The 2022 Major League Baseball season brought with it the debut of Topps’ latest baseball card releases. While sports card collectors had several retail and hobby options to seek out the new year of cards, one of the most accessible retailers for finding 2022 Topps baseball wax packs, boxes, and memorabilia cards was Target. With a widespread national store presence and reasonably competitive pricing, Target locations across the United States stocked racks with the brand new 2022 Topps products, making them easily obtainable for countless fans and collectors.
Some of the major flagship 2022 Topps baseball card releases found at Target included Series 1, Series 2, Update Series, Chrome, Allen & Ginter, Heritage, and Stadium Club. Series 1 was the primary focus in the early months, containing base cards and numbering parallels of every active Major League player. Hobby boxes of Series 1 yielded either 12 or 18 packs with each containing over a dozen cards on average. Target sold these boxes for $39.99, giving collectors an entry point into chasing their favorite stars and prospects.
Individual Series 1 and 2 wax packs were also a mainstay on the racks at Target. Including over a dozen cards each like the boxes, these single packs retailed for $3.99, allowing a more affordable way to rip packs while still having chances at hits. Shortprint variations, yellow parallel serial numbered cards under /199, and diamonds parallels could all be pulled from Series 1 and 2 retail wax packs. Checklists featured over 600 total player cards between the two series, ensuring a high number of base rookies as well.
Insert sets were another major collector draw to 2022 Topps products found at Target. Allen & Ginter featured charming non-sports artwork and unique mini cards. Meanwhile, Heritage High Number highlighted retro designs paying tribute to classic tobacco era sets. Stadium Club was the ultra-premium offering containing sharp photography on high-gloss stock. Even more coveted were autos, relics, and 1/1 printing plates that could surface in these insert sets across the different Topps releases.
Target also carried 2022 Update Series once it was released in late summer as a mid-season primer for the remainder of the MLB campaign. Update included rookie additions like Adley Rutschman and players who had been traded to new teams since the flagship series. The notoriously short print Chrome cards were available too in both retail blaster and jumbo boxes at the big box retailer. Chrome served as the high-end flagship parallel with shiny refractors, colors, and even 1/1 black printing plates among the highly sought after hits.
Unlike hobby shop exclusives, Target didn’t carry jumbo hobby boxes containing 36 packs which are preferred by breakers and high-end collectors chasing autographs. They still housed a very consumer friendly selection of various 2022 Topps products so anyone could rip packs and potentially pull rookies, stars, and parallels of the current MLB season. From casual collectors to kids saving up allowance money, Target’s baseball card offerings made the yearly Topps releases highly accessible in an brick and mortar retail setting.
Many collectors enjoyed browsing the baseball card aisles at their local Targets to stay stocked on 2022 Series 1, 2, Update, Chrome, and more Topps releases throughout the spring and summer. While Target’s supply and restock frequency did fluctuate at times, they maintained a strong in-store presence for the flagship Topps baseball cards concurrent with the MLB schedule. If collectors struck out finding certain products on initial visits, Target provided an easy option to check back as new shipments arrived fairly regularly.
For breaks and group breaks hosted by card shops, Target wax packs and blasters served as an affordable supply source since they didn’t break the bank like hobby boxes. Many breakers replenished stock by stopping at various Targets for supplies. Resellers frequently scouted Targets for underpriced 2022 Topps boxes and highly chased short prints to list on eBay and through group break customer slots. Social media was also rife with “Target hits” showcases of big rookie pulls directly from retail packs.
By carrying 2022 Topps baseball cards headlined by Series 1 as a consistent in-store staple, Target succeeded in greatly increasing the accessibility and reach of the annual flagship releases. Families, kids, and casual collectors gained an easy destination to participate in the yearly Topps baseball card cycle synced to the Major League schedule, whether looking to add a few packs or boxes to their collection or searching forcoveted rookie cards and parallels of star players. Thanks to widespread Target stores, the 2022 Topps lineup had far broader consumer visibility and appeal compared to strictly hobby shops alone. As such, Target served a major role in keeping trading cards relevant and discovered by new generations.
While retail challenges may impact individual Target store’s card stock some weeks, their commitment to carrying Topps baseball helped continue growing the fanbase. The MLB, Topps, and consumers all benefitted from having 2022 Series 1, Chrome, Allen & Ginter and more available on convenient local Target shelves. For as long as the partnership continues putting current-year Topps sets within easy reach, Target will remain a staple supplier catering to collectors of all dedication levels eager to rip packs chronicling each new baseball season.
