The 2022 MLB season is underway, which means new baseball cards are hitting the market from the major card companies like Topps, Panini, Leaf, etc. For collectors and investors, eBay remains one of the top locations to both purchase and sell these newly released baseball cards. Whether you’re looking for rookie cards of emerging young stars or serial numbered parallels of franchise icons, eBay offers a huge variety of 2022 baseball cards from individual sellers and sports card shops.
One of the biggest news stories in the baseball card world this year was Topps signing an exclusive multi-year deal with Major League Baseball, beginning with the 2022 season. This means Topps is currently the only company licensed to feature team logos and uniforms on cardboard. While Panini and others can still use player names and photos, the designs and productionvalues will likely be less polished without official MLB rights. This Topps exclusivity is part of why their 2022 products like Series 1, 2, Opening Day, and Allen & Ginter are some of the hottest new releases on eBay so far.
Whether you collect base rookie cards or chase rare parallels, some names to keep an eye on from the 2022 MLB rookie class include Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez, Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, Boston Red Sox shortstop Marcelo Mayer, Chicago White Sox infielder Colson Montgomery, and Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene, among many others. Top rookies from each set are already in high demand on the secondary market. For example, the Julio Rodriguez Topps Chrome Sapphire Parallel #/99 has sold for over $1000 on multiple occasions.
Veteran superstars whose cards also retain significant value include Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, Ronald Acuna Jr, Mookie Betts, Fernando Tatis Jr and more. Serial numbered parallels and rare inserts featuring these established names can fetch four figures. For example, a Mike Trout 2022 Topps Series 1 Superfractor 1/1 sold for close to $10,000 back in March. Finding these kinds of big hit cards in unopened blasters, hangers and hobby boxes on eBay is part of the thrill of the group break and ripping experience.
In addition to flagship Topps products, other popular 2022 releasesin high demandinclude Topps Chrome, Bowman, Bowman Draft, Allen & Ginter, Stadium Club, Topps Heritage, Topps Fire, Topps Pro Debut and Topps Opening Day. Each set has its own appeal to collectors whether it’s the glossy Chrome photographs, prospect autographs in Bowman, retro designs of Heritage or wildly eccentric artwork in Allen & Ginter. Many eBay sellers break full cases of these releases, offering spots in group breaks for collectors to chase rare pulls without the considerable cost of a full sealed box.
Vintage cards from the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s containing legends like Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, Nolan Ryan and Roberto Clemente remain highly sought after collectibles as well. While expensive vintage rookies may be out of reach for many, finding 1950s-90s commons and stars in PSA/BGS slabs through individual collectors and shops on eBay opens a window into baseball history. T206 White Border tobacco cards representing the earliest licensed set from 1909 are particularly rare, valuable and excite bidders.
Whether just starting a collection or building on an existing hoard, eBay is a treasure trove for 2022 baseball cards and beyond. With a huge array of new products, variations and legends from every generation available, savvy buyers will find value in shopping multiple sellers for the best deals. By diligently checking newly listed items and using features like Best Offer, collectors can continually grow their collections and investment portfolios one affordable purchase at a time through the massive online marketplace that is eBay. With so many options available across all eras, it’s easy to get hooked on the thrill of the hunt for the next big card find.
