The Houston Astros had another successful season in 2022, winning the American League West division for the fourth time in five years. The team’s returning stars and emerging young talents made for an exciting year that baseball card collectors took note of. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top Astros players from 2022 and the baseball cards featuring them that collectors sought after.
Justin Verlander remained one of the best pitchers in baseball in 2022 at age 39. In his return to Houston, Verlander won the AL Cy Young award by posting a league-leading 1.75 ERA over 28 starts. His dominance was evidenced by leading the AL in wins (18), WHIP (0.829), opponents’ batting average (.186) and innings pitched (175). Not surprisingly, Verlander autographed and memorabilia cards from 2022 carried high values. His Topps Chrome Blue Refractor auto /99 pulled a strong premium, as did 1/1 printing plates and memorabilia cards featuring game-used items from his stellar season.
Yordan Alvarez had a breakout season in 2022 by setting an Astros single-season record with 37 home runs. He was a mere four homers shy of the overall major league lead. Alvarez ended up third in the league in slugging percentage (.603) and OPS (.995), establishing himself as one of MLB’s premier power hitters at just 25 years old. Alvarez rookie cards from previous years spiked in value, and his 2022 Topps cards including base, parallels and autographs were highly sought after. Numbered refractors featuring his smiling face after big home runs were hot ticket items.
Jeremy Pena had huge shoes to fill as the rookie who took over as the Astros’ starting shortstop after Carlos Correa departed in free agency. Pena rose to the challenge by winning AL Rookie of the Year honors thanks to his consistent production and stellar defense. The 25-year-old posted a .253 average with 22 home runs and 63 RBI. Pena’s impressive debut season translated to strong card values, especially for his Topps Chrome autographs and numbered parallels from ’22 Topps Series 2. As he cements his place on the Astros, Pena’s long term potential makes him an exciting young player to follow.
Jose Altuve has been the face of the Astros franchise for over a decade now and continues chugging along as one of baseball’s most dynamic players at second base. At 32, Altuve hit .300 for the seventh time in his career in 2022 with 28 homers and 57 RBI in his usual leadoff role. His success was evidenced by several accolades including his fifth Silver Slugger award and seventh All-Star nod. Altuve’s cards always hold value due to his stellar career and popularity in Houston, with autographed cards and numbered rookie parallels seeing high collector demand.
Framber Valdez had a breakout season as the Astros’ ace, going 17-6 with a 2.82 ERA over 204.2 innings while making his second All-Star team. Despite missing time on the injured list, the 28-year-old lefty proved his mettle and entered the Cy Young conversation. Valdez rookie cards from previous years spiked in value. His 2022 Topps Chrome Autograph Refractors became hot items, as did memorabilia cards featuring game-used items. As one of the leaders of Houston’s young pitching staff, Valdez’s long-term star potential bodes well for collectors.
Young pitchers like Cristian Javier, Hunter Brown and Luis Garcia showed promise and flashed dominant potential in 2022 as rotation and bullpen options alongside Verlander and Valdez. Javier struck out 194 batters in 147.1 innings over 28 games (19 starts), proving his ability as both a starter and closer. Brown made Houston take notice in his MLB debut by allowing just one earned run in his first 30 innings across four starts. Garcia overcame a rough start to record 147 strikeouts in 153.1 innings in his second full season. The upside of these hurlers made their 2022 Topps Chrome rookie cards and parallels popular risks to take on.
Veteran third baseman Alex Bregman returned from injury to hit 12 home runs in 90 games and provide his usual stellar defense on a playoff team. His past star power kept collectors interested in chasing 2022 parallels and autographs despite the limited playing time. Catcher Martin Maldonado brought his elite pitch framing skills behind the plate and mashed a career-high 14 homers at age 36. Speedy outfielder Chas McCormick emerged as a valuable fourth outfielder, starting 80 games while batting .245 with 13 long balls. Their contributions added to the Astros’ success and collector interest in their 2022 cardboard.
The Houston Astros’ talented roster and playoff run made their 2022 baseball cards a hot commodity. Stars like Verlander and Alvarez led the way while emerging youngsters like Pena, Valdez, Javier and Brown gained increased collector followings. The team’s continued winning ways and stable of popular veterans ensured Houston remained one of the most intriguing franchises on the card market. With another successful campaign appearing likely for 2023, Astros cards should remain a mainstay in collections for years to come.
