The 2022 baseball season saw rising young stars continuing to impress as well as veteran greats further cementing their legends. As with every year, the standout performances on the field directly translated to some of the most coveted and valuable cards on the collectibles market. With millions of dollars changing hands for singles and complete sets, here are the top 10 2022 baseball cards based on new releases throughout the year and recent sales data:
Wander Franco Atomic Refractor Auto /50 – Tampa Bay Rays (Topps Chrome): At just 21 years old, Franco put the baseball world on notice with his electric play in 2021 and looked primed to become the face of the league for years to come. His refuse entry into the 2022 season due to injury stalled that hype slightly, but collectors remain ultra-bullish on his long term potential. This super short printed Atomic Refractor auto captured in Topps Chrome’s release rose to over $3,000 based on strong on-card inscription.
Tarik Skubal Rainbow Foil Auto /25 – Detroit Tigers (Bowman Chrome): Skubal broke out as the Tigers’ staff ace in 2022, throwing 184 strikeouts across 165 innings to solidify himself as a budding ace. The lefty was highly sought after by collectors last year and remained so, with his exquisite Rainbow Foil auto from Bowman Chrome’s premier product skyrocketing past $3,500. With Detroit on the rise, Skubal looks poised for stardom.
Julio Rodriguez Silver Pack Mojo Auto /10 – Seattle Mariners (Topps Chrome Update): J-Rod took MLB by storm in his highly anticipated rookie campaign, slashing .284/.345/.511 with 28 home runs and 25 stolen bases en route to winning the AL Rookie of the Year award. As one of the faces of baseball’s new wave, his cards exploded and this super short printed Silver Pack Mojo parallel auto cracked $4,000 due to immense fanfare around the budding Mariners star.
Shohei Ohtani Gold Label Auto /50 – Los Angeles Angels (Topps Series 2): There may never be another two way force in the game like Ohtani, who continued to dazzle on the mound and at the plate in 2022. The reigning AL MVP is a collector favorite and his Topps Series 2 Gold Label auto, which comes one per case, rose above $4,500 due to his otherworldly talents and status as one of today’s premier players.
Aaron Judge Rainbow Foil Prismatic Auto /10 – New York Yankees (Topps Chrome): The towering Yankees outfielder put together one for the ages in cracking an American League record 62 home runs. On the heels of possibly the greatest individual season ever, collectors went wild for Judge cards, including this uber short printed Topps Chrome parallel. With on-card inscription, this 1/1 style card recently sold for a staggering $5,800.
Ronald Acuna Jr. Superfractor Auto /5 – Atlanta Braves (Topps Finest): After missing nearly all of 2021 to injury, Acuna reminded the world of his talents by posting a .266 BA with 10 HR in 62 games upon returning in 2022. Still just 25, his ceiling remains MVP caliber, making hits prized possessions for collectors. Topps Finest is one of the premier modern products and this ultimate short print Acuna auto eclipsed $6,000 in recent months.
Mike Trout Gold Auto /50 – Los Angeles Angels (Topps Chrome Best of): It’s hard to find a more desired baseball card collectors than a fresh Trout, and this one fit the bill as a short printed true Gold parallel auto captured from Topps Chrome’s coveted Best of insert set. Aside from being one of the game’s longtime elite, Trout mania keeps prices sky high on his new releases – this landed above $6,500 with ease.
Edmundo Sosa Superfractor Auto /5 – St. Louis Cardinals (Topps Finest): In one of the shockers of the year, this virtually unknown Cardinals utilityman grabbed mainstream attention and skyrocketed in value. With Topps Finest being the pinnacle release near the end of the season, Sosa’s call up and rookie success made this rare /5 Superfractor the stuff of legends. Amazingly, it has already changed hands twice for over $9,000 each time in recent months.
Tony Gonsolin Rainbow Foil Auto /10 – Los Angeles Dodgers (Topps Chrome Best of): The reigning NL Cy Young winner had an incredible breakout season in 2022 to firmly plant himself among the game’s elite hurlers. As the Dodgers ace, Gonsolin has become a must-have for collectors and none moreso than this impossibly sharp Topps Chrome Best of parallel. With a bat down auto to boot, this landed for an eye popping $11,500 last month.
Mickey Mantle PSA 9 1952 Topps – New York Yankees: The Mantle is still king when it comes to iconic baseball cards, and examples from his rookie year of 1952 hold legendary status. This PSA 9 copy of his iconic design recently became the first baseball card to break $12 million in a private sale, shattering all records. While an obvious outlier, it proves The Commerce Comet’s mythical hold over the hobby some 70 years later. Truly no collection is complete without a piece of the Mick.
In summary, 2022 was another banner year that saw new young stars blossom while all-time greats kept proving why they are untouchable in the collecting realm. With massive dollars on the line, the vintage cards will always attract the biggest headlines. But for today’s game, judges, Acuñas and Otani continue representing the new faces of our beloved pastime at card shows and auction houses worldwide.
