet known.

Retail Blasters contain 7 packs of 12 cards each. There are 40 blaster boxes per case. These contain 3 exclusive retail parallels per Blaster. Blaster boxes are pre-selling for $25.

Retail Hanger Boxes contain 64 cards per hanger. Prices for Hanger Boxes have not yet been released.

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2023 Topps Update base set & design

The base set of 2023 Topps Update contains 330 cards, matching the total from Topps Series 1 and Series 2.

The checklist consists of a mix of veterans who didn’t appear in prior series, veterans in new uniforms, and rookies. The Rookie Debuts subset highlights the player’s first game.

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Speaking of rookies, there are 90 rookie cards on the checklist. Typically, any player who debuted by early June will appear in the set. Those who debuted later, such as Phenom Elly De La Cruz, will get 2024 rookie cards.

Topps Update 2023 parallels & variations

As with prior 2023 releases, 2023 Topps Update comes with a rainbow of parallels options to chase, from the fairly easy-to-pull to the downright tough.

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Parallels include:

• Rainbow Foil – 1:10 packs
• Royal Blue – 1:10 retail packs
• Gold – /2023
• Blue Foilboard – /999 (retail only)
• Purple Foilboard – /799 (retail only)
• Green Foilboard – /499
• Orange Foilboard – /299
• Red Foilboard – /199
• Vintage Stock – /99
• Independence Day – /76
• Black Parallel – #’d to 72 (Hobby/HTA Jumbo only)
• Father’s Day Powder Blue – /50
• Mother’s Day Hot Pink – /50
• Memorial Day Camo – /25
• Platinum – 1/1
• Printing Plates – 1/1

In addition to the parallels above, all 330 cards get Gold Mirror Image Variations. These SSP cards feature a different image than the base card. 100 select cards also get hobby-exclusive Clear Variations, which are numbered /10.

2023 Topps Update inserts

Inserts offer another chase element to 2023 Topps Update, with a variety of parallels available for select inserts.

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1988 Topps Baseball

Continuing 2023’s 35th-anniversary celebration of 1988 Topps. This offering features 50 cards, with a checklist that is a mix of veterans, rookies, and former stars.

Parallels include:

• Blue – 600 copies
• Black – /299
• Gold – /75
• Red – /10
• Platinum – 1/1
• Wood – 1/1

2023 All-Star Game

2023 All-Star Game is a 50-card set featuring players from 2023 All-Star Game rosters.

Parallels include:

• Blue – 600 copies
• Black – /299
• Gold – /75
• Red – /10
• Platinum – 1/1

Action Stars

A 30 card set featuring some of the biggest names in the sport. The checklist is a mix of veteran stars, young stars, and rookies.

Parallels include:

• Blue – 600 copies
• Black – /299
• Gold – /75
• Red – /10
• Platinum – 1/1

AKA

This 10-card set features players, both past and present, who have famous nicknames.

All Aces

25 cards, all featuring some of the top pitchers in history, both active stars and retired legends.

Parallels include:

• Blue – 600 copies
• Black – /299
• Gold – /75
• Red – /10
• Platinum – 1/1

Commemorative Postseason Trophy Medallions

A hobby and hobby jumbo exclusive 30-card set, featuring players who have won postseason MVP awards. The checklist consists of former and current stars.

Commemorative Team Logo Bat Knob

Seeded one per blaster box, to which they’re exclusives. More into TBA.

Heavy Lumber

Highlighting some of the biggest hitters in the game, this 20-card set features a mix of veteran stars, rookies, and greats of the past.

Laid Out

This 20 card set highlights players known for defensive gems. This checklist features all active players.

Parallels include:

• Blue – 600 copies
• Black – /299
• Gold – /75
• Red – /10
• Platinum – 1/1

Luke the Cardist Base Card Art

8 cards from the base set get the artistic treatment from noted artist Luke the Cardist.

MVP Medallions

Exclusive to Hobby and Hobby Jumbo, this 25-card set features former MVPs, both active and retired.

