IT’S HITS ONLY IN 2022 TOPPS TIER ONE

2022 Topps Tier One Baseball isn’t going to give you any traditional base cards. As has been the case for several years now, every card in the product is either an autograph or memorabilia card.

Hobby boxes deliver three cards — two with signatures and one relic.

Much of the themes in the product are familiar ones for those who have collected Tier One in the past. ere’s also the fact that it appears, based off of preview images, that on-card signatures are a major focus once again. e checklist does have some new components as well.

e largest and most plentiful autographs fall under three categories. Break Out Autographs highlight rookies and young players. Tier One Talent Autographs focus on specific skills. Prime Performers Autographs are a mix of current and past players.

Base versions for all three of these have no more than 299 copies. ere are also Bronze Ink (/25), Silver Ink (/10) and Gold Ink (1/1) parallels.

Typically, these sets come with large checklists. And while most players are notable in some fashion, not every pack is likely to result in a superstar signature. ey are out there, but this is a product that delivers multiple hits at a lower price than some of Topps’ other luxury-level products.

Tier One Autographs (/199 or less) are a case hit. Collectors can also look for a higher concentration of marquee names as well. Bronze Ink (/25), Silver Ink (/10) and Gold Ink (1/1) versions are also available here.

From here, print runs for individual cards drop off significantly. Next Level Autographs top out at 50 copies each with additional Bronze (/25), Silver (/10) and Gold (1/1) parallels available.

Clear One Autographs and Clear One Dual Autographs, both /10 or fewer, incorporate acetate into their construction.

Dual (/25) and Triple (/10) Autographs showcase multiple signatures.

Cut Signatures return with each being a one-of-one.

AUTOGRAPH RELICS

If the tradition continues, Autographed Tier One Relics is a place not to expect on-card signatures. ese are the autographed relics with the highest print runs in the product with each numbered to 99 or fewer. Rather than color changes, parallels have Dual Patch (/25) and Triple Patch (1/1) versions.

Dual Autograph Tier One Relic books (/10) open up to have signatures and swatches from two players.

Gripping Autographed Relics (/10 or less) are one of the additions in 2022 Topps Tier One Baseball. Rather than a uniform swatch or standard bat piece, the memorabilia in these comes in the form of grip tape. ese have a one-of-one Platinum parallel as well.

Perfect Contact Autographed Bat Relics (/5) use a s lice f rom a bat, not just t he standard piece most memorabilia cards have.

Also going big on memorabilia are Autographed Prodigious Patches (/10) a nd t heir Platinum (1/1) parallels.

Autographed bat knobs and barrels and Cut Signature Relics are all one-of-ones. So are Signature Tools Autograph Relics, which have a part of the pen the player used during a signing session.

MEMORABILIA CARDS

Tier One Relics (/399) have t wo different designs. Similar to t he autograph versions, parallels have two (/25) a nd t hree (1/1) patches.

Stars f rom t he past have t heir own Tier One Legends Relics (/199 or less).

For t hose looking for something a l ittle different, t here a re Uniform Button Relics (/5).

Without an All-Star Game in 2020, it made it hard to include All-Star Patches in 2021 Tier One Baseball. With t he return of t he Midsummer Classic, the jumbo patch cards a re back. Each is a one-of-one with some a lso have in autograph.

Bat Knobs (1/1), Limited Lumber (1/1), Prodigious Patches (/10) and Gripping Relics (/10 or less) all have memorabilia-only versions in addition to t heir autographed counterparts.