The 2022 calendar year is slowly approaching the end with just a few days left in December. As the month end approaches and another year is gone, it allows every sports card collector, fan of sports cards, sports card investors, and even sports card flippers an opportunity to look back at the year of sports cards. When you start to consider a 2022 Sports Card Recap, what is better than to look at the Best Sports Cards of the Year?

While everyone may have their own opinions on what player may have had the best sports card or what trading card product is the best, we will deliver you our thoughts on which were the Best Sports Cards of the Year.

Before we get rolling if you are looking at finding a few under the radar players to collect heading into 2023 read our piece on who we like. One player who is not under the radar no more is Brock Purdy who has seen his limited sports cards blow up in value leaving many wonder to buy, sell or hold their Brock Purdy rookie cards.

Read on to see which players sports cards and trading card products land on our 2022 Sports Card Recap: Best Sports Cards of the Year list.

2022 Sports Card Recap: Best Sports Cards of the Year

Now before we get started with the Best Sports Cards of the Year, here is a look at what elements impacted the process and which elements you should look at heading into the new year.

Highest Sale Price – Best Sports Cards Element #1

One of the most important elements in determining how hot a sports card is or whether it warrants being considered one of the best sports cards of the year is the cards sale price. Through sales on either eBay, COMC or through auction house, the 2022 year delivered a long list of cards with high sale tags.

Player Performance

A second element impacting any sports cards is the actual players performance on the hardwood, diamond, field, turf, or rink. In the end the hotter the player was within their sport the hotter the buzz around their sports cards was also.

Trading Card Buzz

A third element is always the buzz that surrounds the various sports card products that create a buzz around individual sports cards. Over the years various products carry a buzz that drives this including Bowman Baseball, Panini National Treasures Football, and Panini National Treasures Basketball.

With no further do here is our list for the 15 Best Sports Cards of the Year 2022.

15 Best Sports Cards of the Year