The 2022 Topps Update Series baseball card set was released by Topps on September 7th, 2022 as the latest edition in their annual Update Series product line. As with previous Topps Update releases, the 2022 version provided collectors the opportunity to obtain newly released rookie cards, updated stats and team changes from the current MLB season.
Containing a total of 330 base cards, the 2022 Topps Update set featured many of the top rookie players from the 2022 MLB season as well as stars from across the league with updated stats from after the regular 2022 Topps Series 1 and Series 2 sets were produced earlier in the year. Some of the top rookies included in the set were Miami Marlins pitcher Max Meyer, Kansas City Royals infielder Bobby Witt Jr., Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez and Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman. All of these players had breakout rookie campaigns and their rookie cards from the Update set started gaining popularity among collectors.
In addition to rookies, the 2022 Topps Update also showcased big name veterans who were having standout seasons or who changed teams. For example, New York Yankees star Aaron Judge, who had a record-breaking home run season, was prominently featured. Other star players included Cincinnati Reds pitcher Luis Castillo after being traded from the Miami Marlins and Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., who was making his return from injury. Cardinals star Nolan Arenado also returned in a St. Louis uniform after being traded from the Colorado Rockies before the 2022 season began. These types of updated player and team changes are what make the Topps Update set a vital release each year for keeping collector’s complete sets up-to-date.
Along with the 330 base cards, the 2022 Topps Update also included several popular insert sets for collectors to hunt. Some of the top inserts included Gallery of Stars featuring historical event photographs of MLB greats, Flashback Friday highlighting past season performer, and Stars of the Topps Now social media insert set. Top prospects were also highlighted through the Topps Prospects card set. Autograph and memorabilia card inserts of current stars provided collectors exciting chase cards as well. Veteran stars featured in these inserts included Mike Trout, Ohtani, Soto and Acuna Jr. Parallels and variations of the base cards and inserts added to the appeal and chase for collectors as well.
Retail and hobby box configurations of the 2022 Update Series offered various options for collectors. The standard $120 jumbo hobby box contained 36 packs with 18 cards per pack. This provided collectors an average of around 6-7 base cards per pack along with inserts which average around 1 per pack or better. The $50 blaster box held 18 packs with 5-6 cards each offering a more affordable retail introduction. Loose packs were also widely available at $3.99-4.99 each depending on the retailer. With guaranteed rookies or prospects in every pack, loose packs from Update provided an exciting lotto style experience for collectors.
Although the release of the 2022 Topps Update Series added no new Hall of Fame cards, veterans checklists or autograph rookies relic sets compared to the previous year’s release, it remains an essential annual release for collectors seeking the latest rookie classes and season statistical updates. With a strong rookie class headlined by stars like Julio Rodriguez and Bobby Witt Jr., as well as new team switches like Nolan Arenado in Cardinals red, the 2022 Topps Update was able to breathe new life and collector interest into the traditional baseball card season that follows. Over the coming years, many of these players’ rookie cards could become highly sought after affordable options for collectors.
In summarization, despite sticking to the typical formula of its predecessors, the 2022 Topps Update Series baseball card set was another successful annual update that provided collectors the opportunity to stay up-to-date on the latest MLB season developments through newly released rookie cards, updated stats and team changes. With strong rookie classes and standout offensive seasons from stars like Judge driving interest, the 2022 Update will remain an essential reference set and affordable collecting option for years to come as the careers of players featured continue to develop.
