Topps released its 2022 baseball card set in late January of this year, featuring current major league players, rookie cards, managers, team checklists, and more. The set consisted of 396 total cards arranged in series from 1 to 399. Collecting the complete base set is a goal of many hobbyists each year, providing a snapshot of that season’s players before games are even played. Let’s take an in-depth look at what the 2022 Topps flagship baseball set includes.
The core of any Topps release are the player cards, which occupy series 1 through 399. All 30 major league teams are represented by checklist cards listing every player on their 40-man roster as of Opening Day. Rosters can change throughout the season, but these provide a moment-in-time look at each organization. Top stars receive prominent photo choices and placements early in the set. For example, Shohei Ohtani is featured on card #1 for a second straight year given his unprecedented two-way play.
Other elite talents like Mike Trout, Fernando Tatis Jr., Ronald Acuña Jr., and Juan Soto get high numbers that collectors chase. Rookies likewise receive early allotments that increase in value if they pan out, such as Seiya Suzuki on card #9 and Bobby Witt Jr. on #17. Veterans and role players fill in the middle portions. The design employs a clean white border around each photo with team logo above and player stats on the bottom half. Card stock remains thick and of high quality paper.
Along with players are several prominent manager and coach cards scattered throughout. Dusty Baker on the Dodgers, Alex Cora managing the Red Sox again, and Terry Francona leading the Guardians are some examples. Numbers are also reserved for hometown heroes like Ichiro Suzuki as the Mariners’ special advisor and Ozzie Smith advising the Cardinals. Multi-player highlight cards pay tribute to past postseason performances or milestones too.
Rookie card aficionados appreciate the sets for identifying first-year prospects even before their debuts. Topps assigns rookie card credentials fairly conservatively based on prior experience in other leagues. Some top prospects ended up with card #s in the 300s like Bobby Miller and Spencer Steer rather than true “rookie” designation. Parallels like Atomic, Rainbow Foil, and Gold Label parallel versions exist at much lower print runs too.
Completing any modern Topps flagship release demands acquiring several chase card insert sets scattered through hobby packs and boxes. In 2022, these included All-Time Top 100 checking legends’ places in history. Galactic parallels showcase out-of-this-world photos in space-themed designs. Topps Origins delves into each team’s rich history. Plus special shortprints like 1984 Throwbacks and Fireworks Independence Day variants up the thrill of the hunt.
Traditional retro designs also got modern treatments. Diamond Kings returns highlighting players in stylized on-field action shots and 1969 Flashback recreates the look of that vintage year. Archives honors iconic past moments through black-and-white portraits. Hall of Famers make appearances through Patriot Portraits and Portraits subsets as well. Autographed Memorabilia cards provide game-worn relic swatches of today’s stars too.
Completing a flagship set requires either diligent collecting from retail or big investment in hobby boxes. With increased print runs in recent years, it remains feasible to acquire the entire 396-card base short of incredible poor luck or lateness to the hobby. Parallel and insert variants prove far more challenging due to drastically lower production numbers. The fun comes from assembling this snapshot of the game through trades, group breaks, andShows/dealers with an eye toward future year’s added value.
The 2022 Topps set served as a tribute to Mattingly, Smoltz, and Biggio’s Hall of Fame inductions while also introducing the next wave of rookies to collectors before their debuts. As the season unfolded, some early parallels like Adley Rutschman skyrocketed in worth. The classic design and all-encompassing team/player checklists cement Topps as the premiere baseball card release each spring. Completing any full flagship set is a time-honored tradition that rewards dedicated collectors with a comprehensive roll call of that year’s squad rosters in card form.
In summary, Topps’ 2022 flagship baseball release contained all the hallmarks collectors expect from the industry leader each year. The 396-card base checklist covered every major leaguer while insert sets provided creative parallels and references to the game’s heritage. Rookie cards and manager/coach offerings extended beyond just players too. After 67 years of producing sportscards, Topps still sets the gold standard that others attempt to match. Getting a full set of this snapshot of the 2022 MLB season remains a worthy quest for both newer and seasoned collectors alike.
