Topps Chrome is one of the most highly anticipated baseball card releases each year. The shiny refractors and vivid colors that Chrome cards are known for make them a big hit with collectors. 2022 saw the latest installment of this premium baseball card product hit shelves in late summer.
Topps Chrome 2022 had collectors excited for several key reasons. First, it was the first Chrome release since 2019, as the pandemic disrupted the normal baseball card release schedule the past two years. Second, rookie classes featuring potential superstars like Julio Rodriguez, Bobby Witt Jr., and Adley Rutschman generated a lot of hype. The retro design paid homage to some of the most iconic Chrome designs of the late 90s and 2000s.
The base set for Topps Chrome 2022 consisted of 330 cards, with one card for every player on an MLB roster at the time of production. The design featured a clean white border around each photo, with team logos prominently displayed at the bottom. As with all Chrome sets, the photo is printed on a silver “refractor” stock that gives each card a shiny, glittery look compared to a standard card.
Parallels and short prints have always been a big part of the Chrome experience. For 2022, Topps included several different parallel variations at different print runs:
Black – Print run of 1 in 10 packs (33 cards)
Gold – 1 in 20 packs (16 cards)
Green – 1 in 30 packs (11 cards)
Orange – 1 in 40 packs (8 cards)
Blue – 1 in 50 packs (6 cards)
Red – 1 in 75 packs (4 cards)
Purple – 1 in 100 packs (3 cards)
Several short print variations were sprinkled throughout packs at much lower odds, like the coveted 1-of-1 “White Whale” parallel. Topps also included a set of “Refractors” for each parallel color at an even lower print run.
Rookies and prospects were the main chase for collectors opening Chrome in 2022. Top names like Rodriguez, Witt Jr., Rutschman, Spencer Torkelson, and C.J. Abrams all had base rookie cards alongside an array of parallels and short prints. The most coveted rookie cards included 1-of-1 variations that could fetch thousands of dollars on the secondary market.
Veteran stars also saw some of their most iconic Chrome cards repriced from previous years. Cards of players like Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones, Derek Jeter, and Mariano Rivera in their rookie seasons commanded big money from collectors nostalgic for the 1990s Chrome designs. Legendary parallels like a 1998 Griffey Jr. Gold refractor #/50 were truly grail cards.
Topps also included several special insert sets within 2022 Chrome. “Fluorescent” featured bright neon-colored parallels at low print runs. “Top Chrome” highlighted some of the biggest names in baseball. And “Chrome Prospects” shone a light on the next wave of young talent. Autograph and memorabilia cards of current stars provided high-end chase cards as well.
Overall, Topps Chrome 2022 delivered the nostalgia, mystery, and excitement collectors have come to expect from the iconic brand. While the pandemic delayed its return, the product didn’t disappoint with its flashy designs and chase for the next generation of stars. Between the base cards, parallels, inserts, autographs and 1-of-1’s, it provided something for every type of collector. Whether seeking affordable rookies or ultra-rare vintage parallels, Chrome had cards that could appeal to any budget. Its mix of retro styling and modern rookie classes ensured Topps Chrome would remain one of the most anticipated baseball card releases for years to come.
