Topps is one of the leading producers of sports trading cards, renowned for its iconic baseball cards released each year. For the 2022 holiday season, Topps released a special insert set within its flagship baseball card product called “Topps Holiday.” Featuring festive designs and winter themes, these inserts have become a highly anticipated new tradition for collectors each December.
The 2022 Topps Holiday insert set totals 78 cards and features every MLB team represented. Each card depicts a current player from that franchise dressed in a custom designed winter outfit. Most feature winter clothing like coats, hats and gloves, while others get more creative. For example, New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso is dressed as Santa Claus complete with a fake white beard and red suit. Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez is depicted wearing reindeer antlers and a red nose.
Topps’ designers clearly had fun with the concept, coming up with unique winter-themed costumes and poses for each player. San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. is lifting a present over his head while Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw pretends to ice skate. Some cards even incorporate actual winter activities, like Detroit Tigers pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez proudly displaying a freshly caught fish on an ice fishing hole.
In addition to simply being visually appealing collector’s items, one of the biggest draws of Topps Holiday cards is the potential for increased memorabilia value over time. Since they depict specially designed one-of-a-kind costume concepts, each individual card carries rarity compared to standard uniform poses from Topps base sets. As a result, authenticated Topps Holiday cards featuring star players often trade for a premium on the secondary market.
For example, based on recent eBay sales, the Tatis Jr. and Alonso cards from the 2022 series have sold for around $10-15 each graded and encased by third party authentication companies like PSA or SGC. Rookie sensation Julio Rodriguez’s reindeer-adorned card has brought $20-25. Meanwhile vintage 1990 Topps Holiday cards of Hall of Famers like Kirby Puckett and Cal Ripken Jr. in their fake winter gear have sold for over $100.
Part of what helps drive interest and memorabilia value for Topps Holiday inserts over the years is the increasing scarcity as versions from past decades become more difficult to find in high grade. Since they saw significantly less manufacturing runs and distribution compared to standard flagship releases, pristine preserved examples of early 1990s Topps Holiday cards have developed cult followings among collectors.
Gem mint PSA 10 examples of Ken Griffey Jr. as Santa from 1992 or Frank Thomas as the Abominable Snowman from 1993 can fetch thousands of dollars at auction. This scarcity factor is a big part of what also fuels demand when brand new Topps Holiday sets are released each December, as collectors eagerly snap them up hoping to acquire popular stars for potential long term value.
There is no disputing the impact Topps Holiday inserts have had on the collectibles market since their debut over 30 years ago. They offer a fresh spin on the standard baseball card concept by dressing players in playful winter wardrobes. While meant first and foremost as a fun collector’s novelty, their Memorabilia potential has grown each year.
As more recent Topps Holiday issues featuring current stars like Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr. enter the collecting spectrum, their values will be closely watched. Only time will tell which specific cards from the 2022 series achieve durable demand and appreciation over the next few decades. But one thing is for certain – Topps Holiday continues to be a highlight among baseball card collectors anticipated release each year during the holiday season.
