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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A Tacofractor is a new parallel baseball card from Topps, and will debut in boxes and packs of 2023 Chrome. True to its name, the Tacofractor has the refractor finish (and is marked “refractor” on the back) and taco emojis in the background. Each player on the 200-card checklist will have a Tacofractor parallel.
October 2023 Update: The word is out, and Taco Bell will be rewarding those who hold the Tacofractor of the player who steals the first base in the World Series with free Taco Bell for life. Details here.
September 2023 Update: To add more mystery, a Tacofractor Wild Card has been pulled and sold, for an astounding $11,200+. Just an incredible figure for a card in which nobody really knows what it is, what it means, and what its utility value might equate to.
August 2023 Update: Topps released a cryptic message saying “Please hold onto your Tacofractor card. Follow @Topps on social media to learn when we will have an exciting announcement. Follow Topps on: Instagram | Twitter.” Of course, this is sending people into a frenzy, as the cards are already selling for somewhat wild amounts. There is still no word on what owning a Tacofractor might net you.
That’s right, just when you thought the baseball card world had run out of toppings, in comes the “Tacofractor!” And yes, a card as ridiculous as this deserves a pun-filled post, so I’m going all out for all you card-collecting foodies out there.
? BREAKING NEWS ?
— The Collectibles Guru ? (@ericwhiteback) July 20, 2023
Topps just gave a first look at their “Tacofractor” parallel which will be in the upcoming Topps Chrome MLB release.
Thoughts?? ?? or ??? pic.twitter.com/EKn18DzdxX
Let’s bite into this savory new dish of what is now a historic event in baseball card culture.
Below is what I have so far in terms of tracking to see how many of each player is being pulled (at least from what I can tell from eBay comps). More to come, so stay tuned!
| Player | Team | Serial | Type | Sold Price | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Contreras | Milwaukee Brewers | 4/5 | Auction | $325 | 7/27/2023 |
| Masataka Yoshida | Boston Red Sox | 5/5 | Best Offer | $900 | 7/28/2023 |
| Giancarlo Stanton | New York Yankees | 5/5 | Best Offer | $430 | 7/28/2023 |
| Bryan Reynolds | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1/5 | Best Offer | $325 | 7/27/2023 |
| Masataka Yoshida | Boston Red Sox | 2/5 | Best Offer | $850 | 7/26/2023 |
| Keibert Ruiz | Washington Nationals | 4/5 | Auction | $305 | 7/29/2023 |
| Jose Siri | Tampa Bay Rays | 2/5 | Best Offer | $450 | 7/30/2023 |
| Willson Contreras | St. Louis Cardinals | 2/5 | Buy It Now | $349.99 | 7/30/2023 |
| Eugenio Suarez | Seattle Mariners | 5/5 | Best Offer | $320 | 8/1/2023 |
| David Fletcher | Los Angeles Angels | 3/5 | Auction | $285 | 8/2/2023 |
| Ketel Marte | Arizona Diamondbacks | 3/5 | Auction | $305 | 8/2/2023 |
| Christian Pache | Philadelphia Phillies | 4/5 | Best Offer | $TBD | 8/2/2023 |
| Oscar Gonzalez | Cleveland Guardians | 4/5 | Best Offer | $TBD | 8/2/2023 |
| Josh Donaldson | New York Yankees | 1/5 | Best Offer | $TBD | 8/3/2023 |
| Vidal Brujan | Tampa Bay Rays | 5/5 | Auction | $242.5o | 8/3/2023 |
| Oscar Colas | Chicago White Sox | 1/5 | Auction | $376.56 | 8/3/2023 |
| Lourdes Gurriel Jr. | Arizona Diamondbacks | 3/5 | Auction | $349.68 | 8/3/2023 |
| Zack Short | Detroit Tigers | 5/5 | Buy It Now | $275 | 8/3/2023 |
| Nathaniel Lowe | Texas Rangers | 2/5 | Auction | $349.54 | 8/3/2023 |
| Alex Bregman | Houston Astros | 3/5 | Auction | $399.99 | 8/3/2023 |
| Jake McCarthey | Arizona Diamondbacks | 1/5 | Best Offer | $TBD | 8/4/2023 |
The Crunch Heard ‘Round the World
This isn’t just another 2023 Topps Chrome set; it’s a full-blown fiesta. The “Frozenfractors” are as cool as a cucumber margarita, but most people in the hobby love a good spicy debate, so on we go.
With a total of 27 parallels, 2023 Topps Chrome is like a taco stand with endless fillings. When you combine all of the biggest names from Series 1 and Series 2, the rookie lineup is absolutly mouth-watering. To add more salsa to your chips, Chrome Expose cards are new and limited to 10. The tomatillo on top, of course, is the classic list of autographed cards from baseball legends past and present.
(Though, you might have to take multiple trips through the buffet line, as hobby boxes only have one auto this year, and jumbo hobby boxes have three as opposed to five. We will have more to add upon 2023 Topps Chrome’s release, so be sure to check back.)
Chewing Over the Tacofractor Debate
Let’s taco ’bout the card’s reception. Forums like Reddit and platforms like Twitter are sizzling with discussions, debates, and perhaps a sprinkle of jalapeño level hot takes.
Threads such as “Thoughts on the Tacofractor” on r/baseballcards serve as a testament to the new card’s zest within the collector community.
Some say this is the first step before “sponsored by Taco Bell” starts making its way into packs, others signal this is a true “jump the shark” moment.
@ballcardgenius My initial thought is that this is more “cheesy” gordita than it is “fire” diablo sauce, but I could be persuaded #tacofractor
♬ original sound – ballcardgenius
One thing that is mentioned and something I immediately thought of when seeing the design reveal is that Panini has been doing this for a while now, only with “baby shark” and “fire” emojis, and more. The difference though is that Donruss isn’t priced like Topps Chrome, and while I’m all for fun in baseball cards, Topps Chrome should be on the “don’t mess with” list.
Many have pointed out the the taco emoji used on the card is an “exact” copy of the taco bell image used on their online menu. I haven’t confirmed this myself, but interesting to think about.
Tacofractor’s Sizzling Trademark Journey
No, it’s not just another flash in the frying pan! The Topps Company, Inc. has decided that this flavor is here to stay, going so far as to put a trademark stamp on “TACOFRACTOR”. It’s not just a nod of approval; it’s a testament to the Tacofractor’s potential legacy.
The horror! THE HORROR!
— Paul Lesko (@Paul_Lesko) July 23, 2023
I mean, Topps filed a trademark application on Tacofractor because someone there apparently thought competitors would line up to steal this so it needed protection. pic.twitter.com/dJivDiTDqQ
This stamp of authenticity goes beyond any secret sauce and ensures the Tacofractor’s place in the hall of fame of baseball card terminology.
(Crunch) Wrapping it Up
To take the last bine, the Tacofractor, while a newbie, has made a crunch loud enough to echo through the halls of card-collecting history. It has spiced up discussions, seasoned debates, and brought a delightful twist to the traditional.
Its presence is as inviting as a freshly grilled chicken and lime on a summer evening. Regardless of where you stand on the Tacofractor, one thing’s for sure—it’s added the kind of flavor to baseball card collecting that’s hard to forget. The taste it leaves in your mouth? Not yet sure if it’s a good or bad one, but plenty of heartburn ensues.
