Topps Baseball 2022 Series 1 was released in late January, kicking off the new MLB season. As with every year, the first series of Topps Baseball cards features the biggest rookies and stars from the previous season. Series 1 is always one of the most anticipated releases and contains several chase cards that collectors look to pull. Let’s take a look at some of the best and most valuable cards collectors can find in 2022 Topps Baseball Series 1.
Ronald Acuña Jr. Base Rookie Card – Acuña had a breakout season in 2018 where he finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. His rookie card from 2018 Topps Series 1 remains one of the hottest modern rookie cards. The 2022 version updates his image in a Braves uniform. While not quite as valuable as the 2018 rookie, it’s still one of the premiere rookies in the set. Graded PSA 10 examples have sold for over $100.
Juan Soto Rainbow Foil Variation – Soto exploded onto the scene in 2018 at just 19 years old and has become one of the game’s biggest stars. The rainbow foil parallel of his base card from Series 1 is one of the toughest pulls in the set. Less than a dozen PSA 10 examples exist, with recent sales over $500. Even raw copies in good condition fetch $100+.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Base Rookie – Like Acuña and Soto before him, Vlad Jr. took the MLB by storm in 2019. His rookie card remains a hot commodity for collectors. The 2022 Series 1 base version provides an updated image. PSA 10 copies have sold for $150-200, with lower graded examples around $50-75.
Wander Franco Gold Label Parallel – Franco had one of the best rookie seasons in recent memory in 2021. He’s considered a future superstar. His gold label parallel from Series 1 is a true short print, making it highly sought after. Even raw copies in good condition sell for $50-75 due to the rarity.
Rookie Cup Parallel Set – This set features the top rookie stars, including Acuña, Soto, Vlad Jr., Franco, and more in a special parallel design. Each card is serially numbered to /2021, making them extremely limited. Individual cards have sold for $25-50, with the full set reaching $300-400.
Mike Trout Rainbow Foil – Trout is arguably the best all-around player of this generation. His rainbow foil parallel is one of the toughest pulls in the flagship set. PSA 10 examples have cracked $200 due to Trout’s superstar status and the scarcity of the parallel.
Shohei Ohtani Gold Label – Ohtani had a historic 2021 season as a two-way player, cementing his status as a true unicorn. His gold label parallel captures his unique talents. PSA 10 copies have sold for $75-100 given Ohtani’s popularity and the short printed nature of the parallel.
Fernando Tatis Jr. Gold Label – Tatis emerged as a budding superstar in 2020-21 before injuries slowed his momentum. Still, he’s one of the most exciting young players in the game. His gold label parallel captures that excitement and has sold for $50-75 raw.
Rookie Cup Autograph Parallel – This parallel features autographs of the top rookies, including Franco, Acuña, Soto and more. Numbered to 2021, each auto is extremely rare. PSA 10 Franco and Acuña examples have reached $300-400 due to the scarcity.
Mike Trout Autograph – Trout remains the undisputed king of the hobby. His autographed card from Series 1 is one of the set’s true big ticket cards. PSA/SGC 10 examples have cracked $1,000 due to his superstar status and rarity of autographed Trout rookies from the flagship set.
In conclusion, Topps Baseball 2022 Series 1 provides collectors the first chance to add several of the game’s biggest young stars like Franco and Acuña to their collections. Parallels like rainbow foils and gold labels of stars like Trout, Ohtani and Tatis add scarcity. Autographs of elite talents push certain cards into true high-end territory. With rookies, stars and short prints throughout, Series 1 remains one of the most exciting releases each year to hunt valuable cards.
