The 2022 Topps baseball card checklist features cards from all 30 Major League Baseball teams. As one of the premier brands in the trading card industry, Topps produces high-quality prints of players, rookies, legends, and inserts each year. Here is an in-depth look at some of the highlights collectors can find in the 2022 Topps set:
Base Cards
As with every Topps release, the backbone of the set is the base card design. In 2022, Topps decided to stick with tradition for the standard issue cards, featuring a clean and simple visual design. All players are shown in full color action shots on a white background. Ranging from #1 to #700, the base set includes all active big leaguers as well as retired stars and managers/coaches.
Rookies
One of the most exciting aspects each year is seeing the new rookie class get their first Topps cards. The 2022 checklist highlights several potential future stars, such as Reds RHP Hunter Greene (#166), Rangers 3B Josh Jung (#166), Tigers OF Riley Greene (#166), and Mariners RHP George Kirby (#166). Other notable rookies include OF Bobby Witt Jr. (#326) of the Royals and Braves C William Contreras (#671).
Topps Update & High Numbers Series
Later in the season, Topps released two additional sets – Topps Update and High Numbers. As player trades and promotions occur throughout the year, Update inserts new photos and team logos to ensure all active players are represented with accurate uniforms. High Numbers continues card #701 and higher, featuring additional base cards and inserts.
Insert Sets
In addition to the base cards and rookie selections, Topps produces various insert sets highlighting different categories:
Autographs: On-card and memorabilia autographs of current and legendary players. Serialized parallels as well.
Gallery of Heroes: Retro-style cards honoring MLB’s iconic stars from past eras.
Topps Now: Digital moments from that day’s games recreated as physical cards. Continually updated all season.
Negative Photographs: Experimental “negative” photo versions of base cards.
League leaders: Foil cards spotlighting stats champions from the previous season.
Tribute cards: Celebrating MLB milestones, championships, and memorable team accomplishments.
Through the Years: Tracking a player’s career season-by-season in card form.
Portraits of Greatness: Dynamic close-up photography replacing traditional action shots.
Parallels and Short Prints
To add more levels of rarity and collecting opportunities, Topps releases parallel and short printed variations of the base set, rookies, and inserts. Among the parallels available are Gold Foil (#/2022), Silver Pack (#/99), Rainbow Foil (1/1), and Negro Leagues Tribute (MLB’s Centennial celebration). Topps also lists short prints of key cards like flagship rookies and autographs with print runs under the standard release. These scarce versions exponentially increase secondary market value for dedicated collectors.
Additional Products
On top of the core sets, Topps assembles specialty and limited edition configurations to cater to different collector desires. Examples for 2022 include:
Series 1 & 2 Hanger/Blaster Boxes (retail exclusives)
Jumbo Boxes (containing 350+ cards including hits)
Tribute Boxes (theme packs around specific players or teams)
High-End Boxes (Blocks, Captions featuring guaranteed hits/relics)
Choice Pack Breaks (Online case breaks with premium selections)
Luxury Suite (Ultra high-end product tied to MLB Luxury Suite donors)
Secondary Market Demand
As the official MLB license holder, Topps distribution and release strategy is carefully planned. With limitations placed on print runs and parallel variants, secondary market demand stays robust all year on auction sites. Excluding the base rookies and common inserts, nearly every Topps card has speculation value attached to it. Flagship rookies like Witt Jr. and Greene saw singles sell for thousands as their regular season stardom emerged. Even multi-year veterans signed to big contracts can bring collector dollars based on performance and team fandom. For investors, Topps maintains a relatively safe and steady return profile compared to riskier sports investments.
While collecting priorities may vary fan-to-fan, the 2022 Topps baseball checklist has something for everyone. Quality production, iconic branding, and the ever-changing nature of the MLB season all contribute to Topps enduring popularity with both casual and serious hobbyists year after year. Collectors young and old anticipate revealing the next rookie phenom or parallel variation in their pack searches each new release.
