2022 was another exciting year for Topps baseball cards, as the company released their flagship Series 1, Series 2, and Update sets. One aspect collectors look forward to each year are the short print cards inserted throughout the base sets. Short prints are harder to find than standard base cards, adding an element of chase and excitement to the hobby.
For 2022, Topps introduced short prints at approximately a 1-in-10 pack ratio across Series 1 and Series 2. These short prints were immediately noticeable due to their parallel-style design, featuring a bright pink border around the image. Some of the most sought-after short prints included rookie cards of Bobby Witt Jr., Spencer Torkelson, and Julio Rodriguez. Veterans like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Shohei Ohtani also received pink border short prints due to their star power.
In addition to the base short prints, Topps unveiled “Super” short prints for the first time in 2022. These were inserted at an ultra-rare 1-in-150 pack ratio. Unlike the pink border design, Super short prints featured a gold foil logo on the front. Rokies like Adley Rutschman and C.J. Abrams received these coveted gold cards. Top veterans Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, and Bryce Harper rounded out the Super short print selections.
For collectors chasing complete sets, the short prints added an extra layer of difficulty. While Pinky and Goldys, as they became affectionately known, were highly sought-after on the secondary market. Complete pink border short print sets for Series 1 and Series 2 routinely sold for thousands of dollars on eBay. Individual Pinky rookie cards also commanded premium prices due to their rarity and popularity with collectors.
Topps’ 2022 baseball card Update release in September also featured short prints. These had a simpler design with a solid pink fill behind the player picture. Update short prints included rookie sensations Oneil Cruz, Matt Brash, and Jonatan Clase. Established stars Mookie Betts, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Shohei Ohtani rounded out the checklist. Update short prints were inserted at approximately the same 1-in-10 ratio as the Series sets.
Beyond the flagship releases, Topps also incorporated short prints into specialty and high-end products. The 2022 Topps Chrome baseball offerings featured short prints with a pink refractor parallel design. Chrome short prints star rookies like Spencer Strider and Bobby Witt Jr. were highly sought. In hobby-exclusive releases like Topps Transcendent and Topps Gold Label, short prints boasted exquisite parallel designs like pink Velocity and gold Inception. These short prints from luxury products accounted for some of the most valuable cards on the secondary market.
Looking ahead to 2023, Topps is likely to continue issuing short prints at similar ratios across their main baseball sets. Collectors will no doubt chase rookie short prints of top prospects like Druw Jones, Jackson Holliday, and Termarr Johnson. Established stars carrying premium rookie short prints like Shohei Ohtani and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. should remain hot commodities. Topps will probably evolve the short print designs as well to keep the parallel chase exciting for collectors. Regardless, short prints are sure to remain a cornerstone of the yearly Topps baseball card experience.
In summary, Topps short prints from the 2022 season breathed new life into the baseball card hobby. Between the base pink borders, ultra-rare gold super versions, and specialty parallel designs – collectors had plenty to chase after. Short prints added scarcity, excitement, and substantial value increases for the hottest rookies and stars. As long as Topps continues innovating with new short print types each year, the parallel chase is guaranteed to keep die-hard collectors enthralled.
