The 2022 Toronto Blue Jays had an exciting season that saw the team return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Naturally, this led to some highly collectible baseball cards being produced featuring the team’s star players from this past season. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top Toronto Blue Jays cards from 2022 manufacturing sets.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. clearly had one of the best individual seasons of any Blue Jay in 2022. The slugging first baseman smashed 32 home runs and drove in 98 runs while batting .274. Not surprisingly, Guerrero Jr. cards were some of the hottest items on the market this year. His base rookie card from Topps Update sold for over $100 regularly. One of his priciest rookies came from Topps Chrome Sapphire. Only 50 of these Guerrero Jr. cards exist and they routinely command bids well over $1,000 on eBay. Chrome Sapphire features dazzling purple refractor parallels that make for true collector gems.
Another breakout star for Toronto in 2022 was outfielder Teoscar Hernández. He bashed 25 long balls and tallied 76 RBIs while hitting an impressive .267. Hernández had several coveted rookie cards available from sets like Topps Series 1 and Stadium Club. One of his most desired rookie parallels was the Topps Chrome Sapphire Aqua Refractor /50 parallel. These ultra-short print run Hernandez cards sold in the $500+ range online. Clearly, collectors recognized his elevated play in 2022 warranted premium cardboard.
Pitching was carried in large part in 2022 by ace Alek Manoah. In his sophomore campaign, Manoah went 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA and 180 strikeouts. The flame-throwing righty seemed poised for stardom and his cards caught on quickly. Manoah’s base Topps Series 1 rookie paper was very popular, but one parallel stood out – Topps Series 1 Chrome Sapphire Pink Refractor /50. This ultra-rare Manoah rookie pulled bids well over $1,000 online. It’s clear collectors saw him as the staff ace and prized any scarce parallels available.
Another hurler who stepped up big for Toronto in 2022 was José Berríos. Acquired in a midseason trade, Berríos went 9-7 with a 5.23 ERA after the move. While his stats vacillated, collectors still zeroed in on his Topps Series 1 Chrome Sapphire Orange Refractor /50 card. These scarce Berríos rookies from 2011 traded hands for $600-800 online. Clearly, collectors maintained optimism that his stuff could rebound with Toronto going forward. Even mid-career struggles didn’t diminish his vintage cardboard cachet.
Of course, no Blue Jays collection would be complete without some classic cards from franchise cornerstones. Free agent acquisition Kevin Gausman had a breakout first season in Toronto, going 12-10 with a 3.35 ERA in 33 starts. One set that perfectly encapsulated his contributions was 2022 Topps Archives. Focusing on retro styling and designs from the late ’80s/early ’90sTopps era, Gausman’s card fit right in amongst Blue Jays legends. Higher end parallels like the /199 Blue Refractor parallel sold for around $50-75 raw.
While the 2022 season saw many Toronto standouts, none will ever surpass the legendary status of Hall of Famer Dave Stieb. His seminal 1987 Topps rookie remains a badge of honor for any blue and white collector. In pristine mint condition, examples can still pull bids over $100 today. For heritage collectors, no Blue Jays collection is complete without a copy of that classic Stieb rookie at the forefront. It defines the franchise ethos that made Ontario’s team such a beloved institution in the sport.
In summing up, the 2022 Toronto Blue Jays had no shortage of exciting young talents and feel-good veteran successes that translated perfectly to the cardboard hobby. From prized Guerrero Jr. and Manoah rookies to vintage stalwarts like Dave Stieb, Blue Jays collectors in 2022 were rich with options to chronicle this electric playoff squad for years to come. With such a bright future ahead, 2023 and beyond are poised to deliver even more unparalleled cardboard to enjoy from Canada’s team for many seasons still.
