The 2022 Topps baseball card set is one of the most anticipated releases each year from the legendary trading card manufacturer. As the sports card industry continues to boom in popularity, the annual Topps flagship baseball set holds a special place in the hearts of collectors both young and old. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most noteworthy inclusions and highlight cards collectors can find in the 2022 Topps offering.
The base set for 2022 features an incredible 250 cards and includes every player on an opening day roster as well as all notable rookie cards. One of the most popular first year player cards is Houston Astros starting pitcher and 2021 postseason hero Christian Javier. His card showcases him mid-windup and is sure to be an affordable rookie to pickup. Another top rookie is Detroit Tigers power hitting outfielder Riley Greene, who some scouts believe has legitimate five-tool potential. His photo features him swinging away and his card is found fairly regularly in packs. Other rookie standouts include fellow Tigers rookie Spencer Torkelson, Seattle Mariners slugger Julio Rodriguez, and Cincinnati Reds catcher Mike Siani.
The 2022 design continues Topps tradition of simplistic yet visually appealing photos on a plain white background. While some collectors yearn for flashier parallels or serial numbering, the clean and classic look is part of Topps’ enduring appeal. One interesting photographic element is the inclusion of dual photos on select cards showing two action shots of the player side by side. Stars like Shohei Ohtani, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Fernando Tatis Jr. receive this treatment that provides more glimpses of their talent.
Parallel and insert sets within the base product help collectors to spice up team sets or pursue specific parallel rainbows. The most sought after include the sepia-toned “Heritage” parallels limited to only 50 copies each. Other parallels like “Stars of MLB”, “Performers”, and “Topps’ Best” feature serial numbered versions of the base cards ranging from /249 all the way down to 1/1 printing plates. “Legendary Performances” pay homage to historic MLB moments with retro photography recreations. Autograph and memorabilia cards can also be found throughout packs at different rarities.
While the base rookie cards may lack splashiness, Topps has included stronger selling incentives like autographed rookie materials. Christian Javier, Julio Rodriguez, and others feature autograph cards with rookie season swatches of jersey or bat fabric. Autographed parallels of established veterans like Mike Trout, Ronald Acuña Jr, and Buster Posey also give chance at bigger chase cards for collectors. Topps also broke new ground with their first ever 1/1 dual-relic autograph cards featuring swatches of two Hall of Famers from the same organization.
As for chase inserts, Topps continues their fan favorite “Topps Now” and “Photo Hits” sets which allow fans to score topical snapshots of MLB’s best moments throughout the current campaign. Short prints, refractors, and other insertion parallels add even more variety for collectors at all levels. Beyond the base retail release, Topps also offers higher-end hobby exclusives through their “Baseball Hobby” product with stricter print runs, superior materials, and larger autograph selection. Exclusive 1/1 sketch cards are also awarded through Topps Hobby Jumbo Box Breaks done on their website.
Despite a crowded sports card market in 2022 with competition from brands like Panini and Leaf, Topps baseball remains the most traditional and ubiquitous flagship release each year. Their iconic design, expansive rookie selections, and endless parallel varieties make it an accessible and rewarding set for both building full team collections or focusing chase strategies. While resell value may fluctuate, the Topps 2022 release is sure to be a memorable and fun experience for collectors of America’s pastime through its classic yet modern playing card approach. With increased exposure of baseball through media like Monday Night Baseball on ESPN, interest in Topps 2022 cards is projected to be among their strongest releases in history.
