The 2022 Topps baseball card set released earlier this year contains several highly sought after rookie cards and parallels that have already gained significant value on the secondary market. With the rising popularity of collecting modern baseball cards fueled by the increased presence of the hobby on social media platforms like TikTok, it’s not surprising that some of the top rookies from the current season have cards in high demand.
One of the most valuable cards from Topps 2022 is the Bobby Witt Jr. rainbow foil autograph parallel card. Witt was selected second overall by the Kansas City Royals in the 2019 MLB Draft and is considered one of the top prospects in baseball. He made his MLB debut in 2022 and had an impressive rookie season, hitting 20 home runs in just 108 games played. His autographed rainbow foil parallel from Topps Update Series is extremely rare, with serial numbering indicating less than 10 copies exist. Multiple examples have already sold for over $2,000 each on platforms like eBay.
Spencer Strider, the Atlanta Braves flamethrowing rookie pitcher, also has multiple sought after rookie cards from Topps 2022 that are gaining value. Strider had a breakout season in 2022, making his MLB debut in May and finishing the year with a 2.67 ERA in 31 appearances, 25 starts. His main rookie card from Topps Series 1 has been steadily increasing in secondary market value and recently sold listings show prices around $100 – $150 each for graded PSA 10 or BGS 9.5 copies. An even scarcer parallel is Strider’s autographed refractor from Topps Update Series which recently sold for over $800 ungraded. Expect his cards to rise further if he continues success in 2023.
Two other rookies with intriguing rookie cards to watch are Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez and Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena. Both had outstanding rookie campaigns that earned them Rookie of the Year awards in their respective leagues. Rodriguez had one of the best rookie seasons in MLB history, slashing .284/.345/.509 with 28 home runs and 25 stolen bases. His Topps Series 1 rookie card is among the most pulled from the base set but still sells for $30-50 raw due to his emerging superstardom. Graded copies in PSA 10 have eclipsed $200. Pena won the AL Rookie of the Year award after stepping in as the Astros everyday shortstop and hit .253 with 22 doubles and an .799 OPS in his rookie season. His Topps Series 1 rookie is currently in the $15-25 raw range but is poised to increase with another strong season.
Looking beyond star rookies, there are several other lesser known players whose rookie cards surprisingly carry a premium. Detroit Tigers pitcher Beau Brieske made his MLB debut in 2022 and had an impressive 3.79 ERA over 18 starts in a rebuilding Tigers rotation. His Topps Series 1 rookie card looks fairly basic but has gained value from a limited printing and scarcity. Recently sold PSA 10 examples reached $80-100 each. San Francisco Giants catching prospect Patrick Bailey saw limited MLB action in 2022 but is considered one of their top prospects. The scarcity of his Topps Update Series rookie combined with rising prospect hype have pushed PSA 10 copies above $150 each.
Parallels and short prints are where some of the biggest value increases can be found in Topps 2022. Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera got off to a hot start in his MLB cup of coffee but has just a base rookie in the base set. His orange refractor parallel from Topps Update Series numbered to just /99 copies sells for $75-125 raw or graded due to the extreme scarcity. Cuban defector and Angels prospect Ryan Costa made his pro debut in 2022 and has modest mainstream cards, but his green shimmer parallel from Topps Series 2 barely made it into pack pulls and a PSA 10 recently brought over $400. Cards from players who emerge could see even more dramatic rises.
Of course, beyond player cards the biggest money cards tend to be prolific Hall of Famers, especially in their later career or post-retirement years when they gain new and sometimes younger collectors. Topps 2022 Update Series contained two huge short prints in this category – a Miguel Cabrera photo variation numbered to just /75 copies and a Clayton Kershaw stat-line parallel numbered to a scant /10. Both are near impossible to find PSA 10 and recently sold for well over $1,000 each. Hall of Fame inductees Craig Biggio and Jack Morris also had extremely scarce autograph parallels from Update Series around /5 copies that have topped $2,000.
While it’s impossible to predict the future, Topps 2022 has already proven to contain several cards poised for tremendous long term value increases. Star rookies, select parallels and inserts, and cards featuring either superstar veterans or new Hall of Famers seem to be where the biggest money resides right out of the product release. For savvy collectors, identifying these scarce and highly sought after cards early provides opportunities to purchase for reasonable sums before they really take off.
