The Best 2023 Topps Baseball Cards

Ryan Barone (@ballcardgenius, Card Expert) is a lifelong member of the hobby. He has been quoted in PSA Magazine, and his content has regularly been mentioned in “Quick Rips” (the Topps RIPPED Newsletter) and across other hobby publications. hello@ballcardgenius.com; Last Time Ago LLC dba Ballcard Genius.

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2023 was one of the biggest in Topps baseball cards of recent memory. There were new releases, there were surprises; there were bounties, there were mistakes. Altogether, there were a lot of things to talk about.

But not to get lost in the shuffle, there were some really great cards—not only from flagship but from other Topps sets, and, as mentioned, new cards we had never seen before bursting onto the scene, for better or worse.

Without further ado, let’s take a look back at the best Topps cards from 2023.

1. Topps Chrome Superfractor (Autos)

For most baseball card collectors, it doesn’t get much better than the superfractor (well, besides the Superfractor Auto). So, it’s no surprise that the list of the most valuable 2023 baseball cards is loaded with 2023 Topps Chrome Superfractor Autos.

And if you’re new to collecting and think this is just another “fractor” in the long list of the many different refractors that now includes the logofractor, retrofractor, and, ahem, Tacofractor, this one is different, and is truly one of a kind.

Just look at this list of the top selling Superfractors over the last 365 days, as provided by Market Movers:

1. Anthony Volpe 2023 Topps Chrome #RA-AV Rookie Autographs – Superfractor /1 Raw, $17250
2. Corbin Carroll 2023 Topps Chrome #95 Superfractor /1 SGC 9, $9144.44
3. Corbin Carroll 2023 Topps Chrome Update #USC220 Rookie Debut – Superfractor /1 PSA 10, $6710
4. Michael Harris II 2023 Topps Chrome #79 Superfractor /1 Raw, $5200
5. Corbin Carroll 2023 Topps Chrome #95 SP Variation – Superfractor /1 (Glove on Head) BGS 9.5, $5185
6. Kodai Senga 2023 Topps Chrome #RA-KSA Rookie Autographs – Superfractor /1 Raw, $4995
7. Triston Casas 2023 Topps Chrome #RA-TC Rookie Autographs – Superfractor /1 SGC 9, $3395.26
8. Adley Rutschman 2023 Topps Chrome #1 Superfractor /1 Raw, $3100
9. Ezequiel Tovar 2023 Topps Chrome #88BC-9 1988 Topps Baseball – Superfractor /1 Raw, $2500
10. Gunnar Henderson 2023 Topps Silver Pack #2T88C-28 1988 Chrome Promo – Superfractor (Series 2) /1 Raw, $2325
11. Gabriel Moreno 2023 Topps Chrome #RA-GMO Rookie Autographs – Superfractor /1 Raw, $2250

Not to mention that this is a new breed of ballplayer…they can hit and they have speed, all while maintaining flash and power that translates to collectibility. So again, while the Superfractor isn’t anything new, it’s a Topps Chrome mainstay.

2. Topps Chrome Tacofractor

Love it or hate it, the Tacofractor was a three-cheese blend of mystery, allure, and promise of future value. Now, just what that “value” was going to end up being was anyone’s best guess (we just knew that Taco Bell had to have something to do with it).

Before the announcement and unveiling, the low-numbered fiesta-themed cards were selling at astronomical prices.

• Adley Rutschman 2023 Topps Chrome #TF-19 TacoFractor /5 Raw, $3975
• Corbin Carroll 2023 Topps Chrome #TF-7 TacoFractor /5 PSA 9, $2831.5
• Corbin Carroll 2023 Topps Chrome #TF-7 TacoFractor /5 Raw, $1375
• Triston Casas 2023 Topps Chrome #TF-217 TacoFractor /5 Raw, $1100
• Gunnar Henderson 2023 Topps Chrome #TF-213 TacoFractor /5 Raw, $1024.99
• Vaughn Grissom 2023 Topps Chrome #TF-15 TacoFractor /5 Raw, $1000
• Michael Harris II 2023 Topps Chrome #TF-13 TacoFractor /5 Raw, $887.5
• Matt McLain 2023 Topps Chrome #TF-262 TacoFractor /5 Raw, $850
• Masataka Yoshida 2023 Topps Chrome #TF-25 TacoFractor /5 Raw, $850
• Josh Jung 2023 Topps Chrome #TF-294 TacoFractor /5 Raw, $652.38

Well, I don’t know that these were all sold before the early October announcement that the prize for holding a Tacofractor card of the first player to steal a base in the 2023 World Series was a $15K Taco Bell gift card, but most of those selling into the thousands were.

