The 2022 MLB season saw many standout performances from baseball’s biggest stars. These superstar players attracted card collectors with exciting rookie cards and career-defining inserts in the latest Topps flagship baseball card releases.
Topps is the official trading card of Major League Baseball and their 2022 offering was one of the most anticipated card sets in recent memory. With rookies like Julio Rodriguez making an immediate impact and veterans like Aaron Judge chasing the single-season home run record, there was no shortage of storylines for collectors to chase on cardboard.
Let’s take a look at some of the top MLB performers of 2022 and how their accomplishments were celebrated in the 2022 Topps Baseball card set:
Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels):
As the reigning AL MVP, Ohtani entered 2022 with enormous expectations. The two-way Japanese star somehow managed to exceed them. Ohtani slugged 34 home runs at the plate while posting a 2.33 ERA on the mound with 219 strikeouts in 166 innings pitched. His rare dual talents made him one of the most sought-after rookie cards in the set, with collectors eager to land his base Topps rookie or prized autograph and memorabilia parallels. Ohtani proved he was no one-year wonder and will remain one of the biggest stars in the game for years to come.
Aaron Judge (New York Yankees):
Judge put himself in the record books in 2022 by slugging an AL record 62 home runs. As he closed in on the milestone late in the season, collectors scrambled to find higher-end parallels of his Topps cards to commemorate his chase of Roger Maris’ American League mark. After the season, Topps released a special “62 Club” insert card paying tribute to Judge’s epic season. His autograph and memorabilia cards from 2022 will be some of the most valuable in the set when they are available in the secondary market.
Julio Rodriguez (Seattle Mariners):
The AL Rookie of the Year had one of the best debut campaigns in recent memory. Rodriguez hit 28 home runs and stole 25 bases for the up-and-coming Mariners, showcasing five-tool talent that had collectors hunting his Topps rookie cards. His base rookie is one of the most common in the set, but higher-end parallels and autographs remain elusive and will gain value as his career progresses. Rodriguez established himself as a true superstar and the face of the Mariners franchise.
Albert Pujols (St. Louis Cardinals):
In what was likely his final season, Pujols brought his career full circle back to St. Louis. He hit his 700th career home run there and finished with 703, cementing his place among the all-time great sluggers. Topps paid tribute to Pujols’ legendary career with a special “700 Club” insert card. While he was past his prime, Pujols’ return to the Cardinals and his place in baseball history made him one of the set’s most popular veteran stars. His rookie cards from over 20 years ago remain some of the holy grails for collectors.
Sandy Alcantara (Miami Marlins):
The Marlins’ ace righty had a breakout season, leading the NL in innings pitched (228) while posting a 2.28 ERA. Alcantara’s emergence as a true ace earned him NL Cy Young consideration and made him one of the set’s hottest rookie pitchers. While he may not have the name recognition of some others, Alcantara’s Topps rookie cards have gained value as collectors recognized his All-Star caliber performance. He remains one of the brightest young arms in baseball.
Mookie Betts (Los Angeles Dodgers):
The 2018 AL MVP further cemented his status as one of baseball’s best all-around players, batting .269 with 32 home runs and leading the Dodgers back to the NLCS. Betts’ on-field excellence and marquee status with the Dodgers made him one of the set’s most popular stars. While not his rookie season, Betts’ 2022 Topps base cards and parallels are some of the most sought-after in the set by collectors looking to add a true superstar to their collections.
Yordan Alvarez (Houston Astros):
The Astros’ masher followed up his 2021 ALCS MVP with another monster season, slugging 37 home runs and driving in 97 runs. Alvarez established himself as one of MLB’s top power threats and his Topps rookie cards from 2019 have gained tremendous value as a result. While no longer a rookie, Alvarez’ 2022 Topps base cards and autographs were hot commodities for collectors chasing one of the game’s most feared left-handed bats.
Spencer Strider (Atlanta Braves):
Strider exploded onto the scene for the defending champs, striking out 202 batters in just 131 innings pitched as a rookie. The flamethrowing righty immediately became one of the set’s most sought-after rookie cards. While Strider will likely never have the name recognition or card value of past Braves stars like Chipper Jones or Greg Maddux, his Topps rookie cards have potential to gain value as he develops into a staff ace.
The 2022 MLB season featured several unforgettable individual performances and breakout stars. Topps captured these storylines perfectly for collectors in their flagship card release through rookies, inserts, and the base cards of superstars like Ohtani, Judge, Betts and Alvarez. For years to come, the 2022 Topps set will be remembered as documenting some of the most exciting seasons and rookie debuts in recent baseball history.
