The 2022 Topps baseball card season featured some of the most highly anticipated rookie cards and special parallels in recent memory. With stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., and Shohei Ohtani gracing packs, the 2022 Topps Series 1 release was one of the most popular in years.
While Series 1 received most of the hype, Topps released several other baseball card products throughout 2022 that featured their own unique hits. From flagship products to high-end exclusives, here’s a look at some of the best 2022 Topps baseball cards collectors were chasing.
2022 Topps Series 1
As the main flagship release of the year, Series 1 is always one of the most sought after sets. Some of the top rookies from 2021 like Guerrero Jr. and Jonathan India had their true rookie cards in this set. For Tatis Jr. collectors, it featured one of his only base cards from a major brand in 2022.
Parallels like the Rainbow Foil and Gold Foil Short Prints added another layer of chase to the base cards. Numbered parallels like the /499 Green Shimmer and /99 Orange Refractors also gave collectors premium hits to aim for. Top prospect cards of Bobby Witt Jr. and Julio Rodriguez were hot commodities as well.
Overall, 2022 Topps Series 1 delivered on the hype with a strong rookie class and plenty of parallels to keep the hunt exciting from pack to pack. Base cards of the games biggest stars alongside the top prospects made this a true flagship set.
2022 Topps Heritage
As one of the most beloved retro designs in the hobby, Topps Heritage is always a fan favorite release. The 2022 version paid tribute to the classic 1967 Topps design and included a loaded autograph checklist.
Rookies like Adley Rutschman, Spencer Torkelson, and Riley Greene had their retro debuts alongside established stars. The short print variations like the Gold Foil parallel became major chase cards. Numbered parallels down to /66 and Golden Moments autographs elevated the excitement.
Heritage High Number also joined the party with additional base cards and more hits to uncover. Between the two sets, Topps Heritage 2022 satisfied collectors looking to build a complete vintage-style set or hunt for big autographed rookies. The retro design is truly timeless.
2022 Topps Series 2
While Series 2 doesn’t have the same hype as the flagship release, it still delivered plenty of exciting cards for collectors. Rookies like Oneil Cruz, George Kirby, and Hunter Greene debuted in the set alongside continuing storylines from Series 1.
Colorful parallels like the Rainbow Foil, Gold Foil, and Gold Rainbow Foil Short Prints were the big chase cards alongside numbered refractors. Autograph and memorabilia cards of stars provided high-end hits to end box breaks on as well.
All in all, Series 2 complemented Series 1 nicely with more base cards of the games rising talents. Between the two flagship releases, Topps covered a huge portion of the 2022 MLB season player checklist.
2022 Topps Tribute
As one of the premium high-end sets, Topps Tribute lived up to its reputation in 2022. The retro design paid homage to the 1967 design while using high-quality materials. The base cards themselves had superb production quality.
Numbered parallels like Gold (/50) and SuperFractor (/10) provided some of the rarest chase cards of the year. Autograph and memorabilia cards featured exclusive patches and signatures from legends and current stars. Boxes were limited to hobby shops for an exclusive release.
While carrying a hefty price tag, Tribute delivered exquisite cards for collectors willing to pay up. Between the design, production, and hits – it was truly one of the top releases of 2022.
2022 Topps Chrome
As the flagship refractors set, Topps Chrome is always a fan favorite for its flashy refractors. The 2022 version featured the same base rookie class highlights as Series 1 and 2 but with added color and shine on the cards.
Prism parallels like Gold, Orange, and Green provided different levels of refractors alongside the base colors. Autographed rookie cards and memorabilia hits added excitement to breaks as well. Chrome High Number followed with additional players too.
Collectors loved chasing down their favorite stars in the sharp refractors design. Between the main set and High Number, Topps Chrome 2022 had all the tools to be one of the best modern releases of the year.
2022 Topps Opening Day
As the first major release of the 2022 season, Opening Day captured all the excitement and optimism of a new baseball year. Rookies like Julio Rodriguez and Bobby Witt Jr. had their first Topps cards alongside team portraits and checklists.
Short prints, parallels, and autographs gave collectors premium chase cards to hunt for. The retro-style design paid homage to a classic Topps look as well. It was the perfect way to kick off the card year with MLB’s Opening Day right around the corner.
Other Notable 2022 Topps Releases
Allen & Ginter: The fan-favorite set featured hits like Golden Moments autographs and a retro wood grain design.
Topps Archives: Honoring 1952 Topps, it had a true vintage look and feel alongside autograph hits.
Bowman: Delivered top prospects like Adley Rutschman and the Paper Los Angeles parallel short prints.
Topps Project 70: High-end release featured 1/1 sketch cards and patch cards of stars on premium stock.
Topps Now: Provided up-to-date cards covering the 2022 MLB season’s biggest moments.
Clearly, 2022 was a huge year for Topps baseball cards. Between the flagship releases, high-ends sets, and specialized products – they covered the entire season and player checklist. Rookies, stars, parallels, and hits gave collectors an abundance of exciting cards to chase all year long. Topps truly set the standard for the modern baseball card industry yet again.
