The 2022 Topps Heritage High Number baseball card set is the latest installment in Topps’ popular Heritage brand that pays homage to the classic designs of baseball cards from the 1950s and 1960s. As with past Heritage High Number releases, this year’s set extends the base Heritage checklist by featuring additional player cards from #341 onward. With over 350 total cards to collect, the 2022 Topps Heritage High Number set offers modern-day collectors a nostalgic look back at the game through the retro lens of Topps’ earliest designs.

Some key things to know about the 2022 Topps Heritage High Number set include:

Design – As with the base Heritage set, the card design of the High Number set perfectly replicates the look of Topps cards from the late 1950s and early 1960s. This includes the team logo at the top, action photo of the player, and simple white borders. The backs also feature the classic grey design scheme that fans of vintage Topps are familiar with.

Checklist – The set picks up card numbers where the base Heritage checklist left off, starting at #341. Some of the biggest names featured in the High Number cards include Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Ronald Acuña Jr., and Mookie Betts among many others. Each card features a current photo of the player in action.

Parallels – As with most modern Topps releases, the High Number set includes several parallel inserts with lower print runs to add to the chase. This includes Gold Foil parallels numbered to /2021, Silver Foil parallels numbered to /150, and Rainbow Foil parallels numbered to just /25. There are also Special Edition Green parallel cards available exclusively to hobby shops.

Insert Cards – In addition to the base checklist, the High Number release also includes several insert sets paying tribute to specific players, teams and events from baseball history. This includes “Turn Back The Clock” cards imagining players from the past and present switching uniforms, “Topps Archives” flashback cards to iconic moments in vintage photography, and “Topps’ Greats” highlight cards for Hall of Famers.

Autograph & Memorabilia Cards – For collectors seeking autographed and memorabilia cards, the High Number release includes several short print parallel inserts featuring these extras. This includes “Topps Signature Series” cards with on-card autographs from today’s stars, “Topps Relics” cards with swatches of game-used jerseys and equipment, and dual autographed cards as well.

Hobby Box Configuration – Like the base Heritage set, the High Number release is available in traditional wax hobby boxes containing 12 packs with 5 cards per pack. This configuration helps maintain the nostalgic experience of opening vintage-style packs layer by layer in search of stars, inserts and chase cards. Boxes carry an MSRP of around $120 but can often be found discounted, especially later in the release cycle.

When it comes to the resale and investment potential of 2022 Topps Heritage High Number cards, there are a few key factors to consider:

Star Rookie Cards – As with any modern baseball release, the rookie cards of emerging young stars like Soto, Tatis Jr., Guerrero Jr. and Acuña Jr. tend to be the best long-term prospects. Their base rookie cards as well as short-printed parallels could appreciate significantly with continued success on the field.

Autograph & Memorabilia Cards – Due to their low print runs and inclusion of valuable game-used memorabilia, autograph and relic cards have a proven track record of holding value over time, especially for star players. The 1/1 parallels in particular can become quite valuable collectors’ items.

Popular Veterans – Established stars still in their primes like Betts, Trout, deGrom, etc. will maintain strong collector demand for their base cards and short prints in both the short and long run. As long as they stay healthy and productive, these types of cards are generally safe investments.

Design & Nostalgia Factor – The vintage-inspired design of Heritage cards will always appeal strongly to collectors with an appreciation for the history and aesthetics of the earliest Topps issues. This baseline collector interest helps provide long term stability in the secondary market.

Grading – As with any collectible, professionally-graded Heritage High Number cards in top MT/GEM conditions will hold substantially more value in the resale market. This is especially true for the scarcer parallels, memorabilia cards, and rookie cards of future stars.

While short-term fluctuations are always possible, the 2022 Topps Heritage High Number baseball card set looks poised to maintain strong collector demand and resale potential for years to come. The combination of classic design, modern star rookies and parallels, and the nostalgia factor of the Heritage brand make this an ideal long-term investment for both casual and avid card collectors. Those able to pull the top rookie cards and short prints straight from packs may very well be sitting on valuable collectibles for decades down the road.