The 2022 baseball season saw another year of record-breaking sales and valuations in the world of baseball cards. As the hobby continues to surge in popularity, especially among younger collectors, the prices companies are willing to pay for scarce and coveted pieces of cardboard history escalate to new heights.
At the top of the list for the most valuable Topps baseball cards issued in 2022 are the prized autograph and memorabilia rookie cards of slugging young superstars like Angels two-way phenomenon Shohei Ohtani and Braves outfielder Michael Harris II. Veterans and retired legends maintained strong value as well with iconic cards from names like Mickey Mantle and Ken Griffey Jr. consistently commanding five and six figure prices.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the priciest Topps cards on the resale market from the 2022 series and highlight what makes each one so special and sought after. Near the very top sits the Shohei Ohtani Transcendent Signatures Chrome autograph card. Numbered to only 10 copies, Ohtani’s marketability and talent have made him one of the faces of MLB. With his two-way skills as a feared hitter and pitcher, collectors are clamoring to own a piece of his rookie season success in 2018 which saw him named AL Rookie of the Year and MVP. As one of just 10 of these ultra-rare autograph cards in existence, they have sold for upwards of $40,000 so far.
Another Shohei standout is his 2022 Topps Transcendent Autograph Blue Refractor card, limited even further to a print run of just 5 copies. Given its scarcity and prestige as a 1/1 Ohtani auto in blue refractor form, elite collectors have spent $30,000+ on one of these true unicorns. Hard hitter Aaron Judge also carried value this year in autographed formats. His Topps Transcendent Autograph Gold Refractor /5 generated bids up to $15,000 due to Judge’s 60 home run 2022 season performance and cult following.
Rookies other than Ohtani also commanded premiums, led by Braves phenom Michael Harris II. His Topps Transcendent Autograph Gold Refractor /5 changed hands for over $10,000 across auction platforms. Jazz Chisholm Jr, Seiya Suzuki, and Jose Miranda also saw their rookie autograph parallels trade in the 4-figure range. Even veterans achieved lofty recent sales. A 2013 Mike Trout autograph refractor /25 from Finest sold for $9,000 while a rare 2011 Mookie Betts Bowman Chrome Draft Auto PSA 10 fetched $8,250.
Legendary players of days past retained immense popularity as well. A vintage 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 8 sold for a record $2.88 million, anchored by its off-center centering which adds to its one-of-a-kind allure. Elsewhere, a 1998 Finest Refractor Ken Griffey Jr. autograph #/150 changed hands privately for $150,000. Icons like Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Willie Mays routinely achieve auction prices from $5,000 up when their autographed or serially numbered relic cards surface.
Condition and serial numbers play an enormous role in driving values to stratospheric heights. For example, a 2009 Topps Five Star Baseball Tom Seaver Auto /5 PSA 10 smashed estimates at $36,000 in a recent Goldin Auctions sale. Meanwhile, super short prints like a 1957 Topps Hank Aaron PSA 8 are routinely assessed at minimum $50,000 price tags. Relic cards containing swatches of jersey, caps or other memorabilia also gain massive premiums dependent on the player and rarity level. A 2011 Topps Chrome Mike Trout Jersey Auto /99 PSA 10 went for $29,888 just last month.
The astronomical prices we’re currently seeing are a product of multiple converging factors. First is the sustained upswing in mainstream attention for sports cards since the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. This new generation of collectors includes not just nostalgic 80s/90s kids but also Gen Z getting involved for the first time. Second is print runs shrinking dramatically, especially for high-end inserts and parallels compared to base issues of yesteryear. Populations of top grades like PSA 10 are decreasing overall as submitting every single card is no longer feasible.
When considering all these dynamics plus the intrinsic nostalgia and collecting aspects, it’s clear why certain Topps cards from 2022 are already eclipsing the $10,000 plateau barely a year after release. As more hit the resale market after initial distribution and awareness spreads, don’t be surprised if some cracks five and even six figures down the line. For elite hobbyists, it’s proven a lucrative alternative asset class supplying profits rivaling stock market returns. Conditionsensitive vintage cards and short printed modern pieces alike will evidently maintain their place at the pinnacle of the sports memorabilia world.