As you might imagine, between the hype and the unknown, Tacofractor sales prices looked a lot different before the announcement compared to after. Here are a few notables:

Here we have three different scenarios: One, with Adley, a card of his sold for over $7K before the announcement, and only fetched $750 after. Carroll on the other hand was in the World Series and with his speed, had a very real chance at netting the holder the massive prize. But, once the Series came to an end, you can see how quickly the card came back down to earth (still selling for $663!). Last, the main event. Ketel Marte was the in fact the first person to steal a base in the World Series. As such, you caMLB n see a few sales before the announcement for about $300, and then a $10K sale in November!

3. Topps “Chome” Update MLB Debut Patch

While the Tacofractor was a bit of a surprise when it first came about, the MLB Debut Patch was announced early in the season, yet didn’t make its way into packs until after most of the season. But there is good reason for that!

The whole idea behind the MLB Debut Patch was to take the patch off the uniform of rookies making their very first game appearance and insert it into packs for lucky collectors. So, obviously, those players need to actually play in a game for that to happen, which leads to a lengthy process.

Either way, when the patches were pulled, the hype revealed itself to be everything it was cracked up to be.

• Andruw Monasterio 2023 Topps Chrome Update #RDP-AM MLB Debut Patch Autograph /1 Raw, $6200
• Drew Maggi 2023 Topps Chrome Update #RDP-DM MLB Debut Patch Autograph /1 PSA 9, $5203
• Jhony Brito 2023 Topps Chrome Update #RDP-JB MLB Debut Patch Autograph /1 Raw, $4600
• George Soriano 2023 Topps Chrome Update #RDP-GSO MLB Debut Patch Autograph /1 Raw, $4500
• Jake Irvin 2023 Topps Chrome Update #RDP-JI MLB Debut Patch Autograph /1 Raw, $3999.99
• McKinley Moore 2023 Topps Chrome Update #RDP-MMO MLB Debut Patch Autograph /1 Raw, $3719.69
• Hobie Harris 2023 Topps Chrome Update #RDP-HHA MLB Debut Patch Autograph /1 Raw, $3125
• Sammy Peralta 2023 Topps Chrome Update #RDP-SP MLB Debut Patch Autograph /1 BGS 9.5, $2500
• Brett Wisely 2023 Topps Chrome Update #RDP-BWI MLB Debut Patch Autograph /1 Raw, $2025
• Blair Calvo 2023 Topps Chrome Update #RDP-BC MLB Debut Patch Autograph /1 Raw, $2000
• Cesar Salazar 2023 Topps Chrome Update #RDP-CSA MLB Debut Patch Autograph /1 Raw, $2000
• Braden Bristo 2023 Topps Chrome Update #RDP-BB MLB Debut Patch Autograph /1 Raw, $1999

And while these look like huge prices (they are), many of the biggest names haven’t even been pulled yet.

4. Topps Cosmic Chrome Planetary Pursuit

One 2023 Topps card type that was a bit overshadowed by all of these other entries is not only Topps Cosmic Chrome, but the Planetary Pursuit set within. After bursting onto the scene in 2022 and being heralded as one of the best sets of the year, Cosmic Chrome didn’t disappoint in 2023. Planetary Pursuit was a unique run of 10 cards, where the further you get from the Sun, the tougher the card is to pull:

• Sun: 1:120 packs, 800 copies
• Mercury: 1:480 packs, 200 copies
• Venus: 1:721 packs, 135 copies
• Earth: 1:1200 packs, 80 copies
• Mars: 1:1680 packs, 60 copies
• Jupiter: 1:4813 packs, 20 copies
• Saturn: 1:9625 packs, ten copies
• Uranus: 1:20,087 packs, five copies
• Neptune: 1:34,221 packs, three copies
• Pluto: 1:43,999 packs, two copies

And if you’re wondering how the rarity translates to value:

