The release of 2022 Topps Baseball Series 1 this past January marked the start of the new baseball card season. As with every new series release, collectors were on the hunt for the big rookie cards and short printed parallels that could hold significant value in the years to come. Let’s take a look at some of the most valuable cards from 2022 Topps Baseball Series 1 based on current secondary market prices.
Without a doubt, one of the biggest hits from Series 1 was the Bobby Witt Jr. rainbow foil parallel card. Witt was selected #2 overall by the Kansas City Royals in the 2019 MLB Draft and is considered one of the top prospects in all of baseball. The rainbow foil parallel has a print run estimated around 1 per case, making it extremely scarce. Mint condition PSA 10 examples of this card have sold for over $2,000, showing just how much hype there is around Witt’s rookie season with the Royals. Another short print parallel that commands big money is the Julio Rodriguez green shimmer refractor, which also has an estimated print run of around 1 per case. Graded PSA 10 examples of this card have crossed the $1,000 mark.
Rookies Spencer Torkelson and C.J. Abrams also received some valuable short prints in Series 1. The Torkelson orange /1999 parallel and Abrams purple /250 parallel are both selling in the $400-500 range in a PSA 10 slab. Torkelson was taken #1 overall by the Detroit Tigers in 2020 and will be looking to make an impact in 2022, while Abrams was a top prospect acquired by the Padres in the Tatis trade. Their short printed rookie cards hold solid long term value potential.
Veteran superstars also received some low numbered parallel cards that have gained value. The Mike Trout gold label parallel /70 and Mookie Betts gold label parallel /70 are both selling for $300-400 graded mint. The Ronald Acuna Jr. gold label /70 has also crossed the $300 mark. These types of extremely low numbered parallels featuring the game’s biggest names will always be in high demand.
Rookies with early success in their debut seasons often see a spike in card values. Seiya Suzuki got off to a hot start with the Cubs and his Topps rookie cards jumped up accordingly. The Suzuki green shimmer refractor and orange parallel /299 are both selling for $150-200 graded mint. Similarly, the Oneil Cruz blue shimmer refractor jumped up to the $150 range after Cruz’s call up and strong showing with the Pirates. Early success for rookies in 2022 could lead to further increases in values for their Series 1 cards over the coming months.
Of course, no discussion of valuable rookie cards is complete without mentioning the biggest name – Shohei Ohtani. While Ohtani had rookie cards in previous years after coming over from Japan, 2022 was the first year of Topps cards recognizing his true dual threat status as both a pitcher and hitter. As a result, his 2022 Topps Series 1 cards command a premium. The Ohtani gold label parallel /70 and red parallel /150 are selling for $300-400 graded mint, a testament to his unique two-way talents and status as one of the game’s biggest stars.
The 2022 Topps Baseball Series 1 release featured several short printed parallels and rookie cards of the game’s top prospects that have already achieved significant value in the early months of the new card season. With the actual 2022 MLB season underway, performances on the field could further drive prices up or down depending on how players develop. For savvy collectors, Series 1 remains one of the best opportunities each year to acquire cards of future superstars at reasonable prices before they potentially explode in value down the road. The hunt continues to find the next big hit!
