2023 Topps Golden Mirror Image Variations Change Flagship Baseball’s SP, SSP Hunt

2023 Topps Golden Mirror Image Variations are one of the big changes in Series 1. For years, one of the most popular parts of Topps Baseball has been the SP and SSP (and, more recently, Ultra SP) variations. 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball variations exist, but the approach is different. And it’s just getting started.

Typically, any given Topps flagship release in the last decade — Series 1, Series 2 and Update — has anywhere from 50 to 100 different variations. Within that is a tiered approach with varying degrees of Short Print Variations and Super Short Print Variations. SPs are normally somewhat common and don’t cost a lot unless it’s a superstar or big-name rookie. SSPs dry up quickly and become targets of set builders, player collectors and team collectors.

The varying levels of rarity are gone with the 2023 Topps Golden Mirror Image Variations. The chase from different types of collectors will likely remain, but everything is tough this time around even if the odds suggest that print runs aren’t scarce.

2023 Topps Golden Mirror Image Variations Primer

The heart of the Golden Mirror Image Variations remains the same. They have the same design and layout as a regular base card. However, they come with a different image. Often, these photos show more personality, on the field or off.

In the past, Topps Baseball variations have been somewhat sneaky. By design they could easily be missed. There were really only two ways to know if you pulled an SP or SSP. You could memorize (or reference) all the different images, both base and variations. When there’s 100 variations in a release, that gets daunting.

The faster way to check for variations was to look at the codes in the fine print on the back. Even with 20/20 vision, these numbers are small and not always easy to read.

2023 Topps Golden Mirror Image Variations change that. For Series 1, they’re clearly marked on the front. Both have an easy signifier on the back, too so there’s no need to crack out the magnifying glass or work out the photographic memory.

How to Spot 2023 Topps Baseball Variations

The first giveaway that a 2023 Topps Baseball card is a variation is the Topps logo on the front, at least for Series 1. Regular base cards use silver foil. Golden Mirror Image Variations have, you’ve guessed it, gold foil instead.

For whatever reason, Series 2 variations stick with the standard silver logo so they may not jump out until you flip the card over.

Backs also make spotting a 2023 Topps Golden Mirror Image Variation easy.

For starters, they’re clearly marked with “SSP” in gold foil at the top next to the card number. It’s not small font like recent Topps Heritage variations, either. The label just as big as the number.

An added touch is the gold highlights in the background as well for the player name, vitals box and surrounding border. But the label is the easiest giveaway for the 2023 Topps Baseball variations.

How Many 2023 Topps Baseball Variations Are There?

Perhaps the biggest change for the variations in Topps Baseball is the scope. Instead of around 100 total SP and SSP cards to chase, which often includes multiples for the same player or card number if legends are involved, all 2023 Topps Baseball base cards have Golden Mirror Image Variations.

Yes, every base card has a second version. That’s 330 cards in Series 1, another 330 in Series 2 and, 330 more in Update Series.

They’ve essentially become a parallel with almost 1,000 cards (990 to be exact).

How Rare Are the 2023 Topps Golden Mirror Image Variations?

If the sheer size of the 2023 Topps Golden Mirror Image Variations wasn’t enough, just finding one is tough.

Here are the odds for 2023 Topps Series 1 variations:

• Hobby – 1:454 packs
• Hobby Jumbo – 1:46 packs
• Blaster – 1:1,360 packs
• Hanger Boxes – 1:203 boxes

At the box level, you could break 15 hobby boxes and not find one of the variation. You might bust 125 blaster boxes and come up empty. Hobby jumbo are a modest 1:4.6 boxes but they’re also the most expensive 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball configuration.

These numbers take into account landing just one card. Next comes the scope. Series 1 has 330 variations. With perfect collation and no doubles, you’d have to open about 150,000 hobby packs to finish the set (149,820 hobby packs to be exact).

As for production numbers, it takes a little guess work as the 2023 Topps Baseball variations aren’t serial numbered. But the odds for other parallels do provide some major clues. The odds for the Golden Mirror Image Variations is pretty much in the middle between Red Rainbow Foil cards that have 199 copies and Vintage Stock, which are numbered to 99. So, while not exact, it’s fair to assume there are somewhere around 150 copies of each Golden Mirror Image Variation.

