25 Most Valuable 2023 Topps Baseball Cards

Clocking in at 660 cards in total, the 2023 Topps baseball card set features fantastic full-color imagery with a classy dual-image design.

For those who collected during the 80s, you might be reminded of the 1983 Topps flagship design that debuted 50 years before.

Design aside, most collectors look to this set for its solid rookie class...

Guys like Gunnar Henderson, Anthony Volpe, Corbin Carroll, Michael Harris II, and Riley Greene are just a handful of the many promising names found within.

We'll see how they hold up over the long run but for now, the future looks bright.

Combined with many of the usual superstars like Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and more, they make for a solid checklist.

And in this guide, we'll take a look at the 25 most valuable.

Let's jump right in!

2023 Topps #206 Gunnar Henderson Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $45

The 2022 MLB rookie class was one of the best of the modern era, so it was hard for a single player to stand out in a loaded first-year class.

That's what makes Gunnar Henderson's unanimous AL Rookie of the Year campaign so impressive.

Splitting time between shortstop and third base, the Baltimore Orioles prospect put up a rookie year worthy of comparisons to the ultimate O's legend: Cal Ripken Jr.

Henderson did it all in '23, slashing .255/.325/.489 with 28 home runs, 29 doubles, nine triples, 100 runs scored, 56 walks, ten stolen bases, and 82 RBIs in 150 games.

Other than Arizona's Corbin Carroll, no debut player looked more like a ten-year veteran than Henderson.

"I just tried to go out there and play as hard as I can," Henderson said. "And I felt like that showed."

With Henderson as the jewel of a rejuvenated and youthful lineup, the Orioles punched their way through the glass ceiling.

Baltimore sprinted through the '23 campaign, finishing at 101-61 to secure the club's first AL East title since 2014.

October was a bust, with the O's suffering a three-and-out ALDS sweep at the hands of the eventual World Series champion Rangers.

Henderson was far from the problem, posting a 6-for-12 with a home run, three runs scored, a walk, and two RBIs.

2023 Topps #600 Shohei Ohtani

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $30

Shohei Ohtani never had a chance to shine in October with the Los Angeles Angels.

But he did get a taste of high-stakes, winner-take-all baseball before the start of the 2023 MLB season.

Ohtani captained Japan to its third World Baseball Classic title, winning MVP honors with a .435/.606/.739 slash line while pitching to a 1.86 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 9.1 innings.

Before the team's 3-2 win over Mike Trout and the heavily favored USA squad, the 28-year-old sensation rallied his side with a short yet impassioned speech.

"We came here to surpass them, to reach the top," Ohtani said. "Let's throw away our admiration for them and just think about winning."

Japan did just that, and Ohtani piggybacked on his WBC success to yet another Most Valuable Player award.

Named the unanimous AL MVP for the second time in three years, Ohtani led the Majors in slugging percentage (.654), OPS (1.066, and OPS+ (185) while pacing the Junior Circuit in home runs (44), OBP (.412), and total bases (325).

He was just as impactful on the mound in his Anaheim farewell before an injured elbow ligament forced him into a hitting-only role.

The three-time All-Star went 10-5 in 23 starts with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 132.0 innings. 

2023 Topps #7 Bobby Witt Jr.

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $30

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. may just be entering his mid-20s, but he has the approach and mindset of a 15-year veteran.

"I think consistency is the biggest thing," Witt said. "Just really trying to be consistent every day with my preparation and work. Control what I can control and just go out there and have fun.'"

Witt's steady hand at the plate and in the field provided needed highlights during a lost 2023 season in KC.

The former #1 prospect improved on nearly every facet of his rookie breakout, finishing seventh in the AL MVP race with a .276/.319/.495 slash line, 30 home runs, 49 stolen bases, 97 runs scored, 96 RBIs, 28 doubles, and an MLB-best 11 triples in 158 games.

The Texas native's defense remained a sticking point, and the 56-106 Royals' repeated failures weighed heavily on everyone.

However, there was no denying how big Witt's year was and how much hope he brought to a franchise in flux.

2023 Topps #17 Shohei Ohtani

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $25

Baseball's unicorn continued his magic in 2023.

Shutting out the noise of a contract year, Los Angeles Angels megastar Shohei Ohtani was the easiest pick for AL MVP in quite some time.

That's what happens when you're two top-level All-Stars in one.

At the plate, Ohtani was the game's most dangerous hitter by far.

He led all players in total WAR (9.0), home runs (44), on-base percentage (.412), slugging percentage (.654), and OPS (1.066).

