The 2022 Topps baseball card release is one of the most highly anticipated issues each year among card collectors. After months of waiting, card hobbyists can finally circle a date on their calendars for when they will be able to get their hands on the new cards featuring their favorite players and teams.
Topps has been the MLB’s exclusive trading card license holder since 1953 and their annual baseball card releases are a beloved tradition for many. With sports card values skyrocketing in recent years due to increased collector interest and nostalgia, the release of each new Topps series generates significant buzz.
This year, the 2022 Topps Series 1 baseball cards will be officially released on February 16, 2022. While individual packs and boxes may start becoming available from hobby shops and sellers in the days leading up to that date as shipments arrive, February 16 marks the widespread national release.
Topps Series 1 is always the flagship set that kicks off each new year’s baseball card season. It features around 330 cards including base rookie cards, veterans, stars, and inserts. This initial release lays the foundation for the entire 2022 Topps basketball offerings that will be released throughout the year.
As with past years, the 2022 Topps Series 1 cards will be available in multiple retail formats including blaster boxes, hanger boxes, fat packs, and of course, the classic loose wax packs containing about 11 cards each. Hobby boxes containing 36 packs can also be pre-ordered from LCS’s and online card shops.
Some key things collectors will be on the lookout for in the 2022 Topps Series 1 release include base rookie cards of top prospects like Julio Rodriguez, Bobby Witt Jr., and Spencer Torkelson who are expected to make their MLB debuts this season. Autograph and memorabilia cards of rising stars like Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, and Ronald Acuna Jr. will also be in high demand.
Veteran stars like Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Jacob deGrom and more continue to be huge draws for collectors as well. Topps usually includes a mix of base cards, insert sets, parallels and short prints to appeal to collectors of all levels and interests within each year’s Series 1 release.
In preparation for the February 16 drop date, many shops and sellers are currently accepting pre-orders for hobby boxes, retail case breaks, and other 2022 Topps Series 1 products. This allows collectors to guarantee they will receive a sealed product of the new issues once they arrive rather than risk missing out.
It’s not uncommon for the most sought-after rookie cards, autographs, and parallels from each year’s Topps Series 1 to sell out quickly online once the release date hits. Pre-ordering helps avoid any sell outs while also giving collectors something to look forward to over the coming weeks.
While February 16 is locked in as the official 2022 Topps Series 1 release date, some early listings and singles cards may surface on auction sites in the days before from paid previews or overseas shipments arriving early. The true nationwide mass release will take place on that Wednesday next month.
This launch kicks off what is sure to be another exciting year in the sports card hobby. With values surging across the board from vintage to modern issues, as well as record attendance at national card shows, 2022 Topps Series 1 is primed to be one of the hottest releases in recent memory. Baseball fans and collectors alike will be eager to dive in and see what this year’s flagship set has in store.
With rookies primed to make their star turns, established legends still cranking out milestones, and the never-ending nostalgia of America’s pastime, Topps Series 1 is always a joyous occasion each winter signaling the start of a new season. This year’s release date of February 16th can’t come soon enough for many in the hobby.
