Bob Ross “Joy Of Baseball” 2023 Topps Release Captures Fans Attention And Imagination

A special new baseball release from Topps is getting some unexpected attention from the baseball card-collecting world this week.

Topps and the estate of Bob Ross have teamed up for the “The Joy of Baseball” collector box release. Topps describes the release as an “incredibly creative and irresistibly collectible set with painter Bob Ross’s world-famous landscapes serving as a backdrop to the cards.

Let’s take a look at this one-of-a-kind “happy accident” release that is capturing baseball card collectors’ attention and imagination.

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About 2023 Topps x Bob Ross “The Joy of Baseball”

Topps x Bob Ross “The Joy of Baseball” went up for sale on October 5th from the Topps.com website with shipping two to three weeks out. As of October 5th, the release had already sold out.

There are 100 base cards in the set with a nice selection of Bob Ross artwork serving as a background of the player superimposed on the front of the card. All base cards feature a facsimile of Ross’s signature on the lefthand side of the card.

In addition to the base cards, the releases include plenty of parallels to chase, three different inserts and some creative shortprint themes.

The checklist will consist of a mix of baseball legends, past and present with a headshot and action shot on each card. In the background behind each player features a print from one of Bob Ross’s paintings.

READ: Topps Chrome and Lids partners on a special exclusive release.

The Collector boxes include an exclusive paintbrush pen per box. Each box contains a total of 8 packs with 12 cards being available per pack. Collectors will receive 1 numbered parallel or short print card per pack. Collectors can also find 2 autographs in each Collector’s Box.

In addition to the Collector Boxes, Bob Ross 2023 Topps Happy Little Boxes will include a single pack of 12 cards with an exclusive “Easel” parallel plus either an insert or a parallel. Collectors will be able to pull an autograph in approximately 1 in 4 boxes/packs.

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Examples of base cards in the 2023 Topps Bob Ross “Joy of Baseball” release.

2023 Topps Bob Ross “The Joy of Baseball” parallels

Alongside the 100-card base set are eight different parallels to chase, ranging from the “paint splatter” parallel with 99 copies down to “Mightnight Black” 1/1.

Based on what we have seen of the mockups released, they are very attractive cards to go with Bob Ross’s works of art, especially for the color match. In addition, the color matches of player uniforms really work on these cards.

• Paint Splatter Canvas Stock Parallel #/99
• Sap Green Canvas Stock Parallel #/75
• Prussian Blue Canvas Stock Parallel #/50
• Titanium White Canvas Stock Parallel #/35
• Indian Yellow Canvas Stock Parallel #/25
• Alizarin Crimson Canvas Stock Parallel #/10
• Bright Red Canvas Stock Parallel #/5
• Midnight Black Canvas Stock Parallel #1/1

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2023 Topps X Bob Ross Joy of Baseball shortprints

There are three distinct types of short print cards in the Bob Ross Joy of Baseball 2023 Topps release.

Image variation short prints

The “Image Variation” short prints are standard alternative photo short prints with changes not only to the foreground but also the background. Find these cards in roughly 1 in 15.2 packs.

Checklist:

1 Shohei Ohtani
10 Jordan Walker Rookie
11 Ronald Acuña Jr.
37 Michael Harris II Rookie
43 Julio Rodríguez
44 Christopher Morel Rookie
49 Miguel Cabrera
54 Paul Goldschmidt
94 Gunnar Henderson Rookie

Happy Mistake short prints

Definitely embracing the Bob Ross theme named after his iconic phrase, these cards feature 9 players with Bob Ross hairstyles. Collectors can find these cards in about 1 in 30 packs.

Checklist:

36-SP Jazz Chisholm Jr.
43-SP Julio Rodríguez
62-SP Masataka Yoshida Rookie
66-SP Anthony Volpe Rookie
67-SP Corbin Carroll Rookie
75-SP Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
80-SP Mike Trout
86-SP Aaron Judge
88-SP Esteury Ruiz
90-SP Adley Rutschman Rookie

Bob Ross Flagship Super Short Print

Bob Ross himself is featured in the Super Short Print version of the 2023 Topps base design. These are limited and are available on premium and glossy stock and can be found once in every 280 packs.

Bob Ross Joy of Baseball 2023 Topps inserts

The Bob Ross theme continues with the inserts in the Joy of Baseball release. There are three main inserts as part of the release.

Budding Talent

The Budding Talent insert highlights some of the game’s top rookies, featuring what Topps describes as “majestic, flora-laden landscapes. Budding Talent is a 15-card set.

