2023 Topps Series 1 overview and checklist
Updated: May 27
2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball Checklist Overview
The base set consists of 330 cards. In addition to standard veteran and Rookie Cards, there are subsets like Future Stars, League Leaders and team cards.
For 2023 Topps Baseball, there was no fan vote like recent years to determine who would lead of the set with card #1. Rather, it was awarded to San Diego superstar Juan Soto.
The design has a pair of player photos on the front, an action shot and a smaller portrait. This keeps with a pattern where it happens every 20 years. 2003, 1983 and 1963 Topps Baseball all use similar set-ups.
Parallels are a familiar mix of colors and foil. They include:
Rainbow Foil – 1:10 packs
Gold Rainbow Foil – 1:2 hobby jumbo packs (hobby jumbo only)
Royal Blue – 1:10 retail packs (retail only)
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
One hundred cards also have Clear versions. Numbered to 10, these are only available in standard hobby packs, which has been the case since they were introduced several years ago.
All 330 cards also have tough Golden Mirror Image Variation Short Prints. These have a different photo as well as a golden back. An easy way to spot on the front is with the Topps logo. Instead of silver foil, it’s gold for the variations. Backs also have a gold foil SSP stamp at the top. These look like they’re replacing the SP and SSP Image Variations.
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Taking It Back to 1988
2023 Topps Baseball moves on from the woodgrain 1987 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of 1988 Topps Baseball.
The design shows up in multiple place but the main one is the 1988 Topps Baseball insert set that uses the familiar Junk Wax Era layout some new life with current players. Parallels include Blue (600 copies each), Black (/299), Real One (/88), Gold (/75), Red (/10) and Platinum (1/1).
Real One versions were originally advertised as being on Heritage-style stock, However, it looks like they are either very similar or identical to the base versions only with the serial number on the back. So flipping over and checking you 1988 Topps Baseball inserts might be worthwhile.
1988 Topps Baseball Autographs add on-card signatures to the mix. The checklist for these includes vets, rookies and retired players. Black (/199 or less), Gold (/50 or less), Red (/25 or less, hobby only) and Platinum (1/1, hobby and hobby jumbo only) versions are also available.
The design also stars in 1988 Topps Baseball Relics and their Black (/199), Gold (/50 or less), Red (/25 or less) and Platinum (1/1, hobby and hobby jumbo only) parallels.
Finally, there are Oversized 1988 Topps League Leader Boxloaders that spotlight the best that 2022 had to offer at the plate and on the mound. Select cards also have autographed versions with on-card ink.
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Additional 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball Inserts
The 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball checklist has a handful of other insert sets.
2022’s Greatest Hits steps up to the plate with some of the biggest offensive moments of the previous season. These are done on foilboard stock.
All Aces are inspired by playing cards — including rounded corners. No shocker here, but it’s all about top pitchers from both today and the past. Done on foil, these might remind some long-time collectors of the 1993 Select Aces inserts.
The pitching theme continues with One-Two Punch. Each of these has a standout pitching combo from the past or present.
Welcome to the Club has members of the 20/20/20, 30/30 and 40/40 Clubs.
All four of these insert sets have a similar selection of parallels: Blue, Black (/299), Gold (/75), Red (/10) and Platinum (1/1). Select cards also have autographs that max out at 25 copies. For One-Two Punch Autographs, it means a pair of signatures.
2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball has a couple of tougher insert sets as well.
Heavy Lumber puts the spotlight on 20 of the baseball’s best hitters. These are also done on woodgrain stock.
AKA is another short print insert, this time revolving around players’ nicknames.
Sketch cards return, but only in hobby and hobby jumbo packs. Each of these has original hand-drawn artwork.
The Home Run Challenge returns in 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball. Each hobby and hobby jumbo box has one code card that collectors can use to predict when the featured player will hit a home run. If they get the date correct, they receive an exclusive card.
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Stars of MLB Retail Inserts
The Stars of MLB theme returns for another year as a retail-exclusive insert set in 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball. Standard cards are one per pack with Red (/70), Black (/25) and Platinum (1/1) versions also available.