On the mound, the 28-year-old righty was Los Angeles' lone saving grace.

Ohtani ended the year at 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts.

No other Angels starter posted an ERA under four.

LA's pitching was an absolute wreck, the key reason (other than injuries) why the Angels undershot preseason expectations with an alarming 73-89 finish.

Ohtani was the outlier. He always has been, after all.

The Angels ace surrendered just 85 hits and struck out 167 in 132.0 innings pitched.

A throwing elbow injury ended Ohtani's Cy Young bid and may keep him off the mound until 2025.

For the Los Angeles Dodgers, he was well worth the risk.

The two-time MVP signed an eye-popping $700 million deal over ten years and will suit up in Dodger blue in 2024.

2023 Topps #22 Clayton Kershaw

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $25

As injuries pile up and his fastball velocity decreases, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw has found a way to stay among the elite in the game, even if his 2023 season ended with a resounding thud.

Kershaw flipped the script on his pitch arsenal in '23, dialing down his fastballs in favor of a wicked slider.

The recipe was worth a chef's kiss in April, as the 35-year-old righty pitched to a 1.89 ERA in six starts with 41 strikeouts against just five walks.

Kershaw kept dealing at an S-tier level through his July 27th start against Colorado.

The veteran lefty tossed six scoreless innings at Coors but was taken out after just 79 pitches due to shoulder inflammation.

What looked to be a short IL stint lasted nearly two months.

The Dodgers worked to mitigate his load from there, extending him past five innings only once.

The future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer finished the regular season at 13-5 with a spotless 2.46 ERA with 137 strikeouts in 131.2 innings.

The good vibes didn't last long, though. Kershaw was obliterated in a Game 1 NLDS start against Arizona, surrendering six hits and six earned runs in a third of an inning.

2023 Topps #62 Aaron Judge

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $25

The New York Yankees made the playoffs in each of Aaron Judge's first six full seasons in the Bronx.

Unlucky number seven came in 2023.

"I'll tell you guys every year," Judge said. "If I'm not talking to you guys after a championship, it's a failure."

Not only did the Yankees not capture their first World Series title of the Judge era, they didn't even make the playoffs.

New York finished 82-80 on the year, setting loose a firestorm of media criticism and calls for the heads of manager Aaron Boone and GM Brian Cashman.

Where did it all go wrong?

Losing Judge for nearly two months sure didn't help.

The 31-year-old outfielder hit .267 with a beefy 1.019 OPS in his MVP follow-up to go along with 37 home runs and 75 RBIs in just 367 at-bats.

Judge missed 56 games, though, with an injured right big toe.

The Yankees offense was a listless wreck without him.

His IL stint and subsequent public call-out of the organization have led to a busy offseason, including the blockbuster trade acquisition of three-time All-Star and former batting champion Juan Soto.

2023 Topps #1 Juan Soto

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20

Juan Soto lifted himself into rarefied air with another outstanding year in 2023.

The 24-year-old left fielder put an underwhelming 2022 San Diego debut behind him, leading all of Major League Baseball in games played (162) and walks (132).

Despite a brutal August, Soto was an MVP-caliber performer for the third-place Padres, finishing sixth in the award race with a .275/.410/.519 slash line, 35 home runs, 32 doubles, a triple, 97 runs scored, and 109 RBIs.

The three-time All-Star was named a Silver Slugger for the fourth time, tying Mike Trout for the most earned before the age of 25.

"I feel more like 2020 or 2021,' Soto said. "I'm seeing the ball, hitting the ball in all the old kind of ways."

With the New York Yankees, Soto had plenty of opportunities to showcase his incredible skillset on one of baseball's biggest stages.

He should get the same kinds of chances now that he signed with the New York Mets.

2023 Topps #3 Bryce Harper

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20

Bryce Harper started his career with an NL East rival, but don't get it twisted: he's a Philadelphia guy, through and through.

"I have never seen an athlete in any sport who resonates more with the Philadelphia fan base more than Bryce," Phillies owner John Middleton said. "I'm talking about any athlete in Philadelphia history.

Harper's 2022 heroics carried the Phillies to within two wins of a World Series triumph.

In '23, Harper sought retribution for himself and his adoring Philadelphia fans.

He even pushed through a broken thumb, transitioning to a full-time designated hitting role by season's end.

The 30-year-old face of the franchise slashed .293/.401/.499 with 21 home runs, 29 doubles, 11 stolen bases, 84 runs scored, and 72 RBIs to earn down-ballot MVP consideration and a third Silver Slugger award.

