When it comes to the best baseball cards released in 2022, there are several top options to consider. With the return to normalcy after the pandemic-impacted 2020 and 2021 seasons, card manufacturers like Topps, Panini, and Leaf were able to truly flex their creative muscles again this year. Whether you’re looking for the hottest rookies, all-time great veterans, parallel and short-print chase cards, or exciting hits from premium products, 2022 had something for every type of collector.
Let’s start with the obvious – rookie cards. Topps Baseball released several sought-after rookies in their 2022 flagship set, with pitchers Spencer Strider and Emerson Hancock among the most coveted. Both are now established major leaguers who made big impacts on their respective teams. Other notable rookies included in Topps included Braves’ star Michael Harris II and Mariners pitcher George Kirby. As for Panini Prizm, catcher Adley Rutschman of the Orioles was the clear cover boy and standout rookie after years of hype. Prizm also featured Seattle outfielder Julio Rodriguez, who went on to win AL Rookie of the Year. Leaf Metal Draft had highly-touted prospects like Druw Jones and Termarr Johnson in their classy refractors.
When it comes to veteran stars, Topps Dynasty captured many of the game’s modern all-time greats like Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, and Shohei Ohtani in stylish on-card autographs. Many consider Topps Dynasty to be the best insert set from 2022. GQ and Leaf Metal also featured exquisite veteran autograph and memorabilia cards for legends like Ichiro Suzuki, Mariano Rivera, and Derek Jeter. For parallel and short-prints, Topps Transcendent was one of the toughest and most unpredictable releases of the year with 1/1 parallels of current and legend stars. Bowman Chrome Draft Sapphire parallels below /10 were highly sought after for prospects.
Moving to premium products, Topps Finest Flux refractors brought true neon beauty to the design in multi-colored parallels. Bowman Sterling featured stunning refractors and patches of top prospects in super-low numbered parallels. GQ Signatures Tier One Autographs housed true 1/1 autographed beauties with on-card signed relics for stars like Juan Soto. Elite Extra Edition from Leaf had high-end hits like rare Ohtani triple jersey patches.
For fast break modern stars, Fanatics signed an exclusive deal with MLB, NBA, NFL and UEFA to make official physical and digital trading cards for the 2023 season and beyond. Their inaugural slate will focus on star athletes from these leagues. Collectors are excited to see how Fanatics updates the sports card experience with dynamic inserts, new digital features in the physical cards and more.
In summary, 2022 had an incredible variety of products from the top brands with something for every budget and interest. Ranging from affordable flagship parallels to ultra-exclusive one-of-one memorabilia cards, this year marked a true return to form for the hobby after the pandemic brought unprecedented growth and creativity from manufacturers. With exclusive new deals and the integration of technology, 2023 is shaping up to continue building excitement among the ever-growing community of baseball card collectors worldwide. No matter the year, this timeless collecting tradition remains one of the most engaging and nostalgia-fueled hobbies in sports.
