The 2022 Prizm Baseball card set was released in January 2022 by Panini America. Prizm has become one of the premier modern baseball card brands since its launch in 2018 and 2022 saw another highly anticipated release from the popular brand.
Some key things to know about the 2022 Prizm Baseball set:
The base set contains 324 total cards split into several parallels including the standard Prizm refractor parallels, as well as color Prizm refractors, cracked ice, and more.
Top rookies featured include Julio Rodriguez, Bobby Witt Jr., Spencer Torkelson, and more. These rookie cards were some of the most sought after from the set.
Veteran stars highlighted include Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and many other top current players. Their base Prizm cards and parallels were popular chase cards.
Additional inserts in the base set included “The Foundation” veteran cards, “Prizm Picks” prospect cards, “League Leaders” stats cards, and more.
Hobby boxes of 2022 Prizm Baseball contained 12 packs with 4 cards per pack for a total of 48 cards per box. Boxes carried an MSRP of around $100 but retailed for more due to high demand.
Retail versions of 2022 Prizm Baseball were released in “blasters” which contained 10 packs and 1 bonus hit card per box and retailed for around $25. Hobby “hanger” boxes with 5 packs were also released at the $20 price point.
Autograph and memorabilia inserts were present in the base set at extremely low odds. “Prizm Patch” and “Prizm Auto” parallels featured game used memorabilia or autographs of stars.
In terms of the rookie class, the 2022 crop was considered one of the strongest in recent years. Top prospects like Julio Rodriguez, Bobby Witt Jr., and Spencer Torkelson had all enjoyed breakout seasons leading into their MLB debuts and their rookie cards were in high demand. This created significant buzz around the 2022 Prizm Baseball release.
Julio Rodriguez’s rookie cards stood out as clear favorites. The Mariners outfielder had a tremendous season that saw him named an All-Star and win AL Rookie of the Year. His base Prizm rookie card became a highly sought after chase card and even base versions commanded prices of $50-100 raw upon the set’s release. Higher end parallels like color Prizms, cracked ice, and autographs easily sold for thousands.
Bobby Witt Jr.’s rookie cards were also very popular. As the #2 overall pick in the 2019 draft and top prospect in the Royals’ system, there was lots of hype around Witt before his MLB debut. His play lived up to expectations and his Prizm rookies were hot tickets. Base versions sold for $30-50 raw while color/numbered parallels gained even more value.
Other top rookie cards that performed well initially included catcher Adley Rutschman’s cards (Baltimore’s #1 prospect), Spencer Torkelson’s Tigers cards, and Seiya Suzuki’s Chicago Cubs debut cards as one of the biggest Japanese position player imports. All saw their Prizm rookies gain value and collectibility quickly.
On the veteran side, perennial stars like Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, and Ronald Acuña Jr. were some of the most sought after base Prizm cards. Ohtani’s dual-threat abilities as a pitcher and hitter made him one of the most unique and captivating players in the game. As a result, his 2022 Prizm base rookies held steady values of $15-30 each. Soto and Acuña also remained fan favorites whose cards retained strong collector interest.
Other popular veteran chase cards included Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., Mike Trout, and any of the sport’s young stars or budding superstars who had established themselves over the previous few seasons. Their base Prizm refractors and higher end color/numbered parallels could reach the $50-100+ range based on the specific player and parallel.
In terms of additional inserts, the “Prizm Picks” prospect cards spotlighting players like Gunnar Henderson and Oneil Cruz gained a following. The “League Leaders” stats inserts honoring single-season achievements were also popular among collectors looking to commemorate historical seasons. And the “Foundation” veteran inserts highlighting stars from the 1990s-2000s eras found an audience among collectors nostalgic for those players.
The 2022 Prizm Baseball release was another massive success that captivated the modern sports card hobby. Strong rookie classes coupled with the brand popularity of Panini Prizm made for enormous demand on the product. While initial retail availability was limited, the long-term collectibility of the top rookies and stars in the set like Julio Rodriguez and Bobby Witt Jr. has cemented 2022 Prizm Baseball as one of the premier modern issues. Several years later, these cards remain a cornerstone in the collections and portfolios of today’s baseball card investors.
