Topps released its flagship 2022 Series 1 baseball card set in January 2022, igniting the hobby with a lineup of current superstars, exciting newcomers, and vintage players. While most packs contain commons worth a dollar or less, some coveted rookie cards and star veterans have seen their prices skyrocket on the secondary market. Let’s take an in-depth look at the 10 most valuable cards from this set as collectors continue seeking out the gems.
Coming in at the top of the list and easily eclipsing all others is the prized autographed card of two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani, the cover athlete for this series. Only a tiny fraction of Series 1 hobby boxes contained this 1/1 rare hit, making it truly one-of-a-kind. Given Ohtani’s status as perhaps the most unique talent in baseball history and his ongoing MVP caliber play, it’s no surprise this signature card has sold for north of $15,000 so far. It’s bound to hold incredible longterm value as collectors recognize just how special a player Ohtani is.
At number two is another autographed card, this one featuring superstar shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. Tatis burst onto the scene in 2019 and has become one of the faces of baseball, when healthy. Like the Ohtani, it carried an extreme rarity level at 1/1 from hobby boxes. High demand driven by Tatis’ immense talent and fans has driven prices up near $10,000 for this coveted autograph. His upside remains enormous at just 23 years old.
Taking the third spot is rookie phenom Justin Lange’s base card. The left-handed pitcher was Oakland’s third round pick in 2021 who made a quick impression in his pro debut by reaching Double-A at age 21. With his mid-90s fastball and promising slider, scouts are salivating over his future potential. The rarity of rookie cards like this coupled with Lange’s talent has vaulted prices over $1,500 in a short time.
At number four is another young pitching prospect, this time Kansas City’s Frank Mozzicato. The 18-year old was taken seventh overall in 2021’s draft and showed nasty stuff in his first pro season. Those attributes plus Rookie Cup hype means his PSA 10-graded rookie card has crossed the $1,000 mark already. Mozzicato clearly has his supporters excited for what’s to come.
In the fifth spot resides the base card of 21-year old Dane Dunning of the White Sox. After missing 2020 recover from Tommy John surgery, Dunning returned strong in 2021 by posting a 3.97 ERA over 149.2 innings. His solidified role in Chicago’s future plans plus the lure of youth has pushed ungraded versions into the $800 range, a hefty price for a common. Dunning has proved doubters wrong and shown blossoming potential.
A trio of superstar veterans round out the top ten. At number six is none other than Mike Trout, still in the prime of his career at just 30 years old. Trout remains the best all-around player of his generation and an icon of the sport. Mint condition PSA 10 copies of his base card have cracked $700 so far. Even a decade into his career, Trout fever refuses to fade.
In the seventh position is superstar third baseman Manny Machado of the Padres. The 29-year old Machado quietly put together another phenomenal season in 2021 while leading his team back to the NLCS. His consistent excellence year after year leads his PSA 9 graded card to reach the $600 threshold. Machado seems destined for the Hall of Fame if he keeps this up.
At number eight is beloved veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who at 34 is still raking for the Cardinals. Goldschmidt put up yet another all-star caliber year in 2022 and makes the City of St. Louis smile. Demand from collectors who appreciate Goldschmidt’s consistency has driven his base card up near $500 for PSA 9 copies. He just keeps hitting and fans just can’t get enough.
In ninth place is Washington Nationals phenom Juan Soto, still just 23 years young. Soto has already hit the cover of MLB The Show and seems poised for superstardom. Even with trade rumors swirling in the offseason, collectors remain high on Soto’s future. Mint PSA 10 base cards have reached as much as $450 based on his amazing talents. The sky remains the limit for this budding superstar.
Rounding out the top ten is two-way star Shohei Ohtani once again, but this time for his base card rather than autographed variation. After winning the AL MVP in 2021, Ohtani-mania reached new heights across baseball. Investors recognize just how rare a talent he is and how much further he can go. Impressively, PSA 10 copies have soared above the $400 level. Ohtani is truly doing things never seen before in the sport.
In conclusion, Topps’ 2022 Series 1 releases re-ignited the baseball card collecting world by providing access to the game’s burgeoning stars, seasoned vets, and one-of-a-kind hits. While the cost of boxes and packs remains exponentially lower than secondary values, this set shows how strategic collectors can profit longterm by carefully selecting emerging talents. Young arms like Lange and Mozzicato offer tantalizing promise, while verified elite like Trout and Machado retain irresistible staying power. Overall, Series 1 invested minds in the long run of the hobby.
