Topps Baseball Cards 2022 Series 1 – A Breakdown of the Highlights
Topps unveiled their 2022 Series 1 baseball card set in late January, kicking off another year of collecting the iconic cardboard. As the first major release of the new year from the legendary trading card manufacturer, Series 1 sets the tone for the rest of 2022. With 349 total cards and inserts, the set offers baseball fans both veteran and newcomers alike plenty to choose from. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the biggest highlights and chase cards from Topps Baseball Cards 2022 Series 1.
Rookie Phenoms
Every Series 1 set is anticipated for the talented crop of rookie cards it debuts. 2022 was no exception, headlined by Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco. Considered one of the top prospects in baseball, Franco is already making a strong case as a future superstar at just 21 years old. His prizm refractors and autographed parallels from Series 1 are among the most sought after new cards on the hobby market.
Joining Franco are rookies such as Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson and Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Gabriel Moreno. Torkelson was taken first overall in 2020 and looks ready to deliver on that lofty draft position. Moreno turned heads in his brief MLB audition late last season and figures to play a big role for Toronto going forward. Another notable rookie is Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Daulton Varsho, who put himself on the map with an impressive 2021 campaign.
Veteran Stars and Franchise Greats
While the rookies create excitement, no baseball card release would be complete without nods to the established stars and all-time greats currently in the game. Topps spotlighted the usual crop of superstars like Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Ronald Acuña Jr. on their base cards. Veterans like Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer and Mookie Betts also received standard issue cards after strong 2021 seasons.
When it comes to honors parallels, Topps paid homage to Miguel Cabrera who crossed the 3,000 hit threshold last year. The Detroit Tigers slugger received three special “3,000 Hit Club” parallel card variations. Hall of Famers with career milestones in 2021 like Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina received similar Milestone Moment variations as well. Icons of the past like Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays made appearances through retro inserts too.
Short Prints and Popular Inserts
All modern baseball card sets come with a bevy of inserts focusing on different themes and variations. Series 1 was no exception as Topps blanketed the release with several popular inserts sure to excite collectors. Among the notable short prints and inserts were:
Hometown Heroes: Pays tribute to hometown stars through die-cut cards with embedded 3-D statues.
Golden Moments: Highlights iconic playoff performances frozen in gold parallels.
Tall Boys: Vertical card format highlights individual stats and accomplishments.
Decades Best: Pays homage to the greatest players of the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s in mini card form.
Stadium Club: High-end photorealistic parallels recreating iconic MLB ballparks.
Rainbow Foil Parallels: Select base cards receive a flashy multi-colored foil treatment.
Retired Numbers: Honors franchises’ all-time greats through numbers in the rafters design.
Diamond Kings: Fantasy-style parallels spotlight stars in fully illustrated uniform designs.
1992 Design: Celebrates the brand’s most iconic design through a 30th anniversary parallel insert.
Chase Cards and Parallels
To create intrigue at every collector level, Topps loaded 2022 Series 1 with several scarce parallel insert chase cards sure to tantalize the hobby. Some of the most coveted include:
Wander Franco Rainbow Foil Auto /199
Bobby Witt Jr. Negative /75
Julian Merryweather Auto Black /10
Miguel Cabrera Gold Legacy /70 (3,000 Hit Variation)
Steve Carlton Photo Negative Auto /99
Aaron Judge Marvel /50
Jesse Winker Blue Velvet /35
Max Scherzer Vault Variations Mini /15
Brandon Lowe Drawing Material Drawing Variation Auto /5
In addition, Topps continues to incorporate new technologies with subsets like Lenticular, Diamond, and Prism parallels incorporating flashy 3-D effects, refractors, and dimensional surfaces adding to 2022 Series 1’s array of premium chase cards.
Final Thoughts
As the standard initial checklist for any modern baseball season, Topps Series 1 offers something for all levels of collectors from casual fans to autograph hounds. With a mix of emerging stars, veteran standouts, franchise legends, and compelling inserts, there are no shortage of cards to choose from when beginning your 2022 collecting journey. While the short prints, specialized parallels and autographs of rookies like Wander Franco carry high price tags, the immense variety ensures there are still affordable cards for any budget. All in all, Topps delivered another stellar starting point for the upcoming campaign with 2022 Series 1.
So in summary, Topps Baseball Cards 2022 Series 1 served as an exciting introduction highlighting rookies ready to make an impact, the game’s superstars still dominating on the diamond, homages to icons of the past, and plenty of inserts old and new to please collectors of any interest or collecting level. With nearly 350 total cards and variations, it provided a bountiful checklist to kick off another year of America’s favorite pastime on cardboard.
