The 2022 Topps Update Series baseball cards were released in late September/early October of 2022, continuing Topps’ annual tradition of releasing an “Update” set midway through the MLB season. As with previous years, the 2022 Topps Update Series featured rookie cards, autographs, and parallels of players from the current season, with a focus on capturing any stats, accomplishments, team changes, or other notable updates from the first half of the year.
Some of the key storylines and players featured prominently in the 2022 Topps Update Series included rookie sensations like Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez, Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, and Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña. Rodríguez in particular had one of the best rookie seasons in recent memory and was prominently featured after being named an All-Star and finishing second in AL Rookie of the Year voting. Rutschman and Peña also made their MLB debuts in 2022 and had rookie cards after being top prospects.
Veteran stars chasing milestones were also highlighted. St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt had cards after surpassing 1500 hits and 300 home runs. Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts was featured after hitting his 200th career home run. New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge received Update cards as he chased Roger Maris’ American League single season home run record of 61, which he would eventually break.
Trades and free agent signings from the offseason and first half were also chronicled. For example, the Update set included cards of Matt Olson in an Atlanta Braves uniform after being acquired from the Oakland A’s, and Carlos Correa in a Twins uniform after signing with Minnesota in free agency. Other midseason trades like Miguel Cabrera joining the Cardinals after being dealt by the Tigers also made the cut.
Parallels and inserts remained an important part of the Update product. The base Update set included 150 cards as usual but parallels and short prints added to the chase. Popular parallels included Gold /50, Green /25, and Black /5. Autograph and memorabilia cards of stars and prospects were also inserted throughout packs and boxes at various odds. New this year was the “Fractals” parallel, featuring fractal patterns on the front of the card.
Design-wise, the 2022 Topps Update Series maintained a similar aesthetic to the flagship Topps base set but with subtle differences. Most noticeably, the color scheme was shifted to grey borders rather than white, and the team wordmarks along the bottom were changed to a solid color block rather than the team logo. Photographs remained current action shots rather than posed studio images. As with past Updates, biographies on the back provided season recaps and stats to bring collectors up to date on player performances and storylines.
In terms of product, the 2022 Topps Update Series was available in a variety of formats at the traditional hobby shop, mass retailer, and online store level. These included blaster and hanger packs for retail, as well as hobby boxes, jumbo boxes, and high-end cases containing autograph or memorabilia cards. Like the flagship Topps release, Update also had a high-end “Chrome” parallel available with refractors and other premium parallels.
The 2022 Topps Update Series provided an excellent midseason snapshot of the MLB season. It captured the breakout performances of rookies like Rodríguez as well as the chase for milestones from stars. The parallels and inserts added to the excitement of the release, and the design maintained Topps’ modern aesthetic. For collectors looking to stay up to date on the latest players and storylines, Topps Update once again delivered an essential baseball card product chronicling the 2022 MLB season. Its place as a core annual release ensures the 2022 Topps Update Series will remain a set collectors seek out and enjoy for years to come.