Philadelphia grabbed a Wild Card spot for a second consecutive year, giving Harper the chance to make championship amends.

It didn't go as planned.

The Phils rolled through the Marlins and Braves before they were taken down in a jaw-dropping seven-game NLCS upset at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Harper singled himself out for the Game 7 defeat, citing a potential go-ahead three-run homer that went just foul.

2023 Topps #5 Albert Pujols

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20

2023 Topps #24 Miguel Cabrera

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20

2023 Topps #27 Mike Trout

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20

When Mike Trout signed a 12-year, $426.5 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Angels in 2019, this wasn't what everyone wanted or expected.

The generational center fielder won AL MVP in 2019 and followed it up with a top-five award finish in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.

From there, it's been a mess of injuries and what-ifs.

Trout missed all but 36 games in 2021 with a severe right calf strain.

In 2022, he brought home his 9th Silver Slugger and a top-ten MVP placement despite missing over a month with a back issue.

Come 2023, the bad injury luck just kept on keeping on.

The 31-year-old megastar fractured the hamate bone in his left wrist and played just 82 games, ending the campaign on the injured list.

The team's front office is "100%" against dealing him, but would a fourth straight injury-shortened season change that thinking?

"He's had some injuries, some freak things that you don't expect to continue to happen," Angels GM Perry Minasian said. "So I know he's really motivated. He's working really hard this offseason, and I look forward to seeing him in spring training."

Overall, Trout slashed .263/.367/.490 in '23 with 18 homers and 44 RBIs in 362 plate appearances (308 at-bats).

2023 Topps #50 Mookie Betts

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20

If not for a rough September, Mookie Betts may have outrun eventual NL MVP winner Ronald Acuna Jr. for the postseason award.

The 30-year-old right fielder/middle infielder looked every part the favorite after one of the greatest Augusts of the modern era.

Betts slashed a daffy .455/.516/.839 on his way to Player of the Month honors with 11 home runs, 30 RBIs, and a Los Angeles-era record 35 runs scored.

As Betts kept slugging, the Dodgers kept winning.

Los Angeles finished 24-5 on the month to tie the 2002 Athletics for the most wins in August over the past 70 years.

Betts crashed in September, though, and Acuna's 70/40 blitz relegated him to his third runner-up MVP finish.

Still, his numbers were immaculate: a .307/.408/.579 slash with 39 home runs, 40 doubles, a triple, 14 stolen bases, 126 runs scored, and 107 RBIs in 152 games.

With their big-money star at his best, the Dodgers crossed the 100-win mark for the fourth consecutive season.

"This is really the first year (with the Dodgers) where I've played decent," Betts said. "I kept telling me, 'You signed this contract and you're just gonna blend in?'"

2023 Topps #150 Ronald Acuña

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20

Before Ronald Acuña Jr., no 40-home-run hitter had amassed more than 46 steals in the same season.

In 2023, Acuña bypassed starting the 40/50 and 40/60 clubs altogether, clubbing 41 bombs and stealing an NL-best 73 stolen bases.

Two years after his right ACL, the Venezuelan phenom wasn’t just back in business.

He was on a completely different playing field.

“It meant a lot to me to be able to bounce back after I was hurt,” Acuña said. “There was some doubt about my ability to do what I accomplished. It meant a lot to me to come back and have that kind of success.”

A unanimous choice for National League MVP, Acuña is the first player since Joe DiMaggio in 1937 to hit at least .335 (.337) with 40 home runs, 100 RBIs (106), 145 runs scored (an MLB-best 149), 215 hits (an MLB-best 217), 80 extra-base hits (80), and a 1.000 OPS (an NL-best 1.012) with fewer than 90 strikeouts (84).

With Acuña on a tear not seen since before World War II, the 104-win Braves became the first MLB club to post a slugging percentage of .500 or better.

Shockingly, it all blew to pieces in a four-game NLDS loss to Philadelphia

2023 Topps #460 Anthony Volpe Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20

The "next Derek Jeter" label is a hefty load to bear.

So, it's no surprise that Anthony Volpe buckled in his rookie season.

A former first-round pick, Volpe generated a ton of buzz with a brilliant 2021 at high-A and A-ball.

His 2022 wasn't on par, yet the Yankees remained convinced that 2023 was his year to make a big-league splash.

Results were mixed.

New York's new starting shortstop slumped for long periods of the 2023 MLB season, carrying a .186 average into mid-June.

He had good months in June and August, but each was followed by down trends in July and September.

