5 Thoughts on the 2022 Topps Baseball Series 1 Checklist
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The 2022 Topps Baseball Series 1 checklist came out yesterday. It was filled – and I mean FILLED – with what you would expect from a Topps flagship release.
A 330-card base set with rookies, veterans and guys I never heard of, inserts on inserts on inserts, an homage to a 35-year-old design, and a lot of filler.
This may sound like I’m trashing the set, but I promise I’m not. I’m so excited for the release of Topps’ flagship product. It’s been far too long since I got to open something fun and new in baseball.
I’m ready!
See the full 38-page checklist here.
The biggest talking point in the checklist is the inclusion of Wander Franco’s card with the RC logo. We all knew it was happening (and if you need more info, check out this point here), but it didn’t mean the debate would stop.
Outside of Franco’s RC though, it feels the rookie card checklist is rather light. Having said that, I’m grabbing Franco’s first Topps card much like I picked up his 2021 Bowman’s Best card.
Some other thoughts on the Series 1 checklist:
Every year Series 1 includes free agents – and I’m here to tell you it’s OK. I’ve generally looked at Series 1 as a look back at the previous season, so we get to have flagship cards of traded players like Anthony Rizzo (Yankees) or Kris Bryant (Giants) or Max Scherzer (Dodgers) on their respective teams — which we didn’t get in 2021 Topps Update. These are the first – and potentially – only flagship cards to feature them on the teams they finished with last season.
The first cards of the Cleveland Guardians will be featured with their new name and logo. It’ll be neat to see them and I’ll probably squirrel one away. I wonder if Topps is planning anything to honor the name change.
Sometimes having to make a product so far in advance really works against you – like in the case of having Buster Posey on a HR Challenge card. He retired on November 4, 2021.
It’s always weird when rookies appear on inserts and autograph cards, and they aren’t featured in a base set.
What are your thoughts on the 2022 Topps Series 1 checklist?
For others, noticing what is missing from the checklist is just an important as what is on it. Check out Dan’s post on Major Leaguers who still haven’t had their first Topps card:
If you didn’t get a chance to catch me on Sports Cards Live, you can see the replay here!
Wander Franco 2021 Bowman’s Best Superfractor Pulled
Speaking of Wander Franco’s 2021 Bowman’s Best Rookie Card … how is it doing? When the product first released, it was selling in the $100 range, but the card has since come back down and is sitting in the $15-$30 range (eBay link).
Still not bad for a base card.
The Superfractor parallel of this card was recently pulled and the Sports Card Nation podcast had a chat with the man who pulled it as well as the shop owner where be bought the box.
Check out the interview here.
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In regards to series 1 having the first flagship cards of Bryant, Scherzer and Rizzo in their new teams, they were on their new teams in Topps UK 2021