2022 TOPPS CHROME BASEBALL
ABOUT AS COLORFUL AS YOU’D EXPECT
2022 Topps Chrome Baseball is colorful. But that shouldn’t come as a surprise. It’s become the norm over the years. But the checklist is more than giving a shiny overhaul of the main 2022 Topps Baseball set. Autographs are another prime feature as are the inserts, which are likely to be some of the sport’s boldest this year.
Hobby has both a standard and jumbo configurations. For regular hobby, it means two autographs per box. Jumbos have five.
For more than 25 years, the Topps Chrome base set has given collectors a metallic take on the year’s flagship set. It’s still the case here. e checklist is an abbreviated 200 cards, encompassing top stars and rookies. e product is sometimes able to make some adjustments for vets on new teams as well as early rookie debuts.
e Refractor rainbow continues to expand, adding a couple of new variations this time around. Parallels available in hobby packs include: • Refractors (1:3 hobby)
• Prism Refractors – (1:6 hobby) • Negative Refractors
• Magenta Refractors – /399 • Purple Speckle Refractors – /299 • Purple Refractors – /250
• Aqua Refractors – /199
• Aqua Lava Refractors – /199
• Blue Refractors – /150
• Green Refractors – /99
• Green Wave Refractors – /99 • Blue Wave Refractors – /75
• Gold Refractors – /50
• Gold Wave Refractors – /50 • Orange Refractors – /25
(hobby only) • Orange Wave Refractors – /25 • Red Refractors – /5
• Red Wave Refractors – /5 • Printing Plates – 1/1 • Superfractors – 1/1
Image Variations return for select cards. is is one of the few places that Topps gives SPs parallels. Here, they come in the form of Green Speckle Refractors (/99), Gold Speckle Refractors (/50), Orange Speckle Refractors (/25), Red Speckle Refractors (/5) and Superfractors (1/1).
e checklist also has Super Short Print Variations that have even longer odds.
INSERTS
Similar to flagship, 2022 Topps Chrome Baseball has quite a few insert sets.
e latest 1987 Topps
Baseball year-long celebration carries over here with a set inspired by the iconic woodgrain design. Base versions are 1:6 hobby packs with additional Refractors in Green (/99), Gold (/50),
Orange (/25), Red (/5) and Superfractors (1/1).
Future Stars is also back, highlighting top rookies and young players. e colorful logo that was introduced in the 1980s is back with an equally colorful background. Parallels match what’s available for the
1987 Topps inserts.
2022 Topps Chrome Baseball has three debuting insert sets as well.
Heart of the City (1:16) takes fan favorites and cast them as giants looking over where they play. ink 1996 Pinnacle Skylines only Chrome instead of acetate.
New Classics (1:12) is another place for young players.
Both of these have Green Refractors (/99), Gold Refractors (/50), Orange Refractors (/25), Red Refractors (/5) and Superfractors (1/1) as well.
Pinstriped (1:24) is the toughest of the regular inserts in 2022 Topps Chrome Baseball, getting their name from the art of pinstriping. Parallels here take on some new names including Champagne Gold Speckle Refractors (/50), Orange Pearl Speckle Refractors (/25) and Candy Apple Red Speckle Refractors (/5). One-of-one Superfractors can also be found.
2022 TOPPS CHROME BASEBALL AUTOGRAPHS
For a long time, Rookie Autographs have been the cornerstone signature content in Topps Chrome. ey’re still very much a part of the checklist here, but Topps is adding veterans to the mix as well.
For both the Rookie and Veteran Autographs, the design is similar to the base set. So is the parallel rainbow: • Refractors – /499
• Purple Speckle Refractors –
/299
• Purple Refractors – /250 • Aqua Wave Refractors – /199 • Blue Refractors – /150
• Blue RayWave Refractors –
/150
• Gold Refractors – /50
• Gold Wave Refractors – /50 • Orange Refractors – /25 • Orange Wave Refractors – /25 • Red Refractors – /5
• Red Wave Refractors – /5 • Printing Plates – 1/1 • Superfractors
Select cards in 1987 Topps Baseball, Future Stars, Heart of t he City (/99) a nd Pinstriped a ll have autograph versions as well as additional Orange Refractors (/25), Red Refractors (/5), Printing Plates (1/1) a nd Superfractors (1/1).
Dual Rookie Autographs pair up signatures from t wo first-year standouts. Base versions have 25 copies with Red Refractors (/5) a nd Superfractors (1/1) a lso available.
TOPPS CHROME AUTHENTICS
Topps Chrome Authentics brings some memorabilia to the product. Swatches on all of these cards come with MLB Authentication. at means a hologram that links to a database showing exactly what game the swatch comes from.
Parallels include Green Refractors (/99), Orange Refractors (/25), Red Refractors (/5) and Superfractors (1/1). Some cards also have autographs.