The 2022 Topps baseball card set was released in January 2022 and contains several exciting features for collectors. As with past Topps flagship sets, the 2022 edition includes base cards for every Major League Baseball player as well as various insert sets honoring individual players and achievements. Let’s take a closer look at what’s included in this year’s complete set.
The base set contains a total of 712 cards spanning all 30 MLB teams. Each club receives between 22-26 cards to represent the players on their 40-man rosters at the start of the new year. Some rookies and prospects that hadn’t yet reached the majors were also included based on their future potential. The vast majority of the base cards feature a single player per card, but there are also a handful of double or triple “dual photos” cards showcasing teammates.
In addition to the standard base cards, Topps included several exciting insert sets that collectors love to chase after. Themed inserts in 2022 recognize accomplishments like Rookie of the Year candidates (80 cards), All-Star shots (35 cards), Milestone Tracker cards (10 cards), and Legacy cards (30 cards) spotlighting retired legends. Autograph and memorabilia cards of current stars can also be pulled randomly in packs or bought in hobby boxes of the set.
For the first time, Topps incorporated augmented reality technology into 5 of the insert sets. Using the Topps AR app on mobile devices, collectors can scan specially marked cards to unlock 3D animations and bonus content celebrating the featured players. AR-enabled sets this year are Rookies (80 cards), Stars of the Future (40 cards), Milestone Performers (40 cards), HR Kings (30 cards), and All-Time Greats (20 cards) bringing history to life like never before.
Another unique element in 2022 Topps were the 85 Tracker cards highlighting key stats throughout each MLB team’s season. From home runs to wins and everything in between, fans can stay up to date on how their favorite club is progressing. There are also 50 Fan Favorite Moments cards recreating iconic playoff scenes from the past which collectors enjoy reminiscing about.
Completists will want to hunt for all 54 Parallels inserted throughout the base set at different rarities. This includes the popular Silver Pack parallels as well as Holiday parallels in red and green, Independence Day cards, and more. Topps also released a special 149-card Team Set exclusive to each MLB franchise containing extra parallels and hits for devoted club collectors.
Of course, no Topps release would be complete without inclusion of the highly regarded Topps Designs set. This year contains 75 unique artistic renditions of current MLB stars. Past editions have proven to be a favorite for their creative twists on the traditional baseball card aesthetic. The 2022 checklist wraps up with 30 retail-exclusive Traded cards to represent midseason player moves between teams.
When all is said and done, the total card count clocks in at a whopping 1,798 unique cards spanning all 30 organizations. For the true completist,racking up the full 2022 Topps baseball set presents quite the challenge. Between the extensive base checklist, numerous innovative inserts packed with bonus content through AR, beloved parallels, and special team sets, there’s tons for enthusiasts of all ages to enjoy from this flagship release. Whether piecing together individual teams or going all in, the 2022 Topps set delivers the excitement that baseball card fans crave each season.