Some may opt to go for the full run but the bigger audience for the 2023 Topps Golden Mirror Image Variations is likely to be the player and team collectors.

2023 Topps Series 1 Golden Mirror Image Variations Checklist

660 cards.

Full team breakdowns are available on the main 2023 Topps Series 1 and 2023 Topps Series 2 Baseball checklists.

Shop for 2023 Topps Golden Mirror Image Variations on:

• eBay

Series 1

1 Juan Soto
2 Zach Thompson
3 Bryce Harper
4 Yadier Molina
5 Albert Pujols
6 Paul Blackburn
7 Bobby Witt Jr.
8 Sam Moll
9 Scott Barlow
10 Trevor Story
11 Rafael Devers
12 Jeffrey Springs
13 Giovanny Gallegos
14 Brandon Drury
15 Michael Grove – Rookie
16 Nolan Gorman – Rookie
17 Shohei Ohtani
18 Tanner Scott
19 Joey Votto
20 Pete Alonso
21 Max Scherzer
22 Clayton Kershaw
23 Fernando Tatis Jr.
24 Miguel Cabrera
25 Byron Buxton
26 Trent Grisham
27 Mike Trout
28 Corey Knebel
29 Trevor Rogers
30 Kenley Jansen
31 Riley Greene – Rookie
32 Jordan Montgomery
33 Kyle Farmer
34 Zack Thompson – Rookie
35 CJ Abrams – Future Stars
36 Brandon Lowe
37 Josh Smith – Rookie
38 Jorge Mateo
39 Adam Wainwright
40 Keegan Thompson
41 Brian Serven – Rookie
42 Franchy Cordero
43 Paul Goldschmidt / Freddie Freeman / Jeff McNeil – League Leaders
44 Jesús Sánchez
45 Gerrit Cole
46 Jorge Alfaro
47 Ryan Mountcastle
48 Jacob deGrom
49 Mitch Haniger
50 Mookie Betts

51 Chas McCormick
52 Matthew Liberatore – Rookie
53 Dylan Cease
54 Ma- Rookieus Stroman
55 Cristian Javier
56 Jermaine Palacios – Rookie
57 Ha-Seong Kim
58 Iván Herrera – Rookie
59 Eduardo Rodriguez
60 Josh Rojas
61 Tyrone Taylor
62 Aaron Judge
63 C.J. Cron
64 Josh Donaldson
65 Triston McKenzie
66 Brandon Crawford
67 Travis Swaggerty – Rookie
68 William Contreras
69 Caleb Kilian – Rookie
70 Darin Ruf
71 Merrill Kelly
72 Jon Berti
73 Jon Gray
74 Tarik Skubal
75 JT Brubaker
76 Josh Winckowski – Rookie
77 Kyle Bradish
78 Sonny Gray
79 Tyler O’Neill
80 Tanner Rainey
81 Ozzie Albies
82 Framber Valdez / Justin Verlander / Alek Manoah – League Leaders
– League Leaders
83 Tylor Megill
84 Toronto Blue Jays – Team Card
85 Max Stassi
86 Gregory Soto
87 Ethan Small – Rookie
88 Luis Robert
89 Brett Baty – Rookie
90 Korey Lee – Rookie
91 Josh Naylor
92 Triston Casas – Rookie
93 Los Angeles Angels – Team Card
94 Oswald Peraza – Rookie
95 Jonah Bride – Rookie
96 Kyle Gibson
97 Brandon Hughes – Rookie
98 Mike Yastrzemski
99 Antonio Senzatela
100 Paul Goldschmidt

