The 2022 baseball season saw rookies make immediate impacts and veterans continue producing at an elite level. As a result, several players skyrocketed in popularity and had some of the most valuable rookie cards and autograph cards on the trading card market. While prices fluctuate daily based on recent performances and news, here are some of the highest value baseball cards from the 2022 season as of late October 2022 based on recent sales data from PWCC Marketplace, Goldin Auctions, and eBay.
Perhaps the biggest rookie sensation of 2022 was Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez. Coming off a strong finish in 2021 that earned him top prospect status, Rodriguez broke out as one of the best all-around players in baseball as a 21-year-old. He slashed .284/.345/.511 with 28 home runs, 75 RBI, and 25 stolen bases while playing stellar defense, finishing third in AL Rookie of the Year voting. Rodriguez’s prestigious Topps Chrome Refractor rookie card /299 has sold for as much as $2,400 ungraded and $5,500 graded Mint 9. His Topps Chrome Superfractor 1/1, one of the most coveted modern cards, sold for $46,500 in a PWCC auction. Autographs of Rodriguez’s Topps Chrome rookie have reached $800, showing the early value he has brought to the collectibles market.
Another highly sought-after rookie is Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II, who had a spectacular debut season helping the Braves return to the playoffs. The 21-year-old batted .297 with 19 homers, 64 RBI, and 20 steals in only 133 games, flashing five-tool potential and Gold Glove caliber defense. Harris’ Topps Chrome Refractor rookie /299 has sold for up to $1,000 ungraded, with a BGS Black Label 10 copy reaching $3,800. His Topps Chrome Superfractor 1/1 traded hands for $17,250. Autographs of Harris’ Topps Chrome rookie have exceeded $500. With the Braves tradition and Harris’ impressive all-around rookie year, his cards hold great long-term value.
Another Atlanta phenom, 20-year-old outfielder Vaughn Grissom, had a brief but memorable cup of coffee and became the third youngest player in MLB history to hit a walk-off home run. Though he only tallied 51 at-bats, Grissom slashed .294/.367/.529 and left fans clamoring for more. His Topps Chrome Refractor rookie /299 recently sold for $540, showing strong early demand. Grissom’s rookie cards appear to be a bargain now but have sneaky longshot potential as the youngster continues developing in the Braves’ stacked system and farm.
Rookie catcher Adley Rutschman lived up to the massive hype with the Baltimore Orioles after being selected #1 overall in 2019. The 24-year-old switch hitter batted .256 with 13 home runs and 40 RBI in 92 games in his first MLB action, showcasing great plate discipline and pop for a backstop. Rutschman’s 2019 Topps Chrome Yellow Refractor RC /150 reached $2,000, while his Topps Finest Sapphire Parallel auto /10 sold for $2,750. His 2021 Bowman’s Best Purple Refractor auto /5 reached $4,300. As the presumed future face of the O’s franchise, Rutschman appears well on his way to joining the elite tier of MLB catchers, increasing his long-term card value.
Two veteran superstars had their best seasons in recent memory, leading to sharp rises in their card values. Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman enjoyed his second MVP-caliber campaign with the team he surprisingly signed with last offseason after 16 years with the Braves. At age 32, Freeman led the NL in batting average at .325 with 100 runs scored and a career-high 35 home runs. His 2020 Topps Chrome Yellow Refractor auto /50 climbed to $1,600, while a 2012 Topps Update Green Refractor auto graded BGS 9.5 hit $1,875. Freeman signed for $162 million guaranteed with the Dodgers, showing the respect and faith the organization has in him staying a perennial All-Star into his mid-30s.
Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees had a historic season for the ages in 2022. The 30-year-old slugger clubbed an AL-record 62 home runs to break the iconic single-season mark, powering the Yanks within a game of the World Series. Judge also fought his way to an AL-leading 131 RBI while batting .311, accomplishing exactly what he hoped while rejecting a $213.5 million extension from New York before the season. As a result, interest in Judge cards has rocketed. His 2017 Topps hometown auto reached $710 in late August compared to $225 in May. Perhaps most telling, his iconic 2016 Topps Update Green Shimmer rookie /5 soared over $20,000 in September after exchanging hands for $13,000 just weeks earlier – a 55% gain from the Judge-fueled hype alone. The slugger currently remains on track to shatter arbitration records in his upcoming free agency this winter. Unless he re-signs, it’s likely 2023 will bring increased card demand should Judge suit up elsewhere. If he does re-sign long-term with New York, prices could climb even higher due to his inevitable fit within Yankees lore alongside icons like Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle. Only time will tell.
A few other veteran standouts increasing attention to their vintage rookies include Atlanta’s Austin Riley, hitting .423 in September to lead the Braves to the World Series title. His 2018 Topps Heritage Minors auto has climbed to $300 from under $200 in June. For Milwaukee, All-Star closer Josh Hader enjoyed an otherworldly season, notching 34 saves with a career-best 1.23 ERA and 0.75 WHIP. A 2007 Topps Tribute Green Refractor auto rated PSA 9 just brought $935. Colorado shortstop Jose Iglesias turned in career-best power and defense for the Rockies, reaching valuations not seen since his days as a Red Sox promising prospect – a 2012 Bowman Chrome Draft Refractor auto recently hit $430. And San Diego All-Star third baseman Manny Machado showed once more how impactful he remains at the plate and in the field even entering his 30s, with a 2012 Topps Update Gold Refractor auto bringing $1,825 in late September.
While the 2022 MLB season concluded, these highest value baseball cards from the year offer an ongoing look at how player performances can boost long-term interest in their collecting legacies. Rookies like Julio Rodriguez, Michael Harris, and Adley Rutschman establishing themselves right away bodes well for their cardboard staying coveted. Meanwhile, superstar campaigns from Freddie Freeman and especially Aaron Judge proved to send tremors through current and vintage markets alike during an epic year. With a new baseball season around the corner, it will be fascinating to track how 2023 shapes up – and which current stars could see their own cards take flight.
