The 2022 edition of Panini National Treasures baseball was released in November 2022 with cards featuring some of the biggest names in the sport. As with previous years, National Treasures contained highly sought after memorabilia cards and autographs along with low print runs that make certain cards extremely valuable. While the full population reports are still being compiled, here are some of the early candidates for the most valuable cards from the 2022 National Treasures release.
Perhaps the highest valued card out of the first case breaks is the Mike Trout 1/1 Triple Logoman Patch Autograph card. Trout remains one of the faces of MLB and his autographed cards consistently demand top dollar from collectors. The logoman patch features swatches from the Angels, Nike, and Trout’s signature swoosh logo. Only one of these exists in the world, making it an incredibly rare addition to any Trout PC. Early estimates have the card valued around $50,000 but given Trout’s star power, that number could grow as more collectors seek to own this unique piece of memorabilia.
Another Angels star, Shohei Ohtani, has also seen one of his National Treasures cards gain immense value. The Ohtani 1/1 Dual Logoman Patch Autograph features patches from the Angels and Nike logos. Like Trout, Ohtani is one of the faces of the league today thanks to his two-way playing abilities. His autographed cards hold tremendous value and this one of one parallel takes that to an entirely new level. Early appraisals have the Ohtani dual logoman patch valued at a minimum of $40,000 but that number is also likely to increase over time as more collectors enter a bidding war for such a rare Ohtani card.
Rookies tend to see some of their top rookies cards from National Treasures gain immense long term value as well. One card that has stood out is the Julio Rodriguez Logoman Patch Autograph /50. Rodriguez took the baseball world by storm in 2022 with his MVP caliber rookie campaign for the Seattle Mariners. His on-card autographs are highly sought after and the fact this patch features the Mariners logo makes it an iconic card for any Rodriguez PC or Seattle collector. While not a 1/1, the low serial number of /50 gives this card a reasonable estimate of $15,000 currently. As Rodriguez’s career progresses, this early patch autograph could grow to become a true gem in the long run.
For collectors looking for a big name star on a budget, one card that offers tremendous star power at a lower estimated price is the Albert Pujols Logoman Patch Autograph /99. Despite being in the twilight of his career, Pujols is a first ballot Hall of Famer that remains one of the best hitters of all time. His autographed cards hold value thanks to his legendary career. The Pujols logoman patch features a swatch from his time with the St Louis Cardinals, making it a must have for any Cardinals or Pujols PC. With a serial number closer to the middle of the print run at /99, this iconic patch autograph can be acquired for an estimate of $8,000 – still quite costly but more affordable than chasing the 1/1s.
Rookies are always a hot commodity in National Treasures but veteran stars can also see huge value spikes for low serial autographs. A card that is already gaining buzz is the Aaron Judge Logoman Patch Autograph /10. Judge put together a historic 2022 season that saw him shatter the AL single season home run record. As the new face of the Yankees, Judge’s memorabilia holds immense value. The fact this patch features the iconic Yankees logo and has an ultra low serial number of /10 gives this card an early estimate of $12,000. But if Judge is able to back up 2022 with continued dominance, this patch could end up being one of the most valuable Judge cards in existence long term.
While the biggest stars draw the biggest prices, National Treasures also offers opportunities for value plays on franchise favorites. One card that fits this mold is the Fernando Tatis Jr. Logoman Patch Autograph /25. Tatis remains one of the most exciting young talents in baseball when healthy but injuries have slowed his progress the last two seasons. He’s still beloved by Padres fans looking to own a piece of one of the future faces of the franchise. The low serial number and Padres logo patch make this a card Padres collectors are eager to get their hands on. With Tatis’ star still rising if he can stay on the field long term, this patch carries an estimate of $7,500 now but strong long term holding potential.
As the population reports continue to develop and cards change hands between collectors, the values attached to these National Treasures cards will likely fluctuate in both directions. But for the highly coveted 1/1 parallels and low serial patch autographs of the game’s biggest stars, these cards represent some of the best long term holding and investment opportunities from the 2022 release. With their rarity, prestigious memorabilia, and starring players who will be remembered as legends of the game, these National Treasures are sure to bring joy to collectors for years to come.