101 Tyler Mahle
102 Salvador Perez
103 Taylor Ward
104 Keston Hiura
105 Seth Beer
106 Willy Adames
107 Sandy Alcantara
108 Alex Cobb
109 Eric Lauer
110 Randal Grichuk
111 Hunter Brown – Rookie
112 Baltimore Orioles – Team Card
113 Mookie Betts – Combo Card
114 Ian Anderson
115 Raisel Iglesias
116 Steven Kwan
117 Emmanuel Clase
118 Eduardo Escobar
119 Oscar Gonzalez – Rookie
120 Patrick Wisdom
121 Luis Ga- Rookieía
122 Yonathan Daza
123 Zach Davies
124 Nathaniel Lowe
125 Ma- Rookieell Ozuna
126 Harold Castro
127 Shea Langeliers – Rookie
128 Alec Bohm
129 Nolan Jones – Rookie
130 Keibert Ruiz
131 Cody Bellinger
132 Gavin Sheets
133 Roberto Pérez
134 Kansas City Royals – Team Card
135 Buddy Kennedy – Rookie
136 Dylan Bundy
137 Kyle Hendricks
138 Ma- Rookieus Wilson – Rookie
139 Joe Barlow
140 Lenyn Sosa – Rookie
141 Jonah Heim
142 Lucas Giolito
143 Nestor Cortes
144 Ma- Rookieo Gonzales
145 Noah Syndergaard
146 Alex Verdugo
147 Daniel Vogelbach
148 Seth Brown
149 Josiah Gray – Future Stars
150 Ronald Acuña Jr.

151 Tyler Wells
152 Nick Pivetta
153 Kevin Gausman
154 Jonathan Aranda – Rookie
155 Hunter Greene – Future Stars
156 Kyle Stowers – Rookie
157 Christian Vázquez
158 Kris Bryant
159 A.J. Minter
160 Cal Raleigh – Future Stars
161 Carlos Carrasco
162 Isiah Kiner-Falefa
163 Miguel Vargas – Rookie
164 Dany Jiménez
165 Jeter Downs – Rookie
166 Tyler Stephenson
167 Michael Massey – Rookie
168 Atlanta Braves – Team Card
169 Gabriel Moreno – Rookie
170 Michael Chavis
171 Mychal Givens
172 Jazz Chisholm Jr.
173 San Francisco Giants – Team Card
174 Julio Rodríguez – Combo Card
175 Liam Hendriks
176 Kody Clemens – Rookie
177 Kendall Graveman
178 Austin Riley / Kyle Schwarber / Pete Alonso – League Leaders
179 Carlos Rodón
180 Dominic Leone
181 Yordan Alvarez
182 Nick Pratto – Rookie
183 Seiya Suzuki
184 Beau Brieske
185 Brayan Bello – Rookie
186 Teoscar Hernández
187 Seth Lugo
188 Davis Martin – Rookie
189 Brad Keller
190 Pete Alonso – Combo Card
191 Caleb Smith
192 Christian Yelich
193 Luis Ga- Rookieía
194 Josh Staumont
195 George Kirby – Future Stars
196 Jordan Romano
197 Andrew Benintendi
198 Vladimir Gutierrez
199 Starling Marte
200 Freddie Freeman

201 Trevor Larnach
202 Tony Gonsolin
203 Gary Sánchez
204 Manuel Margot
205 JJ Bleday – Rookie
206 Gunnar Henderson – Rookie
207 Paul Sewald
208 Blake Snell
209 Darick Hall – Rookie
210 Riley Greene – Combo Card
211 Max Fried / Sandy Alcantara / Julio Urías – League Leaders
212 Jordan Lyles
213 Owen Miller
214 Graham Ashcraft – Rookie
215 Wander Franco – Future Stars
216 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – Combo Card
217 Luis Arraez
218 Jhoan Duran
219 Los Angeles Dodgers – Team Card
220 Chicago Cubs – Team Card
221 Rhys Hoskins
222 Jose Altuve
223 Eli Morgan
224 Jake Cronenworth
225 Corbin Burnes
226 Michael Harris II – Rookie
227 Yandy Díaz
228 Ryan Pressly
229 Ryan Helsley
230 Albert Almora
231 Rony Ga- Rookieía
232 Ian Happ
233 Taylor Rogers
234 St. Louis Cardinals – Team Card
235 Robbie Ray
236 Shane McClanahan
237 Brandon Marsh – Future Stars
238 Liover Peguero – Rookie
239 Ketel Marte
240 Paul Goldschmidt / Pete Alonso / Francisco Lindor – League Leaders
241 Kyle Tucker / José Ramírez / Aaron Judge – League Leaders
242 Jarren Duran – Future Stars
243 Evan Lee – Rookie
244 César Hernández
245 Aaron Judge – Combo Card
246 Aaron Judge / Mike Trout / Yordan Alvarez – League Leaders
247 Gavin Lux
248 Rhys Hoskins – Combo Card
249 Frank Schwindel
250 Adley Rutschman – Rookie

