The 2022 Topps baseball card release offered collectors a wide variety of exciting rookie cards, veteran stars, and unique inserts. With the regular season release, Allen & Ginter, Series 2, and Heritage High Number issues, Topps provided many opportunities to find sought-after rookie cards of players like Julio Rodriguez, Bobby Witt Jr., Adley Rutschman, and Spencer Strider. Veterans like Albert Pujols chasing milestones and Shohei Ohtani’s continued two-way dominance also made for popular card subjects. With so many options, it can be tough to narrow down the best of the best from 2022 Topps baseball cards. Here are some of the standouts:
Julio Rodriguez Base Rookie Card – The Mariners’ rookie sensation was one of the biggest storylines of the 2022 season. His debut Topps base card, showing Rodriguez in the Mariners’ classic trident logo cap, is sure to be one of the most iconic rookie cards from the year. Rodriguez smashed 21 home runs in the regular season to finish third in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. With his five-tool talent and marketability, this card looks poised to appreciate significantly.
Bobby Witt Jr. Base Rookie Card – Like Rodriguez, Witt arrived in the big leagues with plenty of hype and lived up to it for the Royals in 2022. His smooth left-handed swing translated well to MLB, where he hit 20 home runs. Witt’s defensive skills at third base were also touted, making his base rookie one of the most coveted from Series 1. This card captures the beginning of what could be a long and productive career in Kansas City.
Shohei Ohtani Flagship Card – There may never be another player like the two-way Japanese phenom. Ohtani’s 2022 continued to shatter expectations as he slugged 34 home runs and struck out 156 batters as a pitcher. Topps fittingly put Ohtani on the cover of its flagship Series 1 release and also included an incredible action shot of him batting on his base card. Both are sure to become highly valuable long-term keepsakes of his unique talents.
Spencer Strider Rookie Auto Patch – The Braves’ flamethrowing rookie exploded onto the scene in 2022 with a 2.67 ERA in 31 appearances, making him one of the top relief finds of the year. Strider’s autographed rookie card from Topps’ Allen & Ginter release features an on-card signature and memorabilia swatch. With a limited print run, this card perfectly blends a hot rookie with a coveted auto and patch combo.
Albert Pujols Milestone Card – In what may have been his final season, Pujols’ chase of major career milestones made for must-watch baseball. Topps commemorated his passage of Babe Ruth for second on the all-time RBI list with a beautiful milestone card from Series 2. The simple design highlights Pujols’ achievement while also serving as a fitting tribute to one of the game’s all-time greats.
Adley Rutschman Base Rookie / Blue Refractor – After years of being the top prospect in baseball, Rutschman finally got his shot with the Orioles in 2022 and did not disappoint. Both his standard base rookie and the prized Blue Refractor parallel from Series 1 are excellent long-term prospects. The Blue in particular, with its limited print run, has potential to become one of the most valuable Rutschman cards in the years ahead.
Juan Soto Rainbow Foil Parallel – The Nationals’ young superstar has become one of the faces of the league in just a few short seasons. Topps paid tribute to Soto’s skills with an electric Rainbow Foil parallel from Series 1, depicting him in the midst of his unique batting stance. With its vivid colors and limited numbering, this card perfectly captures the magic of one of MLB’s brightest offensive forces.
Jackie Robinson Logoman Patch Card – To honor the 75th anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier, Topps created an ultra-premium 1/1 logoman patch card from Allen & Ginter. Featuring a beautifully crafted pinstripe patch with the iconic Brooklyn Dodgers logo, this is truly a historical piece that commemorates one of the most important figures in the sport’s history.
Aaron Judge Home Run Challenge Insert – After smashing an AL-record 62 home runs, Judge had one of the most dominant individual seasons in recent memory. Topps highlighted this with a “Home Run Challenge” insert showing Judge towering over American League pitchers. With its retro design and subject matter, this card perfectly captures an unforgettable 2022 campaign.
So in summary, Topps’ 2022 baseball card offerings provided a great mix of rookie stars, veteran standouts, milestones, and premium inserts. Cards like the Julio Rodriguez and Bobby Witt Jr. rookies, Shohei Ohtani flagship, and Albert Pujols milestone will surely bring back memories of the season for years to come. Premium parallels and patches of players like Strider, Rutschman, and Soto also give collectors exciting long-term prospects. Overall, 2022 was another great year for memorable Topps baseball cards.
