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2021 MOSAIC BASEBALL BEST CARDS

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The 2021 Mosaic baseball card set saw the return of the popular Mosaic brand by Panini after a year hiatus. Fans were excited to see what new technologies and designs Panini would incorporate after the successful 2020 NBA Mosaic release. While not as large as recent Topps flagship sets, 2021 Mosaic baseball offered collectors coveted parallels, memorabilia cards, and rookie sensations. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most sought after cards investors and collectors targeted from the 2021 release.

Wander Franco Green /49 – Arguably the biggest star of the 2020-2021 rookie class, Wander Franco’s autographs and parallels exploded in demand after his stellar Tampa Bay debut season. The Rays’ top prospect transcended the usual hype around rising prospects with his consistent production at just 19-years old. As one of the lowest numbered parallels available of Franco at /49, the Green parallel became the crown jewel rookie card for many collectors. Early PSA 10 examples of this short print Parallel sold for over $2,000 showing Franco had firmly cemented himself as a true franchise player investors had strong long term confidence in.

Ronald Acuña Jr. Blaze Orange /10 – Considered one of the game’s true five-tool phenoms, Ronald Acuna Jr. had established himself as one of baseball’s brightest young stars before an injury cut short his 2021 season. His 2018 Topps Chrome rookie refractor is one of the most valuable modern cards, but 2021 Mosaic offered Acuna collectors high-end memorabilia and parallel options like the ultra-rare Blaze Orange /10 parallel. With true generational talent and a lengthy career still ahead, these single digit Acuna parallels continue gaining value each year as more collectors seek them out. Early PSA 10 Blaze Orange ones surpassed $4,000 sales.

Sandy Alcantara Auto /99 – While not a true rookie, Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara broke out in 2021 with major Cy Young consideration behind an NL leading six complete games and 228 innings pitched. Alcantara established himself as a steady workhorse ace still early in his prime at just 26-years old. His first auto in the 2021 Mosaic set at the low /99 parallel became a hot commodity for Marlins PC collectors seeking a cornerstone piece for their favorite hurler’s collection. PSA 10 versions have been selling in the $900 range showing growing belief in Alcantara’s stardom.

Fernando Tatis Jr. Green Wave /10 – The enigmatic superstar shortstop for the Padres, Fernando Tatis Jr. is already one of the faces of MLB while still just 23-years old. After a monster breakout campaign in 2021 that saw him hit .281 with 42 HRs and finish third in NL MVP voting, Tatis became one of the primary cover athletes for Topps in 2022. Green Wave parallels were some of 2021 Mosaic’s most popular inserts, and the Tatis /10 became a must-own for Tatis PC collectors. Early PSA 10 examples sold over $1,000, the same price as high-end base rookies showcasing Tatis’ star power.

Ohtani & Trout Dual Auto /49- Perhaps the two biggest names currently in MLB, the dynamic pairing of Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout were featured in several 2021 Mosaic dual memorabilia cards. None were more sought after than their /49 parallel dual auto, one of just a handful in existence featuring arguably the two most talented players today. Selling initial for nearly $3,500 raw, PSA 10 grails of this dual auto have since crept past $5,000. Investors see both Trout and Ohtani as surefire Hall of Famers destined for many more accolades, making this 1/1 type card an elite long term hold.

Bo Bichette Rainbow Foil Auto /25 – As one of the heads of Toronto’s promising young core, Bo Bichette had established himself as an all-star caliber player by 2021 still just 24-years old. His popularity continued growing that year with a career high 27 home runs. The 2021 Mosaic Rainbow Foil Auto parallel presented collectors a true 1/1 style option of Bichette at the hyper short-print /25 edition size. Early PSA 10 sales eclipsed $1,000 for this premiere Bichette parallel showing strong belief in his continued breakout the coming seasons.

Bobby Witt Jr. White Sparkle Auto /10 – Bobby Witt Jr. did not disappoint as the #2 overall pick in the 2019 MLB draft, showcasing 5-tool talent right away in the minors. Highly anticipated for a 2022 debut, Witt mania was in full effect going into the ’21 season. Investors and PC collectors targeted his premiere White Sparkle Auto in Mosaic as one of the set’s true crown jewels at the ultra-short /10 parallel size. PSA 10 examples sold initially over $2,000, demonstrating Witt had one of the hottest signatures in the prospect hobby even before reaching the majors.

