The collectors’ baseball card market continued to see high prices in 2022 for vintage rookie cards of star players as well as new cards featuring emerging talents. With huge sums being spent on investments in iconic pieces of sports memorabilia, the competition to obtain prized vintage cards only increased. At the same time, the popularity of trading digital cards on apps like Topps continues to engage new generations of collectors.

As in past years, rookie cards of legendary players like Mickey Mantle and Mike Trout topped million-dollar sales. But 2022 also saw strong ongoing demand for cards showing the early careers of still-active stars like Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto. The exciting playoff performances of young players new to the scene added prominence to their freshly released rookie cards. With that in mind, here are some of the most notable baseball cards that generated buzz among collectors in 2022:

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle – The ’52 Mantle is widely considered the most coveted baseball card of all time. In January, a PSA 9 copy sold for a record $12.6 million, making it officially the most valuable trading card in existence. Despite the incredibly high price tag, it remains the defining symbol of both vintage baseball nostalgia and card collecting as an investment asset class.

1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner – While the Mantle card grabbed more headlines, the legendary Wagner also had an earth-shattering sale in 2022. In July, a PSA Mint 9 example realized $6.6 million at auction, establishing a new high-water mark for the iconic “Holy Grail” card. With roughly 60 surviving copies, the demand will likely never be met for collectors seeking this early tobacco brand card.

2009 Bowman Draft Chrome Blue Refractor Shohei Ohtani RC – Ohtani’s incredible dual-threat abilities as a hitter and pitcher have captivated fans and solidified his status as one of the game’s brightest young stars. His shining rookie card from his time in Nippon Professional Baseball frequently reaches six figures, with a PSA 10 copy recently fetching over $400,000.

2017 Bowman Chrome Orange Refractor Juan Soto RC Auto – At just 19 years old, Soto continues breaking records both on and off the field. His dazzling rookie season included a clash with Fernando Tatis Jr for the NL batting title. Prices have steadily risen on Soto’s flagship RC, including a PSA 10 that brought $360,000 at auction this year.

2020 Topps Chrome Yellow Refractor Shohei Ohtani RC – Ohtani returned from injury to unleash a monster 2021 campaign, cementing his place among the elite. His 2020 Topps Chrome rookie cards gained tremendously in value, with the flashy Yellow Refractor RC surpassing $250,000 for high-grade copies.

2007 Bowman Chrome Superfractor Mike Trout RC – Trout has developed into arguably the greatest all-around player of his generation. The ultra-rare Superfractor version of his flagship rookie remains one of the white whales for Bowman collectors, with a PSA 10 copy changing hands for over $400,000 last spring.

1989 Topps Traded Ken Griffey Jr RC – As one of the most charismatic and talented players ever, “The Kid” retains immense nostalgia. The high-resolution photos featured on his early 1990 Topps cards add unique allure. The Traded RC achieved six figures for a PSA 10 in an October auction.

2020 Bowman Chrome Bobby Witt Jr Superfractor Auto RC #/5 – The top prospect in baseball, Witt lived up to expectations with a strong debut in 2022. The scarcity and on-card autograph of this parallel superfractor make it one of the new era’s most desired cards, with no PSA 10s in the population as of yet.

2009 Bowman Draft Kris Bryant RC Auto – An NL MVP and member of the 2016 Cubs, Bryant remains a prolific hitter. With increasing retirement speculation, first-year cards like this glossy rookie patch auto have gained ground, recently selling for $45,000 PSA 10 raw or $70,000 graded.

1988 Fleer Barry Bonds RC – Widely considered one of the best hitters ever, Bonds’ controversial hall of fame case hasn’t dampened interest in his rookie material. Nice graded copies have topped $15,000, a figure that could grow with time removed from his career controversies.

2019 Topps Chrome Red Refractor Pete Alonso RC Auto /50 – “Polar Bear” smashed rookie HR records en route to NL Rookie of the Year. The scarlet parallel of his flagship Topps RC auto from that season achieved over $10,000 recently. As he cements his place, expect premium parallels to appreciate.

2021 Bowman Chrome Gold Refractor Jordan Lawlar RC Auto /2021 – Lawlar wowed scouts with his all-around tool set and was the number one overall draft pick. The beautifully crafted gold parallels of his inaugural Bowman material regularly exceed $1,000 and should only rise as he debuts.

These were some of the highest profile vintage and modern baseball cards that generated buzz and big money among collectors over the past year. With beloved legends like Mantle and Wagner still idolized alongside emerging talents in Soto, Ohtani and beyond, the collector market retains immense passion for tracing the early careers of all-time greats through their iconic cardboard rookie issues. Going forward, new stars will join the ranks of those whose formative cards achieve the heights of investment treasures future generations seek out.