Stars of MLB Chrome inserts are 1:10 retail packs. These have Red Refractor (/70), Black Refractor (/25) and Superfractor (1/1) parallels.
2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball Autographs and Memorabilia Cards
Besides signed versions of standard insert sets, the 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball checklist has a few other places to find autographs.
Baseball Stars Autographs are open-ended enough in their theme to draw from a broad mix of players. These have Black (/199 or less), Gold (/50), Red (/25) and Platinum (1/1) parallels. Collectors can also find Baseball Stars Dual Autographs.
Topps Reverence Autograph Patch cards are back. Once again, these have on-card signatures and premium swatches from game-used uniforms. Exclusive to hobby and hobby jumbo packs, base versions are numbered to 10 with additional Platinum (/5) and Gold (1/1) versions also available. It’s worth noting that parallels for these were originally announced as being Red (/5) and Platinum (1/1), however the numbering of Platinum on the final cards is five copies, Gold are the actual one-of-ones and Red are not in the product.
A small number of Cut Signatures, all one-of-ones, come with extremely long odds.
World Series Champion and Postseason Performance cards are back for another year with autographs, memorabilia cards and autographed memorabilia cards of players who starred in the 2022 playoffs. Relics for both top out at 99 copies each while autographs and auto relics have no more than 50. All three levels have Red (/25 or less) and Platinum (1/1) parallels.
Major League Material relic cards are broad like Baseball Stars are with autographs. Black (/199), Gold (/50 or less), Red (/25 or less) and Platinum (1/1) versions join the unnumbered base inserts. There are also autographs that have no more than 50 copies plus Red (/25 or less) and Platinum (1/1) parallels.
In the Name Relics have letter patches from the backside of
Manufactured Relics
As usual for modern Topps Baseball sets, the Series 1 checklist features a couple of manufactured relics that are available in hobby and hobby jumbo packs.
Thirty City Connect Patch cards have cap logos like the ones worn during special games. Parallels include Black (/299), Gold (/75), Red and Platinum (1/1).
There are also 25 Patchwork of the Past Commemorative Patch Cards. These have retro cap logos. Base versions are numbered to 399 with additional Gold (/75), Red and Platinum parallels available.
Both sets have autographs as well for some cards. These all have 10 copies or fewer.
Manufactured relics combine to land one per hobby jumbo box or one per standard hobby case.
Retail value blaster boxes each come with one exclusive Team Logo Patch card. The parallel lineup on these features Blue (600 copies each), Black (/299), Gold (/75), Red and Platinum (1/1). Autographs for select cards have 10 copies or less.
Silver Packs Program
Bonus Silver Packs return in 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball hobby and hobby jumbo boxes. This continuity program will continue in other flagship 2023 Topps Baseball releases as well.
Each pack has exclusive chrome cards not in standard packs.
Hobby boxes have one Silver pack while jumbo boxes have two
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2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball cards at a glance:
Cards per pack: Hobby – 14, Hobby Jumbo – 46, Retail – 16, Blaster – 14, Hanger Boxes – 67, Fat Packs – 36Packs per box: Hobby – 24, Hobby Jumbo – 10, Retail – 24, Blaster – 7, Hanger Boxes – 1, Fat Packs – 108Boxes per case: Hobby – 12, Hobby Jumbo – 6, Retail – 12, Blaster – 40, Hanger Boxes – 64, Fat Packs – 1Set size: 330 cards Release date: February 15, 2023
Shop for 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball boxes on Amazon:
What to expect in a hobby box:
Autographs, Memorabilia Cards or Manufactured Relics – 1 Total
Home Run Challenge – 1
Rainbow Foil Parallels – 2
Silver Packs – 1
What to expect in a hobby jumbo box:
Autographs – 1
Memorabilia Cards – 1
Manufactured Relics – 1
Home Run Challenge – 1
Gold Foil Parallels – 5
Silver Packs – 2