251 Max Castillo – Rookie
252 Austin Meadows
253 Max Kepler
254 Jimmy Herget
255 Cal Quantrill
256 José Ramírez
257 Yadiel Hernandez
258 Erick Fedde
259 Mark Appel – Rookie
260 Matt Chapman
261 Martin Perez
262 Camilo Doval
263 Arizona Diamondbacks – Team Card
264 Steele Walker – Rookie
265 Anthony Santander
266 Tommy Pham
267 Dean Kremer
268 Yasmani Grandal
269 Steven Matz
270 Yusei Kikuchi
271 Cleveland Guardians – Team Card
272 Kevin Kiermaier
273 Boston Red Sox – Team Card
274 Matt Duffy
275 Vaughn Grissom – Rookie
276 David MacKinnon – Rookie
277 David Villar – Rookie
278 Aaron Nola
279 Yu Darvish
280 Julio Urías
281 Aaron Ashby
282 Tim Anderson
283 Matt Strahm
284 Yu Darvish / Julio Urías / Kyle Wright – League Leaders
285 Oneil Cruz – Future Stars
286 Ezequiel Duran – Rookie
287 Brendan Rodgers
288 Jack Suwinski
289 Luis Arraez / Aaron Judge / Xander Bogaerts – League Leaders
290 Max Fried
291 New York Mets – Team Card
292 Texas Rangers – Team Card
293 J.T. Realmuto
294 Tommy Edman
295 Bryson Stott – Future Stars
296 Cristian Pache
297 Abraham Toro
298 Shane Bieber
299 Gleyber Torres
300 Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

301 Ryan McMahon
302 Vinnie Pasquantino – Rookie
303 Jorge Alfaro – Combo Card
304 Alex Wood
305 Ji-Man Choi
306 Jesse Winker
307 Danny Jansen
308 Christopher Morel – Rookie
309 Sean Murphy
310 Josh Naylor – Combo Card
311 Alek Manoah / Justin Verlander / Dylan Cease – League Leaders
312 Pavin Smith
313 Cal Mitchell – Rookie
314 Ke’Bryan Hayes
315 Corey Seager
316 Washington Nationals – Team Card
317 Cedric Mullins
318 Jerar Encarnacion – Rookie
319 Brad Miller
320 Cade Cavalli – Rookie
321 Garrett Cooper
322 Luis Urías
323 Adrian Houser
324 Santiago Espinal
325 German Márquez
326 Byron Buxton – Combo Card
327 Patrick Sandoval
328 Brady Singer
329 Mark Canha
330 Julio Rodríguez

Series 2

331 Charlie Morton
332 Alfonso Rivas
333 Chris Sale
334 Bobby Witt Jr. – Combo Cards
335 J.D. Davis
336 Tommy Henry – Rookie
337 Jurickson Profar
338 P.J. Higgins
339 Will Benson – Rookie
340 Ken Waldichuk – Rookie
341 Nathan Eovaldi
342 Framber Valdez
343 Trayce Thompson
344 Jordan Walker – Rookie
345 Nick Senzel
346 Jonathan Heasley
347 Jeremy Peña
348 Kyle Freeland
349 Luis Severino
350 Alex Bregman
351 Trevor Story – Combo Cards
352 Christian Arroyo
353 Freddy Peralta
354 Taylor Hearn
355 Taijuan Walker
356 Ryan Kreidler – Rookie
357 Nick Gordon
358 Lance Lynn
359 Garrett Mitchell – Rookie
360 Randy Arozarena
361 Víctor Caratini
362 Kodai Senga – Rookie
363 Logan O’Hoppe – Rookie
364 Harrison Bader
365 Spencer Torkelson – Future Stars
366 Corey Kluber
367 Dane Dunning
368 Logan Webb
369 Alexis Díaz
370 Yoán Moncada
371 Liván Soto – Rookie
372 Ronny Henriquez – Rookie
373 Jose Trevino
374 Michael Taylor
375 Ryan Tepera
376 Christopher Morel – Combo Cards
377 Daniel Bard
378 Collin McHugh
379 Dansby Swanson
380 J.P. Crawford
381 Whit Merrifield
382 Minnesota Twins – Team Card
383 Bryse Wilson
384 Jameson Taillon
385 Austin Hedges
386 Jordan Groshans – Rookie
387 Harold Ramírez
388 Max Meyer – Rookie
389 Víctor Robles
390 Bobby Dalbec
391 Walker Buehler
392 Josh Hader
393 Spenser Watkins
394 Kerry Carpenter – Rookie
395 James Outman – Rookie
396 Mike Trout – Combo Cards
397 Daniel Lynch
398 Dalton Guthrie – Rookie
399 Jean Segura
400 Manny Machado

