Topps released their 2022 baseball card series in January 2022, continuing their tradition as the longest running baseball card manufacturer. Some of the key highlights and things to know about the 2022 Topps baseball card releases include:
Flagship Series:
The flagship Topps Series 1 release kicked things off in January, featuring cards of every MLB player on opening day rosters as well as prospects. Some of the top rookies featured included Julio Rodriguez, Bobby Witt Jr., and Riley Greene. The base cards featured a clean and classic design with team logos across the top. Parallels in the release included Silver Pack, Gold Rainbow Foil, and Platinum Anniversary parallels. Series 1 also featured autographed and memorabilia cards of stars like Fernando Tatis Jr., Pete Alonso, and Shohei Ohtani.
Topps followed up with Series 2 in April and Series Update in August. Series 2 is known for featuring players who made their MLB debuts after Series 1 was finalized. Notable rookies in Series 2 included Spencer Strider and Adley Rutschman. Series Update included midseason additions, call-ups, and players who switched teams. Top prospects like Oneil Cruz and Michael Harris II made their Topps debuts in Series Update.
Allen & Ginter:
The annual Allen & Ginter set returned in 2022 with its trademark vintage design and varied non-sports inserts. Base cards featured a sepia-toned aesthetic with floral patterns. In addition to current MLB players, the set also included historical figures, entertainers, and more in its insert sets. Notable inclusions were cards featuring actress Anya Taylor-Joy, naturalist John Muir, and artist Claude Monet. Parallels included X-fractors, Rainbow Foils, and Platinum Anniversary parallels. Autographed and memorabilia cards were also available featuring stars like Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto.
Topps Heritage:
Topps Heritage paid tribute to the vintage design styles from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s with its 2022 release. The base cards featured a clean white border design or the iconic “ball in glove” logo design from the past. Top rookies like Bobby Witt Jr. and Adley Rutschman were featured alongside veterans in the retro styles. Parallels included Rainbow Foil, Gold Foil, and Platinum Anniversary versions. Autographed and memorabilia cards showcased stars like Albert Pujols, Aaron Judge, and Clayton Kershaw.
Topps Museum Collection:
As one of Topps’ high-end offerings, Topps Museum Collection featured exquisite reproduction cards of some of the most iconic vintage designs from the 1950s and 1960s. Each card was produced on thicker, high-quality card stock and housed in a magnetic holder. Top rookies like Julio Rodriguez and Oneil Cruz were featured alongside veterans in the retro designs. Short prints and 1/1 variants were available. This set paid homage to some of the most visually striking vintage designs ever produced.
Bowman Products:
Topps’ Bowman brand released a variety of baseball card products in 2022 focused on prospects, draft picks, and international signings. Bowman Draft featured the freshly drafted players and international signings. Bowman Platinum and Bowman’s Best highlighted top prospects. Bowman Sterling showcased prospects in high-end parallels and autographs. Bowman 1st included the first pro cards of draft picks and international signings. All of these sets helped track the development of future MLB stars like Druw Jones, Termarr Johnson, and Elijah Green from their earliest days in the minors.
Additional Topps Releases:
Topps also issued specialty sets like Topps Transcendent (featuring rare 1/1 cards), Topps Chrome (featuring refractors), Topps Fire (featuring red hot parallel cards), and Topps Opening Day. Topps Tribute paid homage to past Topps designs with retired players. Topps Archives reproduced classic designs from the past in low-numbered parallels. Topps Project 70 replicated the 1970 design in honor of the company’s 70th anniversary. Topps also partnered with MLB to produce exclusive co-branded sets at ballparks.
In summary, Topps had another massive year producing a wide array of baseball cards in 2022. From flagship products to high-end sets to prospect-focused releases, Topps continued to drive the baseball card market forward while paying homage to the rich history of the hobby. Rookies, stars, and parallels abounded across the various series and sets. Topps established itself as the clear industry leader yet again in 2022 with another outstanding year of baseball card releases.
