Topps is the major producer of baseball trading cards, producing full baseball card sets each year to document that season’s players and events. Their 2022 update series continued this tradition by offering fans a mid-season refresh to their baseball card collections through new cards showing player and team updates.
The Topps 2022 update series had a September 16th release date, giving collectors the chance to add recently called up rookies, players who were traded mid-season, and statistical updates for the current campaign. Like all Topps baseball sets, the 2022 update included a mix of base cards, short prints, autographs, and memorabilia cards to appeal to collectors at all levels. With 192 total cards in the base set, the 2022 update provided a meaningful supplement to the original Topps Series 1 and Series 2 issues from earlier that year.
One of the main attractions of any Topps update set is the inclusion of rookie cards for players who made their MLB debuts after the original series were produced and distributed. Notable rookies found in the 2022 update included catcher Adley Rutschman of the Baltimore Orioles, seen as one of the top prospects in baseball. Shortstop Oneil Cruz and pitcher Roansy Contreras also received their sought-after rookie cards after breaking into the big leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets respectively. Update sets allow collectors to stay up-to-date on the latest call ups without having to wait until the following year’s full release.
In addition to rookie debuts, the 2022 update series reflected many midseason trades that reshaped team rosters. For example, former San Francisco Giants pitcher Tyler Rogers received an image update wearing his new Milwaukee Brewers uniform after being dealt at the trade deadline. Outfielder Tommy Pham gained a similar photo variation showing his new uniform after a trade from the Cincinnati Reds to the Boston Red Sox. Trades are a big part of the evolving storylines in each MLB season, and Topps update sets make sure card collections can keep pace.
As with any Topps baseball product, secret short prints and one-of-one parallels added excitement and allure to pack-hunting for the 2022 update series. Serial-numbered cards like Green Foil /150 and Black & White /75 parallels provided lower print runs for collectors seeking scarcity. Base short prints like Managers and Stadiums also remained elusive chase cards. Meanwhile, extremely rare 1/1 printing plate autographs ensured the update maintained its appeal to high-end collectors. These scarcer inclusions reward those who invest in multiple boxes or cases with the chance at valuable vintage-style variations.
Memorabilia cards in the 2022 Topps update series commemorated special accomplishments and milestones from the current campaign. A relic card honored Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz for hitting the hardest-ever tracked home run at 122 mph. A dual-relic paid tribute to St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt for hitting for the cycle. Other notable hits included patched jersey cards for two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels and veteran slugger Albert Pujols of the Cardinals. Topps always ensures its update sets highlight the most impressive individual feats within any given MLB season.
In addition to the base 192-card release, Topps produced several bonus expansion pack formats for the 2022 update series. These included 60-card Box Toppers exclusive to hobby boxes, 15-card Hanger Pack parallels, and specialty autograph and memorabilia inserts. Box toppers in particular added extra value by providing premium short prints and parallels only obtainable through case breaks or master set collecting. Meanwhile, Hanger Packs let casual collectors participate at accessible price points focused more on fun than scarcity. Overall these extensions created multiple viable ways for fans to engage with the update through both random team packs or targeted high-end product breaks.
As is always the case with Topps release dates, the 2022 update series timing coincided nicely with the climax of the regular season and beginning of the MLB postseason. With league awards and playoff spots still undecided going into September and October, the newest player stats and storylines in the update set remained highly relevant right up through the World Series. This ensured sustained collector interest across the entire release cycle and beyond. Updates traditionally sell well due to landing at a perfect time to document that year’s baseball in progress while simultaneously fueling anticipation for the season’s climactic conclusion.
The Topps 2022 baseball card update series delivered another high-quality midseason supplement to collections as only the stalwart brand can. By including rookie debuts, uniform updates, milestone hits, short prints, and parallels, it captured the excitement of baseball’s second half. Strong release timing and varied product lines catered to all levels of the hobby. As always, Topps updates fulfill their mission of keeping collectors current through relevant midseason supplements that document the story of each campaign from beginning to end. Their quality, attention to detail and consistent execution is why Topps remains the gold standard for baseball card producers year after year.