Overall, Volpe hit a less-than-mediocre .209/.283/.383 with 21 home runs, 23 doubles, four triples, 62 runs scored, and 60 RBIs in 159 games.

He did become the first Yankees rookie to join the 20/20 club, yet his offensive performance was another disappointment for a light-hitting Yankees club.

Lucky for Yankees fans, Volpe papered over his plate deficiencies with elite defense at the six.

He posted 15 defensive runs saved above average, boasting a .970 fielding percentage in 560 chances.

It was enough to bag Volpe a Gold Glove, a huge get considering his nightmarish year at the plate.

2023 Topps #4 Yadier Molina

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $15

2023 Topps #31 Riley Greene Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $15

2023 Topps #92 Triston Casas Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $15

Take the first two months out of the equation, and Triston Casas's rookie season would be more than award-worthy.

The former 26th-overall pick scuffled in a one-month 2022 call-up yet seemed primed to do serious damage for the Boston Red Sox in '23.

Fans were understandably hyped for his opening act.

Could the 23-year-old first baseman evolve into the second coming of Big Papi?

The Red Sox faithful were far from convinced in April and May.

Casas had an average under .200 heading into June and looked like a demotion waiting to happen.

But something clicked from there and Casas made the needed adjustments in the early summer and took off soaring.

From June 3rd on, he was seventh out of all qualifying hitters in wRC+ (159) and OPS (.966).

He slashed .317/.417/.617 after the All-Star break, with 15 home runs and 38 RBIs in 54 games.

The 78-win Red Sox played it safe in mid-September, shutting Casas down with right shoulder inflammation.

Even with his early exit and debut slump, the Miami native placed third in the AL ROTY voting, slashing .263/.367/.490 with 24 home runs, 21 doubles, 66 runs scored, and 65 RBIs.

2023 Topps #185 Bryan Bello Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $15

The Boston Red Sox remain focused on the long game with Brayan Bello.

Even with the 2020 minor-league season wiped out, the young starting pitcher has made consistent progress from raw prospect to borderline ace in his journey to the big leagues.

2023 was another step forward as Bello put aside an up-and-down MLB debut the year before to step forward as a top-of-the-rotation staple.

"When you look back a year ago and when you see where I am right now, I think I've improved in a lot of areas," Bello said. "One of the things I want to improve on is to allow fewer runs, but I think that's going to come with time."

The Sox don't have the best track record lately for developing pitchers on the farm.

Bello may be a sign that things are turning around.

Even with a rough September factored in (22 earned runs in 29 innings), the 24-year-old righty had a year worth celebrating, finishing 12-11 with a 4.24 ERA with 132 strikeouts against just 45 walks in 157.0 innings pitched.

Boston's pitching staff often got roughed up during the team's 78-84 campaign, but Bello offered light at the end of the season-long tunnel.

2023 Topps #200 Freddie Freeman

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $15

Although their season may have ended with a shocking sweep in the NLDS, the 2023 Los Angeles Dodgers still had an embarrassment of riches.

Three different Dodgers finished as finalists for BBWAA awards at the end of the '23 campaign: James Outman for the NL Rookie of the Year award and both Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman for the league MVP honor.

All three fell short, but that doesn't take away from just how important their contributions were to the Dodgers' tenth NL West title in eleven years.

In the case of Freddie Freeman, a historic barrage of extra-base hits pushed him into an award position.

The 33-year-old first baseman led the Majors with a team-record 59 doubles and set another Dodgers all-time mark with 90 extra-base hits.

He joined Alfonso Soriano (2002) and Chuck Klein (1932) as the only players in MLB history to record at least 200 hits (211), 25 home runs (29), 20 stolen bases (23), and 50 doubles in a single season.

Freeman ended up a distant third for MVP, but it was more a testament to the talents of Ronald Acuna Jr. and Mookie Betts than anything else.

2023 Topps #222 Jose Altuve

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $15

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve saw double in the worst way in 2023.

The 33-year-old former MVP missed all of April and most of May with a fractured thumb suffered during the World Baseball Classic.

Just under two months later, he returned to the injured list with a strained left oblique.

"It's a nightmare for me this year, coming back from a big injury that I obviously lost two months," Altuve said. "I keep missing games. It's out of my control,"

It was the first time in twelve seasons that Altuve required two trips to the IL.

His injury misfortunes limited him to just 90 games for the AL West champs, in which he slashed .311/.392/.522 with 17 home runs, 21 doubles, 2 triples, 14 stolen bases, 76 runs scored, and 51 RBIs.