Overall, 2021 Mosaic offered collectors parallel versions and memorabilia options of some of baseball’s hottest young stars and established franchise players. With several true short print parallels numbered under 25 copies and ultra-rare dual memorabilia cards, the set provided high-end collector opportunities and major investing pieces. 2021 established several rookies like Franco and Witt as generational talents attracting major card value already. With many of these stars still young with Hall of Fame potential careers ahead, the premiere 2021 Mosaic cards profiled will likely only increase in desirability and value for years to come.

MOSAIC BASEBALL CARDS 2022

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Mosaic Baseball Cards 2022 – An In-Depth Look at Panini’s Premier Release

The 2022 edition of Mosaic Baseball cards from Panini America marked another innovative and coveted entry in this highly regarded modern card set series. Since launching Mosaic in 2018 as Panini’s flagship sports card brand, each new year’s release has featured cutting-edge designs, unique parallels and short prints, and opportunities to pull rare autographs and memorabilia cards of today’s top MLB stars. The 2022 Mosaic set did not disappoint collectors and stayed true to providing an exclusive high-end experience on par with the set’s history and tradition so far. Let’s take a deeper look at what Mosaic 2022 had to offer baseball card fans.

At the core of any Mosaic release are the base cards, and the 2022 design debuted another stunning aesthetic. Centered around a gorgeous mosaic backdrop created from tiny team color tiles, each base card photograph was framed in a matte black border and featured sharp color contrasts and glossy finishing. Player names were spelled out in all capital metallic letters beneath each image. The card stock was thicker and of higher quality than typical retail sets, and the overall presentation felt like a true work of fine art. Production numbers on the base cards were also relatively low for the current market at just 399 copies, giving them strong potential to hold value in the future.

As with past years of Mosaic, several parallel variations of the base cards added more layers of rarity and collecting excitement. The most common were Green /99 and Gold /25 parallels, followed by the super short print Purple Ice /10 and Orange Ice /5 parallels. The rarest parallel in the standard base set was the White Ice variations, which saw production limited all the way down to just 1 copy each. Getting one of these extraordinary 1/1 parallel cards in a pack or break would certainly be a huge collectible score.

Several special vertical image variations on key rookies and stars provided added enjoyment as well. Special “Mosaic Masterpieces” featured oversized versions of these popular players like Kershaw, Acuna and Buxton. Other unique visual treatments across the various parallels like Prism, SuperPrism, and Spectrum added further splash to an already gorgeous presentation. Overall, Panini put in the effort to make their Mosaic base cards some of the most lavishly designed and exclusive standard issues around each year.

Beyond the base cards, part of what makes Mosaic such a thrill is the wide array of rare autograph, memorabilia and 1-of-1 inserts scattered throughout the gigantic factory set checklist. In 2022, this aspect truly shined through a plethora of special parallels and chase cards. Key rookie autographs of Spencer Torkelson, Bobby Witt Jr., and Julio Rodriguez gained significant value as their star potential rose throughout the MLB season. Veterans star autos like Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, and Shohei Ohtani provided the kind of generational talent appeal that puts Mosaic on a level of its own.

In addition to the standard on-card autographs found throughout Mosaic cases, more unique treatments abounded as well. Dual and triple autograph cards with multiple players were a specialty of the brand. Exquisite tri-color auto patches joined signatures with on-card relic material. Inscriptions on some autos provided extra personalization too. The absolute rarest cards were as ever the limited 1/1 autographs and Memorabilia Masterpieces inserted at a ratio of about 1:12 hobby boxes on average. These unique creations featured some of the most elaborate autograph, patch and material combinations seen in any sportscard product. Scoring such a special creation could define an entire collection.

Beyond the packs and boxes, Mosaic also thrived through a robust memorabilia and patch game with some truly one-of-a-kind artifacts inserted. Novelty multi-relic cards joining signatures with on-card used equipment, uniforms, bats and balls took creativity to another level. Serial-numbered Memorabilia patches as low as 1/5 highlighted major stars. Game worn and autographed memorabilia jersey cards with serials of 1/1 provided the kind of truly singular collectibles that museums could showcase. It’s clear Panini pulls out all the stops to make Mosaic one of the most authentic manifestations of modern athlete relic collecting around.

From the inception of the brand in 2018, Mosaic Baseball has developed a sterling reputation among collectors as one of the top high-end sports card options on the market each season. With production numbers much smaller than mainstream releases, an emphasis on cutting-edge designs, and opportunities to pull game-changing rare autographs and relics, it provides a true luxury opening day experience in the hobby above other sets. While retail costs and secondary market values are higher, you truly get what you pay for in terms of quality, prestige and historical appreciation potential long-term. For those willing to invest, the 2022 Mosaic release once again delivered a premium product experience that will entertain and excite baseball card fans for many years ahead.

