The 2022 Topps Heritage baseball set was released in March and featured retro designs harkening back to the 1960s and 1970s era of Topps sets. As with every Heritage release, this set contained many highly sought after short prints and parallels that became instant hits with collectors. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the standout cards from the 2022 Topps Heritage base set and highlight series.
One of the most coveted rookie cards in the set is that of Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Shane Baz. As the 21st overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, Baz has exciting potential as a frontline starter. His Heritage base card captured him in a Rays uniform with a classic Topps design from the late 60s/early 70s. With Baz expected to play a major role for the Rays in 2023, this rookie card is a great long term investment, especially for any graded gem mint examples.
Another rookie standout is Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez. Rodriguez had a phenomenal debut season that saw him named to the All-Star team and finish second in AL Rookie of the Year voting. Like Baz, his Heritage base card features a simple yet effective retro design paying homage to Topps’ earlier years. Rodriguez is a true five-tool player who could be a perennial All-Star and is already one of the most exciting young talents in baseball. His rookie cards across all brands have skyrocketed in value and the Topps Heritage version is no exception.
For veteran star power, the Mike Trout base card is always a favorite amongst collectors. Trout continues to cement his status as the best player of his generation and his career arc makes any of his early cards a can’t-miss addition to any collection. The Heritage design perfectly captures the look and feel of Trout’s coming out party during his rookie season with the Angels in 2012. Both the standard base card and any parallels or serial numbered versions are must-owns for any Trout completionists.
Two of the biggest short prints in the set were the Juan Soto and Ronald Acuña Jr. SP variations. Numbered to only 150 copies each, these parallels instantly became some of the most in-demand cards on the secondary market. Both Soto and Acuña are 24-years old or younger and are already multi-time All-Stars with MVP caliber talent. Their Heritage SPs are the pinnacle rookie cards for two surefire future Hall of Famers.
The highlight series in 2022 Heritage was Photo Variations, with snapshots of current players incorporated into the classic designs. One of the most visually striking was the Wander Franco variation, with an action shot of the young Rays star gracefully fielding a ground ball. Franco has lived up to immense hype since debuting at just 20-years old and could become the face of the league within the next few years. His Photo Variation is a true one-of-a-kind collectible capturing a future superstar.
Another standout from the Photo Variations was the Mookie Betts card. It featured an awesome action photo of Betts leaping for a catch in the outfield. Betts has established himself as a perennial MVP candidate since coming over to the Dodgers and this Heritage variation is a perfect way to commemorate one of the game’s most complete players. With its exciting photo and retro design, it’s sure to be a fan favorite for years to come.
The 2022 Topps Heritage set also featured parallels like Gold Foil, Rainbow Foil, and Red Foil that provided several different visual treatments of the classic designs. The Rainbow Foil parallel cards in particular popped with their vibrant color combinations. Pulling a numbered parallel of a star player like Trout, Ohtani, or Judge became the holy grail for breakers and collectors alike. These parallels added tremendous value and collecting opportunities beyond the base set.
In addition to the standard release, Topps also issued a high-end Topps Heritage Major League Material set. These ultra-rare cards featured authentic memorabilia from today’s biggest stars like patches, bats, and signed swatches. An Acuña Jr. 1/1 patch auto or Soto on-card signature were truly one-of-a-kind historical artifacts that could be worth tens of thousands of dollars to the right collector. The Heritage MLM set took relic cards to an unprecedented level.
The 2022 Topps Heritage baseball set delivered everything collectors have come to expect – retro designs, exciting rookies, star veterans, and short printed parallels galore. Rookie cards of the games brightest young talents like Baz, Rodriguez, Franco and more set the table for years to come. Meanwhile, superstars like Trout, Betts, and the Photo Variations ensured this set would be a constant in collections. With its blending of nostalgia and today’s game, Topps Heritage has firmly cemented its place as one of the hobby’s most beloved annual releases.