By the time of Houston's thrilling seven-game ALCS loss to the rival Rangers, though, it was like he'd been healthy all along.

Altuve almost pushed the Astros to a third consecutive World Series appearance, slashing .313/.353/.688 with three home runs, nine runs scored, and five RBIs.

2023 Topps #226 Michael Harris II Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $15

Michael Harris II started his career with a Rookie-of-the-Year bang in 2022.

He was the talk of the first-year class, a five-tool fireworks show who made a dominant Atlanta Braves squad even more dangerous.

His sophomore season was an often frustrating yet otherwise strong follow-up.

The young center fielder was out of sorts, going just 5-for-23 to open '23 before injuring himself on a steal attempt.

Harris continued to vex Braves fans until early June, especially with an awful .128/.208/.192 slash from May 18th to June 4th.

A massive slump notwithstanding, there was no reason to give up hope on the 22-year-old just yet.

Harris tweaked his approach in early June and hit an MVP-caliber .335 with a .912 OPS from June 5th to the end of the regular season.

His WAR dropped from around five in 114 games to four in 138.

That's a bit misleading, especially considering how sharp his ascent was after a brutal two-month slump.

October was a bust for both Harris individually and the NL East champs as the 22-year-old went 0-for-13 in Atlanta's four-game NLDS loss to the rival Phillies.

Still, Harris's resilience provides a window into a potential third-year showcase in '24..

2023 Topps #250 Adley Rutschman Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $15

When top prospect Adley Rutschman took his place behind the dish for the Baltimore Orioles in 2022, the whole mood around the franchise changed.

The switch-hitting rookie catcher was a shot in the arm, lifting the O's to their first winning season since 2016.

The 2023 Orioles used that momentum as jet fuel, streaking to a 101-win season and Baltimore's first AL East title since 2014.

A first-time All-Star and Silver Slugger, Rutschman set the tone with a jaw-dropping 5-for-5 performance on Opening Day.

He was streaky at the plate throughout the year, alternating between molten hot and cool.

The important thing was that the 25-year-old came through when it mattered most, posting a .922 OPS with four homers and 20 walks to push Baltimore past Tampa Bay for the division title.

Some look at Rutschman's 2023 as a slight regression, pointing at his relative struggles behind the plate.

It's splitting hairs.

Rutschman was the most valuable offensive catcher in the AL, slashing .277/.374/.435 with 20 home runs, 31 doubles, 84 runs scored, and 80 RBIs in 154 games played.

Yes, he went just 1-for-12 in a three-and-out ALDS egg against Texas.

Regardless, he still has time to build a lasting October legacy for one of the up-and-coming teams in Major League Baseball.

2023 Topps #395 James Outman Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $15

The Los Angeles Dodgers were a prohibitive World Series favorite heading into 2023.

While they reached 100 wins for the fourth consecutive 162-game campaign, the season started with a bit of a thud.

As the Dodgers wriggled on the early-season hook, one player kept them afloat: rookie outfielder James Outman.

The former 7th-round pick earned a roster spot out of Spring Training after Gavin Lux went down with a season-ending right knee injury.

Outman's left-handed bat was a crucial addition, and it showed up big in the campaign's first month.

Outman hit seven home runs in March and April, the most by a Dodger rookie in a single month.

He went hot and cold from there but settled in nicely as a bottom-of-the-lineup bat and a sturdy defender.

The third-place finisher in the NL Rookie of the Year race, Outman slashed .248/.353/.437 in '23 with 23 home runs and 70 RBIs in 567 plate appearances (483 at-bats).

He is the first Dodger rookie to slug 20 home runs and steal 15 bases (16) in a season.

Outman didn't do much of anything in Los Angeles's NLDS loss to Arizona, but neither did the rest of the Dodgers

2023 Topps #401 Corbin Carroll Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $15

Corbin Carroll's unanimous Rookie of the Year campaign was the shot in the arm that the Arizona Diamondbacks desperately needed.

The 22-year-old outfielder signed an eight-year, $111 million extension days before the 2023 season.

Carroll responded with a top-five MVP performance that lifted the team from irrelevance to a World Series berth.

Equal parts clutch hitting and blazing speed, Carroll posted a .285/.362/.506 slash line with 25 home runs, 30 doubles, an MLB-best ten triples, and 54 stolen bases in 59 attempts.

He was the pace car for Arizona's attack all season long, and his high-energy style pushed the 84-win D-Backs into a Wild Card spot.

He wasn't done there.

