The 2022 Topps Baseball Update Series was released in late August/early September and contains plenty of rookie cards, autographs, and parallels of star players that have already seen their collectibility and values rise significantly in the months since its release. Let’s take a look at some of the most valuable rookie and star player cards from the set that collectors are keen to get their hands on.
Perhaps the most sought after card from the 2022 Topps Update Series is the Bobby Witt Jr. rookie card. The star Kansas City Royals rookie shortstop had an excellent debut season that saw him finish second in AL Rookie of the Year voting. His base rookie card from the set has already reached over $100 in near mint condition and remains one of the hottest rookie cards on the market. Autographs and parallels of his card Command even higher prices. The Witt Jr. autograph can fetch $1000 or more, while rare parallels like the /5 blue refractor parallel have sold for well over $2000. Clearly, Witt Jr.’s star power and production as a 21-year-old have collectors excited about his long term potential and the value of his rookie cards looks set to continue rising.
Another huge rookie draw from the set is Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez. Like Witt Jr., Rodríguez had a breakout rookie campaign that saw him finish third in AL ROY voting. His base rookie card also surpassed $100 and his autographed cards trade hands for $500-1000 depending on parallel. The true gems though are the ultra-rare sepia paper /5 parallels, which have sold for upwards of $3000-4000 due to their limited print run. Rodríguez looks like a perennial all-star in the making and his cards could appreciate significantly if he fulfills his enormous potential.
Two other rookies that have seen early value spikes due to impressive debut seasons are Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña and Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Shane Baz. Peña was not only the ALCS and World Series MVP but also took home AL ROY honors in 2022. As a result, his base rookie jumped to a $75-100 price range with autographed editions fetching $350-600. Baz also had flashes of dominance in his rookie campaign before an elbow injury cut it short. Nonetheless, his autographed cards have brought in $400-700 and the high-numbered parallels around $100-150. Both players have rookie cards that still have plenty of room for growth if they build on their early success.
Moving beyond rookies, superstar veterans still hold plenty of collecting appeal in the 2022 Update Series. For example, New York Yankees star Aaron Judge had one of the most prolific single season home run performances in history when he clubbed 62 long balls. Not surprisingly, any Judge cards from the set carry a premium. His base card sells between $50-75 while short prints and autographs command $200-350. The true trophies are the rare Judge parallels like the /5 sepia refractor, which already checks in at $1000-1500 raw just months after the set released. With all the hype around Judge’s massive 2022 season, those prices seem poised to rise further still.
Another veteran slugger who rakes in card value thanks to an awe-inspiring 2022 campaign is St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. At 35, Goldschmidt had perhaps the best year of his career, leading the NL in batting average, slugging percentage and OPS. As a result, his Update Series cards have shown strong returns. The base gold schmidt runs $30-50 while rare parallels like the green /99 and sepia /5 refractors exceed $150-250. His autographed cards tend to fetch $150-300 based on parallel. With Goldschmidt proving he has plenty left in the tank, his Update Series cards could maintain relevancy if he continues raking in 2023 and beyond.
Moving to the pitching side of things, Cards flamethrower Jordan Montgomery has seen early returns since being acquired from the Yankees at the trade deadline. In St. Louis, Montgomery posted a 2.09 ERA down the stretch and looked like a new pitcher. As a result, his Update Series cards have already started gaining steam. The base Montgomery sells for $15-25 while autographed parallels move for $125-200 with rarer refractors over $250. If Montgomery carries his newfound success into 2023 as the Cards #3 starter, those prices could trend upwards further. His strong finish to 2022 has built excitement around his long term prospects.
Continuing with breaking pitchers, Phillies ace Zack Wheeler has established himself as one of baseball’s most dependable aces over the past few seasons. In 2022, Wheeler tossed 212 innings of 3.07 ERA ball for a playoff team, gaining more national recognition. Accordingly, Update Series cards featuring “Ace” Wheeler command a healthy bump in value. His standard issue sells between $15-25 while harder to find parallels like the gold /50 and sepia /5 refractors hit $75-125. Autographed editions tend to sell in the $150-300 range depending on parallel. Wheeler remains one of the most durable frontline starters in MLB – so his cards retain long term appeal.
Rounding out the top high value veterans, San Diego Padres superstar Manny Machado continues to make his presence felt on the collecting scene. Even after a decade in the Majors, Machado maintains all-star caliber production and his Update Series cards reflect that sustained excellence. The base Machado checks in around $15-25 but rarer autographed andParallel cards gain exponentially from there. Machado autographs run $150-300 while short prints like the /50 and /5 refractors soar to $150-250. Few active players have maintained hobby relevance as long as Machado – so his cards should retain strong valuations as long as he continues raking.
The 2022 Topps Update Series houses a litany of rookie cards, autographs and parallels for stars of both the present and future that have already shown sharp rises in Collectibility and value just months after release. From Witt Jr. and Rodríguez on the rookie side to veterans like Judge, Goldschmidt and Machado, the set offers cards for collectors of every interest level that are poised to gain further in time. For those looking to invest in the present and future of the hobby, cracking packs of 2022 Topps Update remains as sound an option as any on the modern collecting scene today.
