The 2022 season was a memorable one for the Atlanta Braves franchise. Coming off their first World Series title since 1995, the Braves were looking to defend their championship. Led by stars like Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, and Dansby Swanson, Atlanta had a strong roster and were considered World Series contenders again. Their success on the field in 2022 has translated to increased interest from collectors in Braves baseball cards from the latest season.

Top Rookies and Debuts

Several Braves rookies and call-ups made their MLB debuts in 2022, generating buzz around their rookie cards. Right-handed pitcher Spencer Strider quickly became a fan favorite as he broke out with a 2.67 ERA over 31 games, including 20 starts. The 23-year-old dominated with 202 strikeouts in 131.2 innings pitched. Strider’s impressive rookie campaign has made his 2022 rookie cards very sought after. Another top rookie was catcher William Contreras. The 24-year-old brother of Wilson Contreras hit .273 with 11 home runs in his first full MLB season. Contreras showed potential to be Atlanta’s catcher of the future. His rookie cards have also gained value. Outfielder Michael Harris II was perhaps the most exciting Braves rookie, hitting .297 with 19 home runs in his age-21 season. Harris established himself as a future star and the centerpiece of the team’s outfield for years to come. His rookies are some of the most valuable Braves cards on the market now.

Star Performers Lead Playoff Run

Several Braves stars shined on the biggest stage in 2022 to help lead the team back to the postseason. Third baseman Austin Riley broke out with a career-high .423 on-base percentage and .980 OPS to go along with his 35 home runs and 107 RBI. Riley established himself as one of the top power threats in baseball and his performance has made his 2022 cards very desirable. Shortstop Dansby Swanson also had a career year, slashing .277/.329/.447 with 25 home runs and 96 RBI. Swanson proved himself as a true offensive force from the shortstop position. His strong ‘22 season increased interest in his cards as well. Perhaps no Brave had a better 2022 than outfielder Michael Harris II, who contributed both at the plate and in the field as a rookie. Harris hit .297 and established himself as a future star, making his rookie cards the most sought after Braves cards on the market. Max Fried also had a dominant season, going 14-7 with a 2.48 ERA over 31 starts to lead the Atlanta rotation. Fried’s breakout performance has given his 2022 cards new relevance. These star players helped power the Braves to their fifth straight NL East title and a trip to the NLCS.

Top Parallels and Variations

In addition to the standard base rookie and star player cards, collectors seek out valuable parallels and variations that hold premium value. Some of the top parallels for Braves cards in 2022 include:

Topps Chrome Refractors: These refractors featuring a colorful refractive coating are highly desired for stars like Acuña, Riley, and Harris.

Topps Finest Parallels: Finest offers emerald, sapphire, and ruby parallels that are rarer pulls than the base cards.

Bowman Chrome Color Variations: Rookies like Strider, Harris, and Contreras are sought in the red, blue, and green refractor colors.

Topps Fire Variations: The red and orange “fire” parallels featuring animated flames are some of the most valuable and sought after.

Topps Holiday Parallels: The Christmas-themed parallels released in Holiday boxes gain premium value, especially for stars and key rookies.

Topps Transcendent Collection: This high-end product offers rare parallels like gold, black, and 1/1 printing plates that command huge prices.

Collectors are always on the hunt for these scarce parallel and short-printed variations that make key Braves cards from 2022 much more valuable and desirable additions to collections.

Long-Term Investment Potential

While the 2022 season is still fresh, savvy collectors are already recognizing the long-term potential of investing in cards from Atlanta’s exciting young core. Players like Acuña, Riley, Harris, Strider, and Contreras give the Braves a championship-caliber foundation for years to come if they stay healthy and continue developing. Their rookie cards from this past season in particular hold great long-term upside. If these players live up to their potential and help Atlanta win more titles, their cards’ values will undoubtedly rise sharply years down the road once they are out of print. Even stars’ base rookie cards that can be acquired for reasonable prices now could end up being valuable long-term holdings. The same goes for star veterans like Fried and Swanson who are still in their primes. By selecting the right cards from Atlanta’s 2022 roster, collectors can potentially make wise investments in items that grow greatly in value as these players’ careers progress.

The Atlanta Braves’ exciting 2022 season that saw the emergence of new young stars and a division title has created strong collector demand for cards issued this past year. Savvy investors are recognizing the long-term potential held by rookies like Harris, Strider, and Contreras if they continue developing. Meanwhile, stars Austin Riley, Dansby Swanson, and Max Fried produced career years to raise the stock of their ’22 cards as well. Collectors are eagerly pursuing the top parallels and short prints that accentuate rosters and provide greater rarity. With a talented young core, the Braves look primed for continued success, making their 2022 cards potential diamonds in the rough for astute baseball card investors.