Underdogs in every series they played, Arizona ripped off sweeps of the Brewers and Dodgers to reach the NLCS.

Carroll went 7-for-17 during that five-win run.

In a stunning turn of events, Arizona kept the momentum and upset the reigning NL champion Phillies in an instant-classic seven-game NLCS.

Carroll struggled against Philly, though, hitting just .222 with no extra-base hits in 27 at-bats.

The hope was that the unanimous NL Rookie of the Year and first-time All-Star would find it in the World Series.

However, the Rangers staff held him in check, limiting him to a .227 average and .292 on-base percentage on their way to a five-game World Series win.

2023 Topps #529 Josh Jung Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $15

A common misconception is that the Texas Rangers bought a World Series title with the additions of Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, and the like.

However, it was Texas' core of exciting young players that carried them over the finish line to seal the franchise's first-ever World Series title.

Josh Jung was at the center of all of it.

Jung earned his first All-Star nod with a fantastic first half, finishing fourth in the AL ROTY race with a .266/.315/.467 slash line, 23 homers, 25 doubles, 75 runs scored, and 70 RBIs.

The 25-year-old also sparkled on defense, posting a .988 fielding percentage with just four errors on 339 chances.

The Rangers survived a late-season collapse to slide into the playoffs as a Wild Card.

Texas swept Tampa Bay (2-0) and Baltimore (3-0) before sweating out the defending World Series champion Astros in a seven-game thriller.

The Rangers sealed the deal with an emphatic five-game World Series triumph over Arizona, ending the longest 0-for-franchise-history championship drought in the sport.

Jung was a top contributor to the Rangers' historic October/November run, hitting .308 with three home runs, 13 runs scored, and eight RBIs in 17 games.

2023 Topps #644 Francisco Alvarez Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $15

2023 Topps #344 Jordan Walker Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $10

Jordan Walker’s fantastic rookie year was buried in a horrid season for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Yet, it’s well worth a deeper look.

Called up after 29 games in Triple-A, Walker hit .276 with a .342 on-base percentage, a .445 slugging percentage, a .787 OPS, and a 121 OPS+.

If you take his rough September out of the equation, Walker’s numbers would have just three parallels in Cardinals history in terms of age-23-or-less production: Rogers Hornsby, Stan Musial, and Albert Pujols.

Walker lifted the Cardinals’ loyal fan base in the team’s worst season since 1995.

And they lifted him right back.

“Oh, it’s more than I imagined, man,” Walker said. “Going out there and playing in front of those fans, I can’t describe that feeling. It’s much more than I ever imagined, for sure.”

Walker hit 16 home runs in 2023.

That places him third in Cardinals history for players in their age-21 season.

He trails only Albert Pujols (37) and Joe Medwick (18).

2023 Topps #330 Julio Rodriguez

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $10

The Mariners took a step back in 2023, dropping to third place in the AL West a year after breaking a historic 21-year playoff curse.

One player who didn't go backward with the team was Julio Rodriguez.

J-Rod signed an intriguing 12-year, $210 million extension in August 2022 that could balloon to $470 million over 17 seasons with incentives factored in.

He made that money count in 2023.

The Seattle center fielder slumped in the first half, hitting .249 with reduced power and a middling .717 OPS.

Come August, things were different, as Rodriguez hit .428 with an otherworldly 1.198 OPS to lift the M's into a three-headed AL West showdown.

The 88-win M's ended up with the short end of the stick, off the division pace, and out of the playoffs entirely.

None of that falls on Rodriguez.

A two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger slashed .275/.333/.485 for the year with 32 home runs, 37 doubles, 37 stolen bases, 102 runs scored, and 103 RBIs in 155 games.

He finished fourth in the AL MVP race and fourth in the league in WAR (5.9)

2023 Topps Baseball Cards In Review

Released in two 330-card Series, the 2023 Topps baseball card set offered plenty for collectors to enjoy.

Aside from one of the better designs in recent years, hobbyists could find an autograph or relic card in each 24-pack hobby box or an autograph, game-used relic and a manufactured relic in hobby jumbo boxes.

In my opinion, this set features a great design and a solid rookie class, making it one of the better Topps flagship releases in recent years.

There were also several different subsets, including:

• Future Stars
• League Leaders
• Team Checklists

If you enjoyed the "Junk Wax" era of the late 80s, you'll love many of the inserts in this set that played off of the 1988 Topps flagship design.

Overall, I think this set is solid and well-balanced, offering a fantastic design and plenty of great rookie cards and inserts to chase.