The 2022 Topps Series 2 baseball card set is the second series release of Topps’ flagship baseball card product for the 2022 season. Following the popular Series 1 release in March/April, Series 2 provides fans and collectors another opportunity to add to their player collections and chase after new parallels and insert cards from the current MLB season.
The 2022 Topps Series 2 base card checklist consists of 330 total cards. This includes updated photos and stats from the 2022 season for players included in Series 1 as well as several new rookie cards and players who were not included in the first series. Some notable new additions to the Series 2 base set include rookies like Adley Rutschman, CJ Abrams, Bobby Witt Jr., and Spencer Strider. Veteran players like Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, and Justin Verlander also receive base cards after joining new teams in 2022.
In addition to the 330 base cards, Topps has included several popular insert sets in Series 2 packs. The most coveted by collectors is likely the Rainbow Foil parallel insert set. Similar to past years, this parallel features a hyper-colorful foil treatment on a selection of star players. Rarity varies, but the most valuable Rainbow Foil cards tend to be superstars like Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, and Ronald Acuña Jr. Given the low print runs, these parallel cards can fetch hundreds of dollars graded and encapsulated in mint condition.
Another highly sought after insert set is Topps’ All-Star Collection. This 12-card set honors the top vote-getters and starters from this year’s All-Star Game in Los Angeles. Players featured include likely AL and NL MVPs Aaron Judge and Paul Goldschmidt. Past All-Star Collection cards have maintained strong resale value in the years following their release.
Veteran card collectors will also be on the hunt for the annual Topps Legends insert set paying tribute to retired greats of the game. The 2022 Legends include fan favorites like Ken Griffey Jr., Greg Maddux, and Cal Ripken Jr. Topps typically includes bio information and career highlights on the back of these nostalgic retro-style cards.
Rookie collectors have multiple options to chase first-year players beyond the base cards. The Topps Future Stars insert highlights some of the top prospects who are continuing to develop in the minors but are expected to make an MLB impact in the coming years. Names like Bobby Witt Jr. and CJ Abrams are featured after having strong debut seasons.
Another insert focused on prospects is Topps Prospects. This 12-card set features the highest rated farmhands according to MLB.com’s rankings at the time of Series 2 production. Cards of players like Noelvi Marte, Gunnar Henderson, and Emerson Hancock offer an early glimpse of future stars before they establish themselves in the majors.
Topps also continues their Decades Best parallel insert sets paying tribute to the greatest players and performances from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. These retro-styled cards within each decade often feature the sport’s iconic superstars. Popular players like Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, and Clayton Kershaw are typical inclusions across the five Decades Best insert sets.
On top of the base cards and inserts, collectors can hunt for several parallel and autograph variations throughout Series 2 packs. The most common is the standard Topps Chrome parallel featuring a reflective foil treatment on the same 330 base cards. Limited edition parallels like Negative, Gold, and Red also make appearances across the base checklist in ultra-low print runs.
The most valuable parallel by far are the prized autographed rookie cards. Topps reserves autographs of the top prospects for their most sought-after parallels. Names that may appear include rookies like Adley Rutschman, CJ Abrams, and Bobby Witt Jr. signed. These rookie autographs carry premiums well into the thousands of dollars depending on the player and exact parallel.
The 2022 Topps Series 2 baseball card release provides a fun opportunity for collectors to continue building their player collections from the current MLB season. With a strong mix of base cards, inserts, and parallel variations, there are plenty of chase cards at every collector level. Whether adding new stars to a personal collection or pursuing valuable vintage parallels and autographs, Series 2 packs offer excitement for all hobbyists when breaking wax in pursuit of their favorite players.