Oversized Topps Big Baseball

Exclusive to Hobby Jumbo boxes, these oversized box toppers feature current stars and rookies. 25-card set.

Oversized All-Star Game Red Carpet Redemptions

Another exclusive to Hobby Jumbo box topper, this one celebrates 2023 All Stars. This is a 70-card set.

Stars of MLB

Seeded one per retail pack, where they are exclusive, this 30-card set continues the Stars of MLB set that started in Series 1 and continued in Series 2.

Parallels include:

• Red – /70
• Black – /25
• Platinum – 1/1

Stars of MLB Chrome

Chrome versions of the Stars of MLB are another retail exclusive, which are seeded 1:10 retail packs.

Parallels include:

• Red Refractors – /70
• Black Refractors – /25
• Superfractors – 1/1

Time-Spanning Tandems

This 30-car- set pairs a current star with an all-time great along different shared themes, including team, position, and more.

Parallels include:

• Blue – 600 copies
• Black – /299
• Gold – /75
• Red – /10
• Platinum – 1/1

Topps Black Gold

Paying homage to the 1990’s insert set, this 30 card offering features rookies, current stars, and icons of the past.

Parallels include:

• Blue – 600 copies
• Black – /299
• Gold – /75
• Red – /10
• Platinum – 1/1

2023 Topps Update memorabilia cards

There are a number of relic offerings in 2023 Topps Update, including several that feature 2023 All Stars.

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All-Star Jumbo Patch

Featuring 51 subjects from the 2023 All-Star Game along with oversized patches. Each numbered out of 5 or less, plus special 1/1 Gold parallels.

All-Star Stitches

Again on the All Star theme, this 57-card set includes pieces of the All-Star Game workout jerseys.

Parallels include:

• Silver – /50
• Red – /25
• Gold – 1/1

All-Star Stitches Dual

With workout jersey relics from two All Stars, this 11 card set is limited to 25 copies each.

All-Star Stitches Triple

This 9-card offering includes workout jersey relics from three All Stars. Limited to 25 copies each.

Major League Material

Featuring relics of 47 stars from across the big leagues.

Parallels include:

• Black – /199
• Gold – /50
• Red – /25

MLB First Stitch Patch

Featuring 12 players who swapped teams. These cards feature a piece of the player’s first uniform with their new team. Numbered out of 50, with Gold Parallels that are limited to 10 copies each.

Own the Name relics

This 80-card set features letters from a player’s jersey nameplate. Every card is a 1/1, although several players appear on more than one card in the set.

2023 Topps Update autographs

Autographs are a big part of the appeal of 2023 Topps Update.

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1988 Topps Baseball Autographs

79-card autograph set highlighting the junk wax era 1988 design. It says here that 1988 was 35 years ago….that can’t be right, can it? The checklist consists of players both past and present. Black (/199) and Gold (/50) parallel versions are also available.

1988 Topps Baseball All-Star Autographs

32 subjects get the autographs in the classic 1988 Topps All-Star design. Black (/199) and Gold (/50) parallel versions also available.

Action Stars Autographs

20 subjects from the Action Stars insert set get autographs. Limited to 10 copies each, or fewer.

All Aces Autographs

16 subjects from the All Aces insert set also get signed versions. Limited to 10 copies each, or fewer.

All-Star Jumbo Patch Autographs

29 cards from the All-Star Jumbo Path relic get signed versions. These are limited to 10 copies each. Red (/5) and 1/1 Gold parallels are also available.

All-Star Stitches Autographs

Another All-Star memorabilia card gets autographs, again with 29 subjects. These, however, have a print run out of 50. Red (/10) and 1/1 Gold versions are also available.

All-Star Stitches Dual Autographs

9 cards from the All-Star Stitches Dual relic get two autographs as well. Limited to 25 copies each or less. Red (/10) and 1/1 Gold versions are also available.

Baseball Stars Autographs

41 card autographs offering featuring a checklist full of big names including current MLB stars, rookies, and former stars.

