The 2022 Topps Chronicles Baseball set was released in February 2022 and contained some of the top rookie cards and prospects from the previous season. While not as highly anticipated as some of the larger flagship releases, Chronicles offered collectors a highly affordable and fun way to chase the latest rookie class and star players.
The basic retail blaster boxes contained 8 packs with 5 cards each, while hobby boxes held 24 packs. Each pack featured a combination of base cards, parallels, inserts and the all-important rookie cards. The set totaled 432 base cards and included a wide array of inserts that added to the excitement of each break. While base rookies could be pulled in each pack, the true big ticket cards were found through Ultra Rare Parallels and Special Inserts.
Some of the top rookie cards from 2022 Chronicles Baseball included:
Spencer Torkelson – The number 1 overall pick from 2020 and top Tigers prospect had another strong showing. His base is plentiful but colored parallels remain quite scarce and command high prices. The 1/1 Printing Plate parallels are the true crowning achievement.
Julio Rodriguez – The emerging Mariners star had a breakout campaign in 2022 and it has translated to rookie card demand. His base is still affordable but special parallels command top dollar. The /199 Green parallel remains a popular, attainable option.
Bobby Witt Jr. – After an impressive MLB debut, the Royals youngster is one of the more desired rookies. His base holds steady value and the lower numbered parallels can fetch over $100.
Jeremy Peña – As the ALCS MVP, Peña rocketed up prospect lists. His base rookie remains under $10 but some of the early 2021 parallels are pricier.
Adley Rutschman – As the top prospect, his cards were chased all year.Base is around $5-7 while early Chrome parallels can reach $100-200.
Riley Greene – The Tigers centerfielder had a strong debut and his cards reflect it. Base hovers around $10 while /99 Orange parallels approached $50-75.
CJ Abrams – Called up late in the year, the Padres speedster made an impression. Base is around $5-7 while early Topps Chrome parallels reached $40-75.
In addition to the top rookies, 2022 Topps Chronicles also featured a variety of fun inserts including Color Colorful Ink, All-Star Rookies, Hallmarks which honored former greats, and Star Rookies. The Chrome Refractors were also highly sought after parallel inserts.
Two of the most valuable insert sets from 2022 Chronicles Baseball included:
Superfractor parallel – Numbered to /10, these were the ultimate short prints pulled at an insanely low rate. Top names like Acuña Jr. and Soto commanded well over $1000 raw for their elusive Superfractors.
1/1 Printing Plates – Featuring the true 1/1 parallel where the printing plate is visible, these singular copies of stars like Trout, tatis Jr. and Guerrero Jr. sold for thousands upon being pulled. The rare rookie printing plates fetched upwards of $5000-10000 based on the player.
While base cards from Chronicles remain very affordable, savvy collectors recognized the value to be found in chasing some of the scarcer parallels and inserts. The low per pack price and fun factor of breaking made it a popular casual release. But for those patiently ripping boxes with an eye on the biggest hits, 2022 Chronicles proved to have yielded some true modern rookie gems and 1/1 masterpieces for the right collectors. With the rise of many young MLB stars, demand for these cards is poised to remain strong in the coming years. Overall, Topps Chronicles Baseball delivered another fun and value driven entry into the yearly baseball card landscape.
