Topps released their highly anticipated 2022 baseball card Series 2 in mid-June, delivering a wide array of exciting new rookies, stars, and parallel variants for collectors to enjoy. Series 2 has traditionally followed the first wave of packs released earlier in the year, giving fans fresh cards to chase as the MLB season heats up in the summer months.
The 2022 Series 2 set featured a total of 142 base cards, headlined by star veteran hitters like Mike Trout, Freddie Freeman, and Juan Soto. The set featured a bevy of promising rookie position players like Adley Rutschman, Spencer Torkelson, and Bobby Witt Jr. as they embarked on their debut MLB campaigns. On the pitching side, rookie standouts like Hunter Greene, MacKenzie Gore, and Matt Brash made their card debuts after getting their first taste of major league action.
While the base set cards provide the foundation for any collectors’ Series 2 chase, Topps upped the excitement level with a strong slate of parallels and serialized short prints. The popular “Rainbow Foil” parallels that debuted in Series 1 returned, with variants available in Red (#/150), Blue (#/75), Green (#/50), Gold (#/25), and Orange (#/10). These hyper-limited parallels of the biggest stars like Trout, Ohtani, and Soto are highly sought after by high-end collectors.
Additional parallel variants included “Starburst” refractor parallels (1:6 packs), Photography Variation parallels (1:20 packs), and Rainbow Foil Negative parallels (1:72 packs). These provided alternate versions of base cards at varying levels of scarcity. Topps also included short printed parallels available at 1:72 packs, guaranteeing some level of chase within every box or pack.
One of the most exciting new additions to Series 2 were the return of Topps’ fan-favorite “Chrome” refractors. Featuring a highly-sought refractive coating on some of the best rookie and star cards, the Chrome parallels added a prestige element to the release. Topps inserted Chromes at a challenging 1:120 pack rate, stoking demand significantly. While the Chromes were not numbered, their rarity alone fueled intense collector interest.
In terms of special inserts, Topps brought back popular short print insert sets like “Negative Universe” and “Star Performers.” The Negative Universe set inverted the color palette of iconic base cards, while Star Performers highlighted memorable player performances from the season so far. Topps also included some fun oddball inserts like “Photo Variations,” “League Leaders,” “You’re The GM,” and “Next Top Star” focusing on top prospects.
For high-end collectors chasing ultra-premium cards, Topps had “Auto Parallels” featuring on-card autographs of stars and rookies. Inserted at an extremely rare 1:576 packs or higher, these autographed parallels guaranteed serious hits. Topps also included 1:1,488 “Gold /50” parallel autographs of the biggest names, as well as 1:2,880 mega-short print “SuperFractor” parallels without a printed number. These types of unprecedented rare autographed parallels fuel the high-end chase.
In terms of product mix, Topps released Series 2 in traditional Hobby Boxes (36 packs), Jumbo Boxes (50 packs), and Blaster and Hanger retail packs. But in a nod to the expanding direct-to-consumer collecting market, Topps also distributed the set in the form of exclusive “Hobby Packs,” “Clubhouse Collection” boxes, and “Grab Bags.” These non-traditional formats offered fans new and accessible ways to experience the thrill of the Series 2 release.
Overall, Topps Series 2 delivered another well-designed and meticulously inserted baseball card release worthy of its place as a cornerstone of the summer collecting calendar. Between the new rookie talent, star veterans, abundant parallels, and premium autographed chase cards, there was truly something for every type of collector at every level. With key rookie and star performances still unfolding over the course of the season, Series 2 will likely stand as one of the most meaningful sports card releases of 2022. Its array of compelling chase cards is sure to excite the hobby for years to come.
