2023 TOPPS BASEBALL SERIES 1 HOBBY BOX
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.
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 that are done on old-school stock similar to the base set’s Vintage Stock parallels (/88), Gold (/75), Red (/10) and Platinum (1/1).
