The 2022 Topps Heritage brand brought back nostalgia and retro design elements that baseball card collectors love. While Heritage is known for its traditional design and photographic updates of classic cards from the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, the 2022 variations delivered several standout subsets and short prints that became highly coveted overnight. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best 2022 Heritage baseball cards that drove excitement in the hobby.
Tom Seaver 1966 Mini (#166): Seaver is arguably the most notable name from the 1960s Yankees/Mets era and one of the best pitchers of all time. The update to his iconic ’66 Topps rookie card captured his windup perfectly and featured exquisite attention to detail with the classic off-white borders and “action pose” photograph. Only available as a 1:1000 mini card, finding one in packs became the holy grail for many collectors. PSA 10 examples now easily fetch over $1000 given his legacy and the rarity of the parallel.
Clayton Kershaw Dodger Stadium (#139): Paying homage to the 1973 Topps design, this card spotlighted Kershaw in an action shot at Dodger Stadium. As one of the premier left-handed pitchers of his generation and playing for one of the most storied franchises, the photography and retro aesthetics made this one a must-have. It became even more scarce as fans realized it was only present as a 1:1000 mini parallel, similar to the Seaver. Near-gem copies have sold for hundreds online.
Sandy Koufax Memorial Day (#158): A fitting tribute to the Dodgers’ great Sandy Koufax, this captured him in a patriotic Memorial Day uniform not seen since the late 1960s. Reprinting one of his classic Topps designs, it highlighted an underappreciated aspect of his career and ballpark. Only available as an ultra-rare 1:3000 mini parallel, finding this card in pristine condition became the white whale for Dodgers PC collectors – PSA 10s have reached into the thousands due to the nostalgia and scarcity.
Nolan Ryan Golden Anniversary (#182): Heritage’s 50th anniversary subset paid homage to each franchise’s golden anniversaries. The star of this insert was Nolan Ryan’s early Angels tenure, putting him in the franchise’s original western-themed jerseys and cap from the 1960s. With Ryan’s legend and as the hit of this short print parallel available at 1:1000 packs, high-grade versions sold briskly online above $100.
Rickey Henderson Oakland (#168): One of the most exciting players of all time, Henderson’s retro Oakland uniform and action pose translating his base-running dominance perfectly. Available as the hit 1:1000 mini parallel, it quickly became a favorite among A’s fans and Rickey PC collectors. Pristine PSA 10s regularly sell in the low triple digits.
Sandy Alcantara Independence Day (#174): Paying homage to the Dominican star’s heritage, this card featured him in an American-flag themed uniform not seen since the late 60s/early 70s. As one of the hottest young pitchers in the game today for the Marlins, the aesthetic also tapped into the growing fanbase’s patriotism. Only obtainable as the rare 1:3000 mini parallel, gems hold strong long-term appeal.
Ernie Banks Chicago (#128): Considered one of the top five shortstops ever, “Mr. Cub” Ernie Banks exemplified the Windy City franchise with his warmth and productivity. This card updated his classic 1959 Topps design in action pose, making it a must-have for Cubs PC collectors. As the hit parallel at 1:1000 packs, PSA 10s have steadily increased to the $150-200 range.
Bob Gibson 1968 (#122): Regarded as one the most intimidating pitchers who ever lived, this captured Gibson mid-windup for the 1968 Cardinals in an awe-inspiring photo. Recreating his iconic design from that ’68 season where he won the MVP and a World Series, it became highly valued by vintage Cardinals and pitching aficionados. Available as the tough 1:3000 mini parallel added premium.
Yankees Turn Back the Clock (#YTBC): Paying homage to retired numbers across franchise history, this massive 21-card checklist included legends from Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig to Derek Jeter. With tremendous nostalgia and all short printed between 1:1000-1:3000, finding Chase copies in any condition was an ordeal. Pristine examples fetch $200-300+ due to scarcity and spanning a century of Yankee greatness.
Those were some of the biggest and most well-received cards from Topps Heritage’s 2022 baseball release. While known for its nostalgia, this year’s varied designs, photographic improvements and selective short printing of key cards energized the high-end card market. Focusing on franchise anniversaries, honoring dominant eras and spotlighting modern stars in retro uniforms succeeded in bridging generations for collectors both new and old. With rising values across this subset, 2022 Topps Heritage will surely be looked back upon as one of the most impactful issues in recent memory.
