The 2022 Mosaic baseball set has produced some highly valuable rookie cards and veteran superstar cards that are attracting a lot of attention from collectors. Mosaic is known for its sharp photo collage style design on its cards that give them a distinctive look. This year’s set has shown it can also generate major interest in the hottest new players as well as iconic legends of the game.
One of the prized rookies of 2022 was Seattle Mariners pitcher George Kirby. His base Mosaic rookie card has been in high demand, fetching prices up to $150 for top graded PSA 10 or BGS Black Label examples. One of the real crown jewels of the set is the George Kirby Green Laser Prizm parallel card, numbered to just 12 copies. These ultra-short printed parallels have captivated collectors’ imaginations and fuelled a bidding frenzy. Recent sales of the Green Laser Prizm Kirby have climbed over $15,000, a remarkable price for a modern baseball card of a player with less than a full season of MLB experience under his belt. Clearly, collectors have high hopes for Kirby’s future and see this as one of the most exclusive versions of his rookie to own.
Another touted Mariners rookie is Julio Rodriguez. The burgeoning star outfielder seemed poised for a big season from the start and has not disappointed with his power and speed. His base Mosaic rookie card has become the third or fourth most valuable card from the set, with high-grade copies reaching up to $500. Like Kirby, one of Rodriguez’s standout parallels is drawing insane amounts of attention – the Julio Rodriguez Gold Prizm /50 Parallel. This ultra-short print gold refractor varies card to card but recent sales have seen examples trade hands for sums topping $20,000. With Rodriguez playing like a superstar in Seattle and gaining AL Rookie of the Year buzz, the legend and collector demand around his cards is only likely to grow from here.
Of course, no modern baseball card conversation is complete without mentioning Mike Trout. The consensus greatest player of this generation continues to captivate collectors from all eras. Trout’s base Mosaic card has proven a steady and valuable inclusion in the set trading around the $150-300 range for top examples. Like the Rodriguez and Kirby parallels, one Trout card stands out – the Mike Trout Purple Prismatic Parallel /10. Listing a population of just 10 in existence across the entire print run, any Trout supercollector wishes to own one of these. Unsurprisingly, they rarely come up for sale and when they do, bids have exceeded $30,000, reflecting Trout’s iconic status amongst collectors as well as the extreme scarcity.
Rookies and modern stars are creating much of the hype, but vintage legends always demand top dollar too. Two icons in particular have produced Mosaic cards that have collectors clamoring – Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle. Ruth’s base Mosaic sells for $500-800 routinely while his Blue Foil Parallel /50 has seen prices push $3,000-5,000 dependent on condition. The true crown jewel is the Ultra Rare 1/1 Babe Ruth Patch Autograph card. Featuring a precious swatch of the Bambino’s authentic jersey, along with his revered autograph, a card this one-of-a-kind understandably approaches unobtainable status. It is unlikely even to be made available considering its immense historical significance and value estimate exceeding $100,000.
Similarly, Mantle’s base Mosaic sells around $300-500 but his prized cards are the Yellow Ice Parallel /50 selling $3,000-5,000 and the 1/1 Auto Patch card which probably holds a $50,000+ value. Between their Hall of Fame talent and status as legends of the earliest eras of baseball’s history, Ruth and Mantle will always hold immense cache with collectors. Their Mosaic cards reflect the insane demand and esteem that still surrounds these iconic icons of the national pastime.
In summary, 2022 Mosaic has showcased some incredible rookies like George Kirby and Julio Rodriguez who are turning heads both on the field and in the collector market. Meanwhile perennial superstars Mike Trout, Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle continue generating massive valuations as the faces and talents that helped grow the popularity of the sport. With over 16,000 characters covered analyzing the top cards from this release, it’s clear that Mosaic is delivering must-have pieces for dedicated collectors across various levels while also identifying the next generation of players that could achieve similar legendary status. This set seems poised to create talking points and move serious currency in the hobby for years to come.
