2023 Topps Alex Cobb #108
Alexander Miller Cobb (born October 7, 1987), nicknamed Swan,[1] is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the fourth round of the 2006 MLB draft, and made his MLB debut for them in 2011. He previously played for the Rays from 2011 through 2017, the Baltimore Orioles from 2018 to 2020, and the Los Angeles Angels in 2021.
Alex Cobb
Alexcobb19.jpg
Cobb with the Baltimore Orioles in 2019
San Francisco Giants – No. 38
Pitcher
Born: October 7, 1987 (age 35)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 1, 2011, for the Tampa Bay Rays
MLB statistics 
(through May 16, 2023)
Win–loss record
73–69
Earned run average
3.77
Strikeouts
1,011
Teams
Tampa Bay Rays (2011–2017)
Baltimore Orioles (2018–2020)
Los Angeles Angels (2021)
San Francisco Giants (2022–present)
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.
2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball Mike Trout
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.
2023 Topps Baseball 1 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.
2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball Gold Mookie Betts
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.
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.
2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball 1988 Topps Baseball Autographs Julio Rodriguez
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.
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.
2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball Heavy Lumber Bryce Harper
AKA is another short print insert, this time revolving around players’ nicknames.
2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball AKA Pete Alonso
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.
2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball Home Run Challenge Aaron Judge
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.
2023 Topps Seri