401 Corbin Carroll – Rookie
402 Gabriel Árias
403 Justin Turner
404 Yoshi Tsutsugo
405 Juan Soto – Combo Cards
406 Nick Lodolo – Future Stars
407 Kolten Wong
408 Cole Irvin
409 Leury García
410 Jackie Bradley Jr.
411 Willi Castro
412 Zac Gallen
413 Alejandro Kirk
414 George Springer
415 Alex Kirilloff
416 Donny Sands – Rookie
417 Willson Contreras
418 Conner Capel – Rookie
419 Michael Conforto
420 Zack Greinke
421 Bo Naylor – Rookie
422 Jake McCarthy – Future Stars
423 Jordan Díaz – Rookie
424 Logan Gilbert
425 Justin Verlander
426 Jeff McNeil
427 Andrew Heaney
428 Bo Bichette
429 Sean Manaea
430 Pittsburgh Pirates – Team Card
431 Emmanuel Rivera
432 Bryce Harper – Combo Cards
433 Aaron Civale
434 Nick Madrigal
435 Joey Bart
436 Eugenio Suárez
437 Lane Thomas
438 Brandon Belt
439 Jared Walsh
440 Will Smith
441 Louie Varland – Rookie
442 Mitch Keller
443 Luke Voit
444 Javier Assad – Rookie
445 Colorado Rockies – Team Card
446 Charles Leblanc – Rookie
447 Israel Pineda – Rookie
448 Matt Wallner – Rookie
449 Drew Rasmussen
450 Francisco Lindor

451 Royce Lewis – Future Stars
452 Carlos Pérez – Rookie
453 Will Brennan – Rookie
454 A.J. Pollock
455 Lars Nootbaar – Future Stars
456 Amed Rosario
457 Rowdy Tellez – Combo Cards
458 Dakota Hudson
459 Ryne Nelson – Rookie
460 Anthony Volpe – Rookie
461 Kyle Tucker
462 Tyler Freeman – Rookie
463 Kevin Newman
464 Alek Thomas – Combo Cards
465 Chris Archer
466 Kyle Schwarber
467 Joe Ryan
468 Luis Castillo
469 Yuli Gurriel
470 Joey Meneses – Rookie
471 Masataka Yoshida – Rookie
472 Ford Proctor – Rookie
473 Miami Marlins – Team Card
474 Myles Straw
475 Trea Turner
476 Zach Plesac
477 Jorge Soler
478 Matt Carpenter
479 Simeon Woods Richardson – Rookie
480 Brian Anderson
481 Matt Olson
482 Edwin Díaz
483 Travis d’Arnaud
484 Rodolfo Castro
485 Nico Hoerner
486 Austin Nola
487 Oswaldo Cabrera – Rookie
488 Josh Bell
489 Spencer Steer – Rookie
490 Andrew McCutchen
491 Ji Hwan Bae – Rookie
492 Evan Longoria
493 Kutter Crawford
494 Brendon Davis – Rookie
495 Martín Maldonado
496 Joe Musgrove
497 Enrique Hernández
498 Stone Garrett – Rookie
499 Ryan McKenna – Combo Cards
500 Nolan Arenado

