Beckett Sports Card Hot / Cold – August 14, 2023
Welcome to another edition of Beckett Sports Card Hot/Cold where we take quick and fun look at what’s hot and what’s not in the worlds of sports and sports cards as we get through the dog days of summer.
If you’ve been busting any baseball cards over the past couple of weeks, there’s a good chance it’s involved 2023 Topps Chrome Baseball. The annual shiny shift of the flagship set has the usual mix of Refractors, variations and rookie autographs. But Topps has also gone deeper and gotten more creative with the product’s other inserts. This includes case hit Ultra Violet illustrated cards and the debut of the Tacofractor, a truly over-the-top set that’s as weird as it is scarce. Still, they’re fetching strong prices thus far.
MVP Speculation
Another thing to watch for is the forthcoming MVP buybacks. When the program debuted in 2022, it was announced after the season was over. Everyone knew to chase Aaron Judge and Paul Goldschmidt. This year, we know it’s coming back but speculation is driving some singles. Shohei Ohtani is all but assured the AL MVP award. In the NL, it’s a little more uncertain with Ronald Acuña Jr. still the frontrunner but teammate Matt Olson should get some votes along with Freddie Freeman of the Dodgers. Plus, there’s still lots of time left for others to emerge. No matter the case, some collectors are already building hoards in anticipation of who they’ll be able to trade at shops for store credit. It’s worth noting that Topps hasn’t announced specifics on how much credit cards will net.
Football Treasure
Last week saw the release of 2022 Panini National Treasures Football. That means a new batch of high-priced Rookie Patch Autographs. There’s also plenty of ink from the NFL’s stars and retired greats. Its price tag might be high for many, but that’s part of the product’s focus. It’s all about the super high-end.
