Baseball cards have been an integral part of America’s pastime for over 130 years, preserving memories and documenting the evolution of the game. While the roots of trading cards can be traced back even further, it was in the late 1880s that cards specifically featuring baseball players began to emerge and take hold among young collectors.
In the early days, cards were included as promotional inserts in products like tobacco or bubble gum. Companies saw an opportunity to appeal to kids and drive sales of their unrelated products by including sports-themed collectibles. Some of the earliest notable baseball card sets included those inserted in packages of cigarette brands like Allen & Ginter in the late 1800s.
Through the early 20th century, the baseball card hobby continued to grow in popularity alongside the increasing commercialization of the professional game. Iconic early issues included the T206 tobacco card set from 1909-1911, featuring legends like Ty Cobb and Cy Young. In the post-World War 2 era of the 1950s, the golden age of baseball cards was in full swing with the advent of the modern cardboard trading card and mass-produced sets from companies like Topps.
Topps in particular came to dominate the baseball card market starting in the late 1950s. Their annual issues became highly anticipated, with the release of each new season’s set an event collectors looked forward to. Rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Mickey Mantle further cemented the hobby. The 1960s saw additional competition arise from Fleer and Post, but Topps maintained their strong brand identity with baseball fans and collectors.
Into the 1970s and 80s, the baseball card boom continued unabated. The rise of color photography added new dimensions to the cards, and short print and autograph parallels began to emerge alongside the base issues. Star players of the era like Reggie Jackson and Nolan Ryan became hugely popular on cardboard. The speculative bubble of the late 80s saw cards reach unprecedented prices, before the market eventually cooled.
Through economic ups and downs, Topps endured as the annual leader, even as licensing agreements came and went with the other manufacturers. In recent decades, the arrival of inserts, parallels, and serially numbered “hits” targeting adult collectors has revitalized interest. Modern stars like Mike Trout and Ronald Acuña Jr. drive the high-end card market.
Part of the enduring appeal of baseball cards is that each new season brings the excitement of a fresh issue to look forward to. In 2022, Topps continues their run as the standard-bearer with their flagship Topps Series 1, 2, and Update sets. One of the most anticipated new issues is the 2022 Topps Heritage High Number release.
Heritage sets have been a Topps tradition since the 1990s, paying tribute to the classic cardboard designs of the past. Where the base Heritage set only includes cards #1-349, High Number picks up with an extension numbering from #350 and up. This allows for coverage of all active major and minor leaguers. It also provides the opportunity for short prints, parallels, and autographs of today’s stars in a retro-inspired format.
Some key details that make the 2022 Topps Heritage High Number cards such a hotly anticipated release for collectors include:
Nostalgic Design – The set captures the look and feel of a true “vintage” issue from the early 1960s, with solid colors and simple black-and-white photography. This classic aesthetic never grows old.
Rookie Cards – Top prospects like Bobby Witt Jr. and Adley Rutschman receive their first Topps cards in Heritage High Number, prized by player collectors.
Parallels – In addition to the base issue, parallels like Gold Foil, Rainbow Foil, and Refractor can be pulled to add to the thrill of the hunt. Numbered parallels also boost rarity.
Autographed Cards – On-card and sticker autographs of current MLB stars are randomly inserted at low odds, with some signatures rarer than others.
Checklist Completion – Heritage High Number provides access to the entire league-wide checklist in one cohesive set, rather than being split between multiple products.
Secondary Market Potential – With lower print runs versus Topps Series 1, Heritage cards tend to appreciate well once they’ve been off the market for a few years.
When the 2022 Topps Heritage High Number cards hit stores in late May, the combination of nostalgia, rookie cards, parallels, and autographs will make them a hot commodity on release day. As with any new issue, the initial rush sees packs flying off shelves as collectors race to build their sets and chase short printed hits. Over time, the cards will live on to document this current baseball season for future generations of fans. Heritage High Number ensures the tradition continues.