501 Daulton Varsho
502 Drey Jameson – Rookie
503 Tony Kemp
504 Josh Harrison
505 José Miranda – Future Stars
506 Wil Myers
507 Cody Morris – Rookie
508 Joc Pederson
509 Giancarlo Stanton
510 Félix Bautista
511 Zack Wheeler
512 Kole Calhoun
513 Xzavion Curry – Rookie
514 Colin Moran
515 Jorge Polanco
516 New York Yankees – Team Card
517 Chad Kuhl
518 José Urquidy
519 Max Muncy
520 Nelson Cruz
521 Nick Allen
522 Chad Pinder
523 Charlie Blackmon
524 Terrin Vavra – Rookie
525 Connor Joe
526 Cavan Biggio
527 Nick Castellanos
528 Jake Burger
529 Josh Jung – Rookie
530 Brice Turang – Rookie
531 Geraldo Perdomo
532 Marcus Semien
533 Milwaukee Brewers – Team Card
534 Houston Astros – Team Card
535 Drew Smyly
536 Yusniel Diaz – Rookie
537 Eloy Jiménez
538 Xander Bogaerts
539 Mike Moustakas
540 Alek Manoah
541 Kris Bubic
542 Adam Oller
543 Drew Waters – Rookie
544 J.D. Martinez
545 Oscar Colás – Rookie
546 Austin Hays
547 DL Hall – Rookie
548 Miles Mikolas
549 Luis Rengifo
550 Mark Vientos – Rookie

551 Johnny Cueto
552 Wilmer Flores
553 David Bednar
554 Jesús Aguilar
555 Detroit Tigers – Team Card
556 Akil Baddoo
557 Nate Eaton – Rookie
558 TJ Friedl
559 Roansy Contreras – Future Stars
560 Thairo Estrada
561 Shintaro Fujinami – Rookie
562 Chris Taylor
563 Jesús Luzardo
564 Michael Lorenzen
565 Chicago White Sox – Team Card
566 Jo Adell
567 Philadelphia Phillies – Team Card
568 Alek Thomas – Future Stars
569 Yan Gomes
570 Bryan Reynolds
571 Bryce Johnson – Rookie
572 Carlos Santana
573 Kyle Wright
574 Jeremy Peña – Combo Cards
575 Andrés Giménez
576 Eguy Rosario – Rookie
577 Oakland Athletics – Team Card
578 Kyle Isbel
579 Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
580 Miguel Rojas
581 Ramón Laureano
582 Luis Ortiz – Rookie
583 Carlos Correa
584 Brendan Donovan
585 Michael Kopech
586 Casey Mize
587 MJ Melendez – Future Stars
588 Austin Barnes
589 Craig Kimbrel
590 Brad Boxberger
591 Eric Haase
592 Miles Mastrobuoni – Rookie
593 Trey Mancini
594 Jonathan India
595 Griffin Jax
596 Anthony Rizzo
597 Bubba Thompson – Rookie
598 Rowdy Tellez
599 Bryan De La Cruz
600 Shohei Ohtani

601 Adolis García
602 Spencer Strider
603 Jonathan Schoop
604 Joey Gallo
605 Andrew Velazquez
606 Avisaíl García
607 Rafael Ortega
608 Freddy Tarnok – Rookie
609 José Suarez
610 Cincinnati Reds – Team Card
611 Adam Frazier
612 Adam Ottavino
613 Vidal Bruján
614 Brandon Nimmo
615 Jose Butto – Rookie
616 Michael Toglia – Rookie
617 Keegan Akin
618 Chris Bassitt
619 Jace Peterson
620 Robinson Chirinos
621 Isaac Paredes
622 Alec Burleson – Rookie
623 Tampa Bay Rays – Team Card
624 Dylan Carlson
625 Taylor Walls
626 Ty France
627 Seattle Mariners – Team Card
628 Michael Brantley
629 MacKenzie Gore – Future Stars
630 José Abreu
631 Víctor Reyes
632 Ramón Urías
633 Carson Kelly
634 Andrew Vaughn
635 Yainer Díaz – Rookie
636 David Fletcher
637 Hunter Dozier
638 Hayden Wesneski – Rookie
639 Christian Walker
640 Anthony Rendon
641 Javier Báez
642 Ranger Suárez
643 Bailey Falter – Rookie
644 Francisco Álvarez – Rookie
645 Reid Detmers
646 Kyle Higashioka
647 Austin Voth
648 Elias Díaz
649 David Hensley – Rookie
650 Esteury Ruiz – Rookie
651 Ezequiel Tovar – Rookie
652 Hunter Strickland
653 José Iglesias
654 Michael Siani – Rookie
655 San Diego Padres – Team Card
656 Michael Wacha
657 Jake Fraley
658 DJ LeMahieu
659 Luis Liberato – Rookie
660 Austin Riley