Peaks of Power

While Painting the Corner features pitchers and Budding Talent feature rookies, the 10-card “Peaks of Power” insert highlights a few of baseball’s most talented long-ball hitters.

Painting the Corner

As the name suggests, the “Painting the Corner” release honors some of baseball’s best control pitchers who are known to “paint the corners” with high accuracy.

The insert comes in a set of 10 cards.

Insert parallels

The inserts also come in parallel variations with six different colors to chase:

• Prussian Blue Canvas Stock Parallel #/50
• Titanium White Canvas Stock Parallel #/35
• Indian Yellow Canvas Stock Parallel #/25
• Alizarin Crimson Canvas Stock Parallel #/10
• Bright Red Canvas Stock Parallel #/5
• Midnight Black Canvas Stock Parallel #1/1

2023 Topps Bob Ross Joy of Baseball autos

The 2023 Topps Bob Ross release also has a fair amount of autographs with a mix of rookies, active players and some of the game’s greats. Best of all, you can find two autographs in each Collector’s Box.

Final thoughts on the 2023 Topps Bob Ross “Joy of Baseball”

While, baseball isn’t really the first thing you think of when you hear of Bob Ross, there is little doubt that the concept somehow works amazingly well. Yes, 2023 Topps Bob Ross “Joy of Baseball” is an amazing release, both in terms of visuals and collectability.

Given the response of the release thus far, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the release show up again somewhere else — perhaps in other sports or in a seperate releases, especially when Topps fully has the rights.

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2023 Topps Bob Ross Joy of Baseball checklist

See below for the full base checklist of the Bob Ross Topps Chrome Joy of Baseball.

1 Shohei Ohtani
2 David Ortiz
3 Spencer Steer Rookie
4 Cal Ripken Jr.
5 Sammy Sosa
6 Triston McKenzie
7 Luis Arraez
8 Tony Gwynn
9 Nolan Arenado
10 Jordan Walker Rookie
11 Ronald Acuña Jr.
12 Ted Williams
13 Derek Jeter
14 Trea Turner
15 Bo Jackson
16 Javier Assad Rookie
17 Nolan Gorman Rookie
18 José Ramírez
19 Manny Machado
20 Chipper Jones
21 Joey Wiemer Rookie
22 JJ Bleday Rookie
23 Joey Bart
24 Mookie Bets
25 Frank Thomas
26 George Kirby
27 Albert Pujols
28 Gabriel Moreno Rookie
29 Cal Raleigh
30 Riley Greene Rookie
31 Fernando Tatis Jr.
32 Luis Castillo
33 Bubba Thompson Rookie
34 Roberto Clemente
35 Spencer Strider
36 Jazz Chisholm Jr.
37 Michael Harris II Rookie
38 Eury Pérez Rookie
39 Mark McGwire
40 Ken Griffey Jr.
41 Royce Lewis
42 Ichiro
43 Julio Rodríguez
44 Christopher Morel Rookie
45 Jackie Robinson
46 Juan Soto
47 Taj Bradley Rookie
48 Rickey Henderson
49 Miguel Cabrera
50 Pete Alonso
51 Andrés Giménez
52 Ozzie Albies
53 Ke’Bryan Hayes
54 Paul Goldschmidt
55 Jason Varitek
56 Hunter Pence
57 Jose Altuve
58 Bryce Harper
59 Rafael Devers
60 Brice Turang Rookie
61 Francisco Lindor
62 Masataka Yoshida Rookie
63 Jack Flaherty
64 Willie Mays
65 Nick Pratto Rookie
66 Anthony Volpe Rookie
67 Corbin Carroll Rookie
68 Kerry Carpenter Rookie
69 Randy Arozarena
70 Freddie Freeman
71 Bo Bichette
72 George Springer
73 Gerrit Cole
74 Ryan Mountcastle
75 Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
76 Vaughn Grissom Rookie
77 Zac Gallen
77 Hunter Brown Rookie
80 Mike Trout
81 Brett Baty Rookie
82 Carlos Rodón
83 Mark Vientos Rookie
84 Xander Bogaerts
85 Alexis Díaz
86 Aaron Judge
87 Johnny Bench
88 Esteury Ruiz Rookie
89 Yordan Alvarez
90 Adley Rutschman Rookie
91 Mike Yastrzemski
92 Oswald Peraza Rookie
93 Grayson Rodriguez Rookie
94 Gunnar Henderson Rookie
95 Patrick Bailey Rookie
96 Josh Jung Rookie
97 Alek Manoah
98 Joey Meneses Rookie
99 Sandy Alcantara
100 Triston Casas Rookie