The 2022 Topps Baseball set was released in March and contains a wide variety of rookies, stars, parallels and inserts that have collectors excited. With over 700 cards in the base set and dozens of insert sets, it can be difficult to narrow down which are the true standouts. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the best cards collectors should be targeting from the 2022 Topps release.
Rookies are always a big draw for collectors and the 2022 Topps set features several promising first year players. One of the most sought after is Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco. As the top prospect in baseball, Franco’s base rookie card is a must have for any collector. His paper rookie has already broken the $100 mark and could end up being one of the most valuable rookie cards of the decade. Another highly regarded rookie is Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez. Rodriguez had a breakout 2021 season and is expected to be a star for the Mariners. His base rookie card has also cracked the $100 price point.
Two other rookies generating lots of buzz are Detroit Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe and Boston Red Sox shortstop Marcelo Mayer. Jobe was the #1 pick in the 2021 MLB Draft and is considered one of the top pitching prospects in the minors. Mayer was the #4 overall pick and is an elite hitting and fielding shortstop. While their base rookie cards currently trade in the $30-50 range, both have potential for huge gains down the road if they develop as expected. Another rookie to watch who may break out is Milwaukee Brewers catcher Henry Davis, the #1 pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.
In addition to rookies, stars drive collector interest and the 2022 Topps set offers several star player cards that stand above the rest. One of the most iconic cards is superstar Shohei Ohtani’s base card. As a true two-way player who is revolutionizing the game, Ohtani’s popularity and on-field production make any of his cards highly coveted. His base card can currently be acquired for $40-50. Another must-have star card is New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge’s base. Judge is coming off an historic 62 home run season that saw him break the AL record. His base card sells in the $30-40 range.
Two other star players that are always in high demand are Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner and Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. Both are perennial All-Stars still in their primes. Turner’s base card trades around $25-30 while Acuña’s consistently sells for $20-25 due to his huge fanbase. Another star on the rise collectors should target is Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez. After a breakout rookie campaign, Rodriguez looks poised for stardom and his base card can be found for $15-20 currently.
When it comes to inserts, the 2022 Topps set offers several that stand out as real chase cards for collectors. The Flagship Rainbow Foil parallel insert set features foil versions of key stars and rookies. Pulling a rainbow foil card of a major star or top rookie is a huge hit. Some of the most valuable from this insert set so far include the Wander Franco, Julio Rodriguez and Shohei Ohtani rainbow foil cards. Another highly sought after insert is the Topps Chrome Refractors parallel set. Refractors of the same stars and rookies mentioned command big money due to their rarity and flashy refractors.
Two other inserts generating lots of collector buzz are the Topps Gold Label parallels and the Allen & Ginter Mini cards. The Gold Label parallels feature a gold foil treatment on stars, rookies and key players. Pulling a Gold Label of a star like Judge, Ohtani or Acuña is a monster hit. Meanwhile, the Allen & Ginter Mini cards pay tribute to the original Allen & Ginter set with 64 cards recreating the original tobacco era designs. Minis featuring major stars sell for $50 or more.
While the 2022 Topps Baseball release offers a little something for all collectors with its huge base set and myriad inserts, the standout cards to target are the top rookies like Wander Franco and Julio Rodriguez, star players like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, and big hit inserts like the Rainbow Foils, Refractors, Gold Labels and Allen & Ginter Minis featuring the games brightest young stars and established veterans. With resale prices already rising on many of these cards, the 2022 Topps set looks poised to create many new collector favorites.