Parallels include:

• Black – /199
• Gold – /50
• Red – /25
• Platinum – 1/1

Baseball Stars Dual Autographs

11 cards featuring two autographs each, with top player pairings from the past and present. Most are on the theme of “same team” or “same position”, but some are a bit more random.  Numbered out of 5 copies or fewer.

Commemorative Postseason Trophy Medallion Autographs

14 cards from the hobby and hobby jumbo exclusive get autographs, which are also exclusive to hobby offerings.

Commemorative Team Logo Bat Knob

The exact number of cards from this retail-exclusive insert set that will get autographs has not yet been announced, but we know they’ll be numbered to 10 or less.

Cut Signatures

Cut signatures from 23 deceased stars of the past. All 1/1’s.

Laid Out Autographs

11 cards from the Laid Out insert set get autographed versions. Limited to 10 copies each or fewer.

Major League Material Autographs

40 cards from the Major League Materials relic set get autographs. Limited to 50 copies for fewer. Parallels include Red (/25 or less) and Platinum (1/1).

MLB First Stitch Patch Autographs

Seven cards from this relic set also get autographed versions. Print run is just 5 copies each.

MVP Medallions Autographs

10 cards from the hobby and hobby jumbo exclusive get some ink.

Oversized Topps Big Baseball Autographs

11 cards from the hobby jumbo exclusive box topper offering get autographed versions.

Topps Black Gold Autographs

26 of the Topps Black Gold inserts get autographed versions that are limited to 10 copies or fewer.

Topps Reverence Autograph Patch

Featuring a uniform patch piece and an autograph, this 38-card offering is limited to 10 or fewer.

2023 Topps Update Silver Packs

Silver Packs are once again randomly inserted in hobby and hobby jumbo boxes. These contain cards from the exclusive 100-card 1988 Topps Baseball Chrome Silver Packs set, plus an 83-card 1988 Topps Baseball Chrome Silver Packs Autographs option as well.

2023 Topps Update value

2023 Topps Update has a lot of inserts, relics, and autographs to chase, but how does it hold its value? Let’s take a look at what hobby boxes from the last few years sell for today.

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As you can see, recent sales for the last few year of hobby boxes have been a bit all over the place. Differences in format, rookies included, and the like can affect prices year to year.

Unless you feel particularly good about a crop of rookies, I’m not sure these are the best buy-and-hold unopened candidates.

In terms of singles, looking at sales of 2022 Topps Update cards in PSA 10 slabs, the big seller are various rarer parallels and SSPs of Julio Rodriguez.

Sales in the $1,000 to $1,500 range for those cards appear to be the high water mark for 2022 Topps Update singles. Bobby Witt Jr. makes a few appearances in the $500-1,000 range, along with a few more J-Rod cards. Everything else is well south of those price points.

Does 2023 Topps Update have any rookie cards of the caliber of Julio Rodriguez or Bobby Witt Jr.?

We’ll take a closer look at that soon here at Cardlines, but there aren’t as many big hype prospects as last year at first glance.  

Final thoughts on Topps Update 2023

Closing the final chapter of the Topps Flagship Trilogy for 2023, 2023 Topps Update offers collectors a lot to like.

There are a lot of inserts, parallels, and autographs to make for an enjoyable chase. But does 2023 Topps Update have the caliber of rookie card that we saw in 2022? Time will tell.

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Other Cardlines 2023 Topps flagship coverage

• 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball: The Beginning Of A New Baseball Card Season Is Upon Us
• An In-Depth Look Into 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball Odds & Print Runs And Why Jumbo Boxes Are King
• 2023 Topps Series 1 Rookies: What Topps Rookie Cards Are In This Series? [Tiers Updated]
• 2023 Topps Golden Mirror SSPs Ditch the Numeric Code For Clearer Way To Identify SSPs
• 2023 Topps Series 2 Baseball: The Next Chapter of the 2023 Flagship Trilogy Drops
• The Best 2023 Topps Series 2 Rookies To Invest In
• Everything You Need To Know About The Various 2023 Topps Baseball Factory Set Offerings

Full 2023 Topps Update Checklist

Check below for a fully searchable checklist of 2023 Topps Chrome