The 2022 baseball card season showcased some of the hottest young stars and veteran greats across the MLB. As collectors scrambled to grab packs of brands like Topps, Panini, Leaf, and more, certain coveted rookies and veterans emerged as some of the most sought-after cards on the market. With prices for the top gems skyrocketing online, here’s a look at some of the standout 2022 baseball cards that collectors couldn’t stop chasing.
At the top of most want lists sat cards featuring Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani. The reigning AL MVP had one of his finest seasons in 2022 and captured the attention of the baseball world with his rare two-way dominance on the mound and in the batter’s box. Ohtani’s base Topps Chrome auto parallel from Series 2 rocketed to well over $1000 as one of the priciest cards of the year. His Topps Finest auto also cracked four figures. Even Ohtani’s base Topps card climbed above $50 due to his megastar status. The demand showed no signs of slowing for cards paying tribute to the Angels’ true unicorn.
Seattle Mariners rookie sensation Julio Rodriguez energized the hobby with his explosive debut season. From his first Bowman Chrome auto to flagship Topps cards, J-Rod became one of the hottest young phenoms in the game—and the card world followed. His prized Topps Chrome rookie auto refractor parallel soared past $2000. Even base Topps rookie cards routinely saw bids well into the triple digits on auction sites. Collectors forecasted huge things from Rodriguez and invested heavily in cards that could becomes classics capturing his arrival.
Another 2022 rookie who took the card world by storm was Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena. After stellar playoff heroics culminated in World Series MVP honors to help Houston take the title, demand exploded for Pena’s rookie cards. His Topps Chrome auto parallel jumped to well over $1000. Gold label autos climbed above $500. Even base Topps cards showed sizable gains into the $50-100 range thanks to Pena’s incredible inaugural season and postseason dominance. His performance on the biggest stage amplified interest in what could be a blue chip long-term investment.
Veteran superstars also continued to hold strong collector interest in 2022. Mike Trout remained one of the most iconic active players and moved considerable amounts of cardboard, especially for high-end vintage refractors and parallels over $1000. At age 41, Albert Pujols enjoyed a storybook finish by hitting his 700th career home run, driving interest in Pujols cards from his early 2000s Cardinals successes through to prestige 2021 parallels. Fellow future Hall of Famers Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts, and Juan Soto moved huge volumes of cards all season long thanks to their sustained star power.
While the above captured much of the key focus, these standout cards also turned significant heads in the trading card universe:
Giovanni Urshela Topps Chrome /299 Auto (Yankees): Surged above $800 after his breakout season.
Casey Mize Topps Chrome Auto Refractor /299 (Tigers): Approached $500 with big things expected as one of baseball’s top prospects.
Adley Rutschman Topps Chrome Auto Red Refractor /150 (Orioles): Clocked in around $400 for the elite catching prospect.
Strawberry Ripple Parallels of stars like Rodriguez, Pena, Judge: Soared to $300-500 for the rare insert aesthetics.
Spencer Torkelson Topps Chrome Auto Blue Refractor /150 (Tigers): Hovered around $300-400 for the 2020 top draft pick.
Tarik Skubal Topps Chrome Auto Red Refractor /150 (Tigers): Exceeded $250 as Detroit’s prized young arm.
Andrew Vaughn Topps Chrome Auto Red Refractor /150 (White Sox): Commanded over $200 as the rising Chicago talent.
Seiya Suzuki Topps Chrome RCs for the Cubs newcomer: Surpassed $150-200 on the prolific Japanese import.
Wander Franco Updates & Chromes (Rays): Stayed firm above $100 through another strong season.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Topps Rainbow Foil Shimmer (Blue Jays): Topped $150 for the prized parallel of baseball’s next big things.
2022 witnessed explosive interest in cards paying tribute to both proven stars and rising talents across MLB. As the popularity of the sport and collecting community continues gaining momentum, these top prizes from the season are poised to become long-term blue chips in collections for years to come. The 2022 season offered an array of spectacular performers and talents that fueled voracious collector demand.