• Adley Rutschman 2023 Topps Cosmic Chrome #PPP-1 Planetary Pursuit – Pluto Raw, $2975
• Adley Rutschman 2023 Topps Cosmic Chrome #PPN-1 Planetary Pursuit – Neptune Raw, $1041
• Adley Rutschman 2023 Topps Cosmic Chrome #PPSA-1 Planetary Pursuit – Saturn Raw, $400.71
• Adley Rutschman 2023 Topps Cosmic Chrome #PPU-1 Planetary Pursuit – Uranus Raw, $369.78
• Adley Rutschman 2023 Topps Cosmic Chrome #PPJ-1 Planetary Pursuit – Jupiter Raw, $316.39
• Adley Rutschman 2023 Topps Cosmic Chrome #PPMA-1 Planetary Pursuit – Mars Raw, $191.72
• Adley Rutschman 2023 Topps Cosmic Chrome #PPE-1 Planetary Pursuit – Earth Raw, $171.01

Stunning cards, really. And if you think they might all be out of your price range, you can grab a sun version at a reasonable price for most players.

5. Topps Chrome Radiating Rookies

Are you picking up on the theme yet? When it comes to Topps cards, Chrome rules. It’s not to say other sets aren’t great, but it’s obvious Topps chooses to plant the biggest and best cards in their Topps releases (well at least again in 2023).

It’s also clear that ultra-modern baseball cards still aren’t afraid to be over-the-top in your face. While shiny baseball cards have long been a part of the hobby, they continue to carve out a valuable place in the market, and the Radiating Rookie variation line is no exception.

1. Adley Rutschman 2023 Topps Chrome #RRA-AR Radiating Rookies Autographs /23 Raw, $4025
2. Gunnar Henderson 2023 Topps Chrome #RRA-GH Radiating Rookies Autographs /23 PSA 10, $2691.33
3. Adley Rutschman 2023 Topps Chrome #RRA-AR Radiating Rookies Autographs /23 PSA 10, $2484
4. Corbin Carroll 2023 Topps Chrome #RRA-CC Radiating Rookies Autographs /23 PSA 10, $2452
5. Gunnar Henderson 2023 Topps Chrome #RRA-GH Radiating Rookies Autographs /23 Raw, $2433.33
6. Corbin Carroll 2023 Topps Chrome #RRA-CC Radiating Rookies Autographs /23 PSA 9, $1809.95
7. Corbin Carroll 2023 Topps Chrome #RRA-CC Radiating Rookies Autographs /23 Raw, $1798.16
8. Corbin Carroll 2023 Topps Chrome #RRA-CC Radiating Rookies Autographs /23 SGC 10, $1735
9. Anthony Volpe 2023 Topps Chrome #RRA-AV Radiating Rookies Autographs /23 Raw, $1729.13
10. Oswald Peraza 2023 Topps Chrome #RRA-OP Radiating Rookies Autographs – Superfractor /1 PSA 9, $1000
11. Riley Greene 2023 Topps Chrome #RRA-RG Radiating Rookies Autographs /23 Raw, $705.25
12. Michael Harris II 2023 Topps Chrome #RRA-MH Radiating Rookies Autographs /23 PSA 9, $666.92
13. Gunnar Henderson 2023 Topps Chrome #RR-10 Radiating Rookies PSA 10, $544
14. Triston Casas 2023 Topps Chrome #RRA-TC Radiating Rookies Autographs /23 PSA 9, $538
15. Triston Casas 2023 Topps Chrome #RRA-TC Radiating Rookies Autographs /23 Raw, $488.75
16. Corbin Carroll 2023 Topps Chrome #RR-3 Radiating Rookies PSA 10, $416.7
17. Corbin Carroll 2023 Topps Chrome #RR-3 Radiating Rookies BGS 9.5, $399.99
18. Gunnar Henderson 2023 Topps Chrome #RR-10 Radiating Rookies BGS 9.5, $393
19. Christopher Morel 2023 Topps Chrome #RRA-CM Radiating Rookies Autographs /23 Raw, $391.05
20. Anthony Volpe 2023 Topps Chrome #RR-18 Radiating Rookies PSA 10, $379.75

Now, if I had to gripe about something with these and most of the others on the list, is that I’m not the biggest fans of cards that completely remove the playing background. Meaning, I like to see the field and the action; the entire baseball scene if you will. Again, a gripe if I had to…these are all really amazing cards as is.