Topps released another highly anticipated set of baseball cards in 2022 with its flagship Series 1 and Series 2 sets. While not every card in modern releases can achieve ultra-rare status like cards from the 1950s and 60s, some individual cards have already emerged as considerably scarce and prized possessions among collectors. Let’s take a look at some of the rarest Topps baseball cards from 2022 that are commanding big prices less than a year after their initial release.
One of the hardest base rookies to obtain across all of 2022 Topps has been the Jonathan India rookie card. As the 2021 National League Rookie of the Year, India’s debut Topps card was highly sought after by collectors. Only appearing as a base rookie in Series 1, the India RC has proven extremely elusive in high grades. PSA 10 examples rarely come up for sale and usually trade hands for well over $1000. In raw pack-fresh condition, a centered India rookie is still a big ticket item worth several hundred dollars minimum.
Another rookie that has shot up the rankings of rarest 2022 cards is the Bobby Witt Jr. debut from Topps Series 1. As baseball’s top overall prospect heading into the 2022 season and a solid performer in his first MLB campaign with the Royals, Witt’s popularity as an investment piece has exploded demand for this base RC. PSA 10 copies have eclipsed $2000 and will surely climb even higher if Witt lives up to his potential as a perennial all-star. Even low-grade examples in PSA 8 or lower range cost several hundred dollars.
The Fernando Tatis Jr. rainbow foil parallel from 2022 Topps Series 2 takes the cake as far as scarce parallels from the flagship sets this year. About one per case typically, these super short printed Tatis foil cards have already reached astronomical prices. A PSA 10 recently sold for over $10,000, showing just how difficult it is to acquire this card in pristine condition. Even well-centered raw copies demand north of $1000. With Tatis’ talent and fan favorite status, his scarce parallels will remain at an elite level of rarity.
Beyond the big three rookies, a couple of other key cards have also proven surprisingly rare from 2022 Topps. Shohei Ohtani’s base card in Series 1 is no slouch, with a PSA 10 selling for around $500 due to the massive popularity of the two-way Japanese phenom combined with a relatively low print run. The Mike Trout SP variant from Series 1 – featuring different artwork than the base version – has become a real sought after short print. Only one SP per case on average, a Trout specimen still sealed in its original pack sold recently for almost $900 on eBay.
When focusing exclusively on serial numbered parallels and autographs insert cards from 2022 Topps, the rarity scale is kicked up a notch further still. Some examples include the Wander Franco Topps Fire #/25 parallel (>$3000 PSA 10), Adley Rutschman The Rosin /99 auto (>$2000 PSA 10), and a Julio Rodriguez Clearly Authentic auto patch 1/1 (sold for over $25,000). As for the flagship Series 2 set, early standouts pulling big bucks include a rare Fernando Tatis Jr. /5 parallel auto (>$6000 PSA 10) and a Bobby Witt Jr. Fractor auto /150 (>$1500 PSA 10).
As more 2022 Topps collections are broken and the player performances unfold, certain cards could rise or fall in perceived rarity and demand over the next year. Given the ultra-limited print runs Topps has utilized for parallels and short prints in recent sets combined with breakneck collector interest, many of the cards profiled here are sure to maintain an extremely scarce presence in the hobby for a long time to come. Their prices seem poised only to climb higher as a result barring unforeseen circumstances. For discerning collectors seeking the true pinnacle of modern rarity, 2022 Topps elite rookies, parallels and low-numbered hits offer accessible investment opportunities rivaling vintage cardboard treasures.