BEST 2022 PANINI MOSAIC BASEBALL CARDS

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The 2022 Panini Mosaic baseball card set was released in November 2022 and features some of the top rookies and stars from this past MLB season. As with previous years, Mosaic delivers stunning parallels and variations that make certain cards quite valuable and desirable among collectors. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the best 2022 Mosaic baseball cards to chase.

Perhaps the most sought-after rookie card in the entire set is Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene. Greene had a strong debut in 2022 and is considered one of the top prospects in all of baseball. His base Mosaic rookie card is plentiful but still holds value given his future star potential. Where Greene rookies really start to gain value is in the parallel and short-printed versions. The Green /99 parallel is getting upwards of $100 raw while the ultra-rare Gold /10 parallel has sold for over $1,000. Greene’s Mosaic rookie patch autographs and memorabilia cards also demand big money given his hype.

Another rookie generating tremendous buzz is Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez. Like Greene, J-Rod had a breakout rookie campaign that has vaulted him into stardom. His base Mosaic rookie is only around $20-30 but that price jumps significantly for color parallels. The Green /99 parallel recently sold for $175 while the Gold /10 has gone for over $800. Rodriguez also has desirable autograph and memorabilia cards in Mosaic that are must-haves for any collector following one of baseball’s brightest young stars.

Speaking of rising stars, Los Angeles Angels pitcher Reid Detmers is another rookie name to know. Detmers threw a no-hitter in 2022 and looks poised to become the Angels’ ace for years to come. While not as well-known as Greene or Rodriguez, Detmers’ Mosaic rookie cards are still worth acquiring – especially parallels. Look for his Green /99 to carry a $50-75 price tag while rarer color versions command three figures or more. Detmers autographs and memorabilia cards in Mosaic also hold solid long-term value.

For veteran star power, you can’t go wrong chasing cards of New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. After smashing an AL-record 62 home runs, Judge is baseball’s biggest name at the moment. His base Mosaic sells in the $30-50 range but parallels are much costlier. Judge’s Green /99 parallel recently sold for $275 while his ultra-rare Gold /10 fetched over $1,000. Autographed and memorabilia versions of Judge’s iconic 2022 season are must-owns for any serious collector.

Another star enjoying a monster year was St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. At 35, Goldschmidt put together an MVP-caliber campaign, leading the NL in batting average. His Mosaic base carries a $15-25 price while the Green /99 parallel has sold for around $75. Goldschmidt autographs and memorabilia cards are also very collectible given his outstanding 2022 season. Even veterans like Goldschmidt see a boost in Mosaic card values after performing at an elite level.

Rookies aren’t the only ones with desirable Mosaic parallels. For example, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw’s Green /99 parallel has sold in the $150 range. Kershaw remains one of baseball’s most popular veterans and his parallel Mosaic cards hold great long-term value. The same can be said for Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr., whose Green /99 parallel has gone for $125-150 despite missing most of 2022 due to injury. Superstar names will always be in high demand on the secondary market.

Of course, no discussion of 2022 Mosaic would be complete without mentioning the set’s biggest star – New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer. Mad Max enjoyed a phenomenal season after signing a mega free agent deal. His base Mosaic sells for $30-50 while the Green /99 parallel has gone for $250-300 raw. Scherzer’s 1/1 Mosaic “Rainmaker” parallel is the true crown jewel, recently selling for an astounding $4,000. Few modern players generate card values on par with the three-time Cy Young winner.

In addition to top rookies and stars, 2022 Mosaic served up several exciting parallels and short prints to chase. The Silver Prizm parallel is limited to only 10 copies and these ultra-rare pulls can fetch thousands of dollars depending on the player. The Gold Wave parallel is numbered to just 5 copies and also holds immense value. Numbered to /25, the Mosaic “M” parallel is another coveted short-print. And for the true high-rollers, 1/1 Mosaic “Genesis” parallels exist featuring swatches of game-used memorabilia.

Overall, 2022 Panini Mosaic delivered another outstanding modern baseball card set with its stunning photography, colorful parallels, and exciting short prints and serial numbered cards. While the base cards of stars like Judge, Scherzer and rookie sensations Greene and Rodriguez are must-owns in their own right, it’s the color variations and low-numbered pulls that really make Mosaic a premier high-end product. With strong on-field performances, rising prospects and valuable parallel chase cards, 2022 Mosaic looks poised to become one of the set’s most collectible editions for years to come.