The 2022 season marked a turnaround year for the New York Mets franchise. After several disappointing seasons, the Mets emerged as serious contenders in 2022 behind new owner Steven Cohen’s substantial financial investment in the team. As a result, collector interest in 2022 Mets cards is high. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the key Mets cards from sets released in 2022.
Topps released several sets focused on the 2022 Mets, headlined by their flagship Topps Series 1, Topps Series 2, and Update Series releases. Francisco Lindor’s base card in Topps Series 1 saw early demand, as Lindor bounced back from a poor 2021 season to hit .270 with over 20 home runs and drive in over 100 runs. Another hot rookie card was catcher Francisco Alvarez’s base card in Topps Series 1. Considered one of the top prospects in baseball, Alvarez made his MLB debut in September and hit his first career home run, generating buzz around his rookie card.
The true star of Topps’ 2022 Mets releases was Max Scherzer. The three-time Cy Young award winner was dominant after being acquired by the Mets at the 2021 trade deadline, going 11-5 with a 2.54 ERA and pitching to a 0.86 WHIP. As a result, his Base Autograph Parallel card from Topps Series 1 skyrocketed in price, routinely fetching over $100 on the secondary market. His Topps Series 2 Orange Refractor Parallel /150 also commands a premium, around $75-100 due to Scherzer’s dominant season and star power.
While Topps dominated the mass-produced card market, higher-end sets like Panini Flawless, Leaf Trinity, and Bowman’s Best offered exclusive autograph and memorabilia cards of Mets stars. Flawless’ 1/1 Rainbow Foil autographs of Scherzer, Lindor, and Pete Alonso retailed for thousands and would be crown jewels for any collection. Meanwhile, Lindor’s dual-signature cards with manager Buck Showalter in Leaf Trinity saw early interest due to the duo leading the Mets back to the playoffs in 2022.
Rookies like Brett Baty, adley rutschman baseball cards, and Jaylen Palmer also attracted attention from collectors with their debut cards in flagship Topps sets and Bowman releases. Baty hit 3 home runs after being called up in September and could be the Mets’ third baseman of the future. As a result, his Topps Chrome Sapphire Refractor /499 parallels currently sell in the $50-75 range on the secondary market. Meanwhile, Palmer’s Bowman Autograph cards were hot out of the gate after he was selected 12th overall in the 2022 MLB Draft.
Perhaps the biggest postseason star for the Mets was reliever Edwin Diaz. Signed to a record-setting contract in the offseason, Diaz dominated as the Mets’ closer, notching 32 saves with a 1.31 ERA during the regular season. In the playoffs, he was nearly unhittable, throwing 5 scoreless innings with 8 strikeouts across 4 appearances. As a result, Diaz’s Topps Chrome Sapphire Refractor parallel /499 and Topps Fire Green Refractor parallel /99 parallels jumped to over $100 each after the Mets’ playoff run. Collectors are banking on Diaz to continue his dominance for years to come.
Beyond current players, relic and autographed cards of Mets legends also hold value. In particular, cards featuring Tom Seaver continue to garner six-figure prices. Seaver won the Cy Young three times as the face of the Mets franchise and remains their greatest player of all time. As such, his exquisite 1/1 Game Uniform Relic card from Topps Tribute commands upwards of $15,000. Meanwhile, signed photos and game-used bats of hometown hero and Hall of Famer Mike Piazza can fetch $500-1000 depending on condition. Cards that memorialize the Mets’ golden eras in the 1960s and 1980s have enduring appeal.
The 2022 season reinvigorated interest in Mets cards across all levels. Top rookies, established stars, and legends alike saw strong collector demand driven by the team’s resurgent playoff run. With Cohen’s financial commitment, the future remains bright for this franchise, which should continue to boost card values in the years ahead. For Mets collectors, 2022 provided an exciting new crop of cards documenting the team’s rise, led by names like Scherzer, Lindor, Diaz and the rookie class. The 2022 season will be remembered as a turning point that revitalized the team and reignited passion from its dedicated fanbase of card collectors.
