Topps 2022 Chrome Baseball – A Shining Release in the Hobby
The 2022 Topps Chrome baseball card release is one of the most highly anticipated issues each year in the sports card hobby. As collectors eagerly await the shiny refractors and parallels that Chrome is known for, let’s take a deeper look at what to expect from the latest edition.
Chrome has been a staple of the Topps baseball lineup since 1999 when it was first introduced. The patented “Chrome” technology gives each card a dazzling shine unlike the traditional paper base cards. Years later it remains one of the top selling licensed baseball products and is still beloved by collectors both young and old.
One reason for its sustained popularity is the wide variety of parallels and short prints hobbyists can hunt for in each set. While the base cards contain the same designs and photography as the flagship Topps release, Chrome takes things up a notch by adding layers of rarity. This includes the ever-coveted refractors which are printed on a foil-like stock and literally “refract” light at different angles for a prismatic shine.
In 2022, Topps Chrome will again have the standard Red, Blue, Green, Purple, Orange, and Gold refractor parallels in each per-pack odds of 1:24 packs or less. Rainbow parallel collectors will have their work cut out to complete the full refractor spectrum. Beyond those, serial-numbered parallels like Black /50 and Gold /10 provide an air of exclusivity. And for the ultimate rare cards, “superfractor” parallels bearing serials of 1/1 are true holy grails that no Chrome collection is complete without.
Speaking of numbering, Topps Chrome also has a legendary reputation for its short prints (SPs). Typically distributed at a rate of 1 SP per every two hobby boxes, these undersized cardboard “relics” often feature career-defining moments captured in a memorable image. Icons like Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, and Ken Griffey Jr are among those most sought after.
While base cards make up the majority of any Chrome set, collectors live for the prospect of stumbling onto a prized SP or parallel at random. Additionally, Topps usually includes a SP Autographs checklist to further stratify rarity levels. Between these scarcer hits and the standard refractor parade, there are countless sub-categories to chase.
Looking ahead to the 2022 version, Topps Chrome will again feature core designs familiar to Series 1 and 2 collectors. The application of foil and color treatment lends each card a slick modern flair that remains visually striking 25 years later. Rosters will align with the flagship issues as well, capturing all the current MLB superstars like Shohei Ohtani, Ronald Acuña Jr, and Juan Soto in HD glory.
For box-break enthusiasts, Topps Chrome packaging presents an aesthetically-pleasing unboxing experience. Each sealed wax pack nests neatly inside a protective plastic wrapper adorned with foil highlights of the brand. When ripped open, collectors can gaze at the shining contents within and hope for hits. Meanwhile, hobby boxes come neatly shrink-wrapped with an embossed logo surface and team bag inserts adding to the premium feel.
Secondary markets will surely come alive upon the product’s anticipated July release. As Chrome cards continue gaining collector confidence in modern auctions, vintage parallels and SPs set new records. While base rookies may not net incredible sums, choice refractors and stars of star studded players can sell for thousands. And of course, the elusive superfractors transcend into five-figure territory with their singular collectible quality.
So whether it’s chasing rainbows, short prints, autographs, or just enjoying the visual opulence – Topps Chrome 2022 looks poised to deliver thrills for all types of baseball card enthusiasts. With 25 years of tradition behind it, this shining staple still evokes the excitement of the card collecting hobby’s early days of discovery. There’s little doubt it will remain a premium destination for refractors, hits, and good old fashioned pack ripping fun well into the future.
