The 2022 baseball season was a turnaround year for the New York Mets, who had one of the best seasons in franchise history after several disappointing years. Led by new owner Steve Cohen and a new front office, the team made several big free agent signings and had its sights set on a deep playoff run. The excitement around the team was palpable among Mets fans, making the 2022 baseball card releases very anticipated.
Topps, the longtime leader in baseball cards, unveiled its 2022 flagship set with a fresh design. For the first time since 2011, the cards went back to having solid colored borders rather than the pinstripe design of recent years. This allowed the vibrant team colors and sharp photos to really stand out. Some of the photo croppings were tighter than in past years as well, focusing more on the players. The base cards had a clean and classic look that harkened back to the 1980s and 1990s designs fans loved.
Several Mets stars graced the base card designs, including new acquisitions Max Scherzer and Starling Marte. Scherzer sported his familiar intense stare on his card after signing a massive free agent deal in the offseason. Marte, who the team traded for at the deadline in 2021, showed off his dazzling speed and skills in center field. Homegrown talents Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil also received base cards after powering the team’s lineup.
Topps also included special photo variation cards for many of the Mets players. Scherzer had one showing him mid-windup on the mound. Alonso unleashed one of his mighty home run swings. Francisco Lindor flashed his trademark smiles and reflected on re-signing long term with the Mets. Reliever Edwin Diaz posed with his intimidating stare. These photo variants allowed collectors multiple options to showcase their favorite players.
In addition to the standard base cards, Topps featured several Mets in special inserts. Alonso and Lindor were part of the “All-Stars” parallel highlighting some of the top hitters. Scherzer, deGrom, and Diaz made appearances in the “Aces” insert focusing on elite pitchers. Lindor, Marte, and McNeil represented in the “Speed” parallel celebrating fast players. Rookie catcher Francisco Alvarez, one of the organization’s top prospects, debuted in the “Rookie Sensations” insert before playing his first MLB game.
Topps also produced retrospective cards honoring iconic Mets teams and players from the past. Tom Seaver and the 1969 “Miracle Mets” World Series champions received significant recognition. So did the 2000 squad that made it to the Subway Series and the 2015 team that reached the World Series. Legendary players like Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, and Dwight Gooden received spotlight inserts as well. This helped remind collectors of the storied tradition and history of the franchise.
While Topps led the way, competing brands like Panini, Leaf, and Bowman also released sets focused on the 2022 Mets. Panini’s Donruss football branding came to baseball cards with retro styled designs. Their “Contenders” parallels featured short prints of Mets like deGrom and Alonso. Leaf produced lush signature cards that collectors chased. Bowman featured several top Mets prospects in their prospect-focused sets that incorporated wood grain borders.
By the end of the 2022 season, the Mets fulfilled high expectations by winning 101 games and capturing the NL East title. They made a run to the ALCS before falling just short of the World Series. Their success on the field translated to strong sales and desire for their cards off it. The 2022 rookie cards of breakout players like Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil from their early career years significantly increased in value. Veterans like deGrom and Scherzer also maintained great popularity. It was a banner year for both the team and collectors of their modern baseball cards.
