The 2022 Topps Baseball card set is one of the most highly anticipated releases each year from the industry leader in sports card production. Topps has been producing MLB players cards since 1952 and their dominance in the baseball card market is unmatched. The 2022 Topps Baseball card set was released in early 2022 and contains several insert sets, parallels, and rookie cards of current MLB stars.
Some of the major aspects of the 2022 Topps Baseball card release include:
Base Set: The base set contains 330 total cards featuring current MLB players. This includes stars like Shohei Ohtani, Fernando Tatis Jr., Aaron Judge, and more. The design features a photography centered look with team logos across the bottom. Numbers on the bottom right indicate parallel variations in the base set.
Rookie Cards: Several top rookie players from the 2021 season have their Topps Baseball rookie cards in the 2022 set. Cardinals outfielder Juan Yepez, Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, and Rangers pitcher Glenn Otto are some of the top prospects with rookie cards in this set. Superstar rookies like Jonathan India, Riley Greene, and Bobby Witt Jr. also have their flagship Topps rookie cards.
Insert Sets: Popular insert sets in the 2022 Topps release include All-Star, Diamond Kings, Home Run Challenge, Gold Label, and Negro League Legacy. The All-Star cards commemorate the top players who made the 2021 MLB All-Star team. Diamond Kings puts a retro spin on star players photographs. Home Run Challenge cards track longball leaders from the 2021 season. Negro League Legacy honors the historic Negro Leagues with reimagined cards of top stars.
Parallels: There are several parallel variations throughout the base set and inserts that are more scarce to pull. These include Rainbow Foil (1/1), Gold (#/150), Silver (#/250), Blue (#/500), Red (#/750), Green (#/1000), and Black ( variations not numbered). The rarer parallels command higher values on the secondary trading card market.
Box Contents: A standard 2022 Topps Series 1 hanger box contains 18 total packs with 5 cards per pack. This equates to around 90 total base cards with a chance at inserts and parallels as well. Hobby boxes of Topps Series 1 contain 36 packs or around 180 total cards. Jumbo boxes contain even more packs for an increased chance at big hits.
Special Sets: Additional special releases in the 2022 Topps Flagship set included Heritage Minors, High Tek, Golden Moments, and All-Rookie Extra Edition. Heritage Minors celebrates rising stars in the minors. High Tek applies a technological design approach. Golden Moments highlights iconic MLB snapshots. All-Rookie Extra Edition focuses solely on top prospects with extended rookie class coverage.
Autograph & Memorabilia Cards: Topps Project 70 cards in certain hobby boxes contain premiere hitting prospects and can include autographs or special memorabilia materials. Hobby boxes also have chances for autographed and memorabilia cards inserted throughout packs from star MLB veterans and prospects. These are some of the most coveted “hits” that collectors chase.
Outside of the base set, key rookie cards, and special inserts, fans and collectors particularly look forward to unique finds in 2022 Topps Series 1 each year. Some memorable previous “oddball” cards include a Fernando Tatis Jr. card showing the shortstop with eye black spelling out “FTP,” a Kyle Tucker card picturing the outfielder holding two bats, and a Tommy Pham card posing with an unusual amount of chains around his neck. While most cards feature traditional baseball photography, Topps occasionally takes more creative liberties that become topic of discussion.
The trading card resurgence that has taken off since the start of the pandemic has led to increased hype, demand, and secondary market prices for modern flagship releases like 2022 Topps Series 1. Hobby boxes of the set were hovering around the $100 mark leading up to release but quickly sold out, driving the price up over $150 once released. Individual packs have resold for over $10 each online as fans look for their chance at parallels, inserts, and big rookie card pulls to collect or flip. Stores saw lines and sellouts upon initial stocking of 2022 Topps as the sports cards craze shows no signs of slowing.
Whether you’re a longtime collector chasing your favorite players or building a complete base set, or a newcomer excited to open your first pack of Topps Baseball cards, the 2022 Series 1 release delivers the fun, nostalgia, and thrill of the chase that has kept the hobby thriving for generations. With a core of current stars, prospects, and memorable moments from the 2021 season encapsulated in card form, it’s no wonder the flagship Topps release tops wish lists in the baseball card world each year.
