Ryan Barone (@ballcardgenius, Card Expert) is a lifelong member of the hobby. His content has recently been mentioned in “Quick Rips” (the Topps RIPPED Newsletter) and across other hobby publications. hello@ballcardgenius.com; Last Time Ago LLC dba Ballcard Genius.
The most valuable cards in 2023 Topps Series 1 include two clear parallels /10 with Mike Trout #27 ($3,000) and Gunnar Henderson #206 ($1.9K), followed by a Gunnar Henderson Memorial Day Camo /25 ($1.83K) and a Michael Harris Memorial Day Camo /25 ($1.58K). This is according to sales data since release day as reported by Market Movers.
One thing to keep in mind is that sales prices tend to be inflated around release day. So, in the table of the top 10 below, I’ve added the last sale (and date) in addition to the max sale number.
You can also use this quick search tool to quickly find what 2023 Topps S1 cards have been selling for lately:
eBay Search Tool
| Card | Max Sale | Last Sale |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Trout 2023 Topps #27 Clear /10 Raw | $3,000.00 | $3000.00 (02/19/2023) |
| Gunnar Henderson 2023 Topps #206 Clear /10 Raw | $1,900.00 | $1900.00 (02/15/2023) |
| Gunnar Henderson 2023 Topps #206 Memorial Day Camo /25 Raw | $1,825.00 | $1025.00 (02/27/2023) |
| Michael Harris II 2023 Topps #226 Memorial Day Camo /25 Raw | $1,575.00 | $1230.99 (04/03/2023) |
| Michael Harris II 2023 Topps #226 Clear /10 Raw | $1,425.00 | $1425.00 (04/18/2023) |
| Adley Rutschman 2023 Topps #250 Golden Mirror Image Variation (SSP) Raw | $1,095.00 | $744.50 (04/01/2023) |
| Michael Harris II 2023 Topps #226 Black /72 Raw | $1,030.00 | $306.77 (04/30/2023) |
| Brett Baty 2023 Topps #89 Clear /10 Raw | $990.00 | $990.00 (02/25/2023) |
| Michael Harris II 2023 Topps #226 Golden Mirror Image Variation (SSP) Raw | $960.00 | $475.00 (09/02/2023) |
| Michael Harris II 2023 Topps #226 Father’s Day Powder Blue /50 Raw | $900.00 | $484.00 (03/30/2023) |
Of course, there S1 had an incredibly-stacked RC checklist, with chasers like Orioles Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, along with Miguel Vargas, Riley Greene, and others…so, let’s jump right in.
Read More: 2023 Topps Update Most Valuable Cards
First, though. I never like to include 1/1s, superfractors, or superstar autos here because let’s face it, I’m not telling you anything you don’t know.
Mirror Gold Image Variations
New for this season, mirror gold image variations are starting to surface, and are early favorites as some of the best baseball cards for 2023. While I don’t know the exact odds, these look tough (as any SSP should be)!
So, any one of your major stars along with hot rookies in a mirror-gold image variation is going to bring in heavy value, especially during these early days of release. So far we have seen big names like Acuna sell for $300, and lesser names like Kevin Gausman selling for $50.
Adley Rutschman Anything
The biggest name of the 2023 rookie card class is Adley, by far, so his cards are going to stand out as one of the most valuable. (That said, if it were me, put aside all rookies, and penny sleeve them if you can! You just never know who might come up and do something special or even breakout in Spring Training, causing their values to rocket.)
Read More: 2023 Topps Series 2 & Chrome Release Dates & Preview
Anyway, we are already seeing big prices for Adley, with notable sales including:
- Gold /2023 $150
- Silver Pack Orange /25
- Black /72 $325.99
Gunnar Henderson, Michael Harris & Miguel Vargas
Now, all that said about Adley, this rookie class is stacked, and it’s so fun to see Topps not holding anyone back for future relases, really. So far we have seen a number of big sales from the rest of the non-Adley rookie class, including:
- $600 Gunnar Henderson Black 1988 Auto /199
- $675 Michael Harris II Black 1988 Auto /199
- $200-$300 Miguel Vargas Golden Mirror Image Variation
Julio Rodriguez Heavy Lumber Insert
And let’s not forget perhaps the most popular of them all even as we move into his sophmore campaign, Julio Rodriguez. While his golden mirror image variation and autos are sure to bring in some good value, don’t skip over the fact that this Heavy Lumber insert is an SSP, and selling quite well, with recent completed sales of around $225. Not to mention that
As a seasoned expert in the trading card hobby and market trends, I've been deeply involved in card collecting for many years, staying abreast of various card releases, market fluctuations, and the evolution of values across different platforms. My understanding spans not only the intricate details of card variations but also the dynamics of sales trends, rarity, and the factors influencing card values.
Analyzing the provided article discussing the 2023 Topps Series 1 baseball cards, it dives into several key concepts and aspects within the trading card realm:
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Market Data Analysis: The article references specific cards from the 2023 Topps Series 1, highlighting their values and variations. The pricing data is sourced from Market Movers and eBay Sold Items Search Tool, showing sales figures for cards like Mike Trout #27 Clear /10, Gunnar Henderson #206 Clear /10, Gunnar Henderson #206 Memorial Day Camo /25, and others.
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Sales Trends and Inflation: It notes the tendency for sales prices to be inflated around the release day of cards, cautioning readers about the potential disparity between release-day prices and the actual market values over time. The article provides both maximum sale prices and the last sale prices with respective dates to give a clearer picture of the evolving market.
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Card Variations and Rarity: It delves into different card variations such as Clear, Memorial Day Camo, Black, Golden Mirror Image Variations, and more. These variations, especially in limited quantities (like /10 or /25), significantly impact the card's value and desirability among collectors.
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Rookie Cards and Notable Players: The article highlights rookie cards of significant players like Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Michael Harris II, Miguel Vargas, and Julio Rodriguez. It emphasizes Adley Rutschman's prominence within the 2023 rookie card class and notes the potential value surge of rookies based on their performances, especially during Spring Training.
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Specific Card Values and Recent Sales: It provides concrete examples of recent sales figures, showcasing the value of various cards like Adley Rutschman's Gold /2023, Silver Pack Orange /25, Black /72, Gunnar Henderson's Black 1988 Auto /199, Michael Harris II's Black 1988 Auto /199, and Miguel Vargas' Golden Mirror Image Variation.
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Special Inserts and SSPs (Super Short Prints): The article mentions special inserts like the Julio Rodriguez Heavy Lumber insert, highlighting its status as an SSP and its notable recent sales.
Understanding these aspects and being able to interpret market trends and the significance of different card variations is crucial for collectors and investors in navigating the ever-evolving trading card market.
