The Topps Heritage brand is beloved by baseball card collectors for its retro designs that pay homage to cards from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. In 2022, Topps released its latest Heritage set which continued this tradition while also introducing some new twists. Let’s take a closer look at what collectors can find in the 2022 Topps Heritage baseball card set.
The 2022 Topps Heritage set contains a total of 396 cards and includes base cards, parallels, inserts, and autographed/memorabilia cards of current major league players. The design of the base cards directly replicates the look of Topps cards from the late 1960s. This includes the team logo positioned above the player photo, a simple white border around the image, and statistics and career highlights printed along the bottom. Topps did an excellent job of accurately recreating the vintage aesthetic down to the smallest details.
In addition to the standard base cards, Topps Heritage also includes numerous parallels and insert sets that provide more opportunities for collector chase cards. Some of the notable parallels include Gold Foil cards numbered to 50 copies, Gold Refractors numbered to 25, and Platinum Anniversary cards limited to just 10 copies. There are also Rainbow Foil parallels available in various serial numbered versions. These parallels help add value and excitement to the hobby by increasing scarcity.
Topps Heritage inserts in 2022 focus on honoring baseball history. The “Then and Now” insert set features a retro design on one side with a modern photo on the flipside. Other inserts spotlight All-Time Teams for the American and National Leagues as well as Topps’ 60th Anniversary. The “Diamond Kings” insert set highlights some of the game’s top players through stunning artwork. Collectors can also find “Turn Back The Clock” inserts which imagine how current stars might look on vintage-style cards from the past.
In addition to the base cards and inserts, the 2022 Topps Heritage release also includes several highly sought after autographed and memorabilia cards. Some of the biggest hits feature swatches or autographs of superstar players like Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, and Ronald Acuña Jr. The “Diamond Duos” dual relic parallel is particularly exciting as it combines patches from two different players on the same card. Autographed rookie cards also give collectors a chance at landing a young star’s first signature in the Heritage design.
While sticking closely to the retro visuals of its predecessors, Topps Heritage in 2022 did make some minor changes to the checklist mix that were well received. For example, the set included base cards for all 30 MLB teams rather than just the American League as in years past. Topps also upped the number of rookie cards in the checklist, ensuring collectors had plenty of opportunities to add emerging young talents to their vintage-style collections.
The 2022 Topps Heritage baseball card release was another huge success that lived up to collector expectations. By painstakingly recreating the look of 1960s cards but also adding modern parallels, inserts, and hits, Topps created a fun bridge between past and present. The authentic retro designs combined with opportunities to pull scarce parallels or hit autographed cards made Heritage a thrill to open for both kids and adults alike. Whether collecting for enjoyment or investment, the 2022 Topps Heritage set proved why it remains one of the most popular brands in the hobby. Its combination of nostalgia and newness ensures Topps Heritage baseball cards will remain a staple for collectors for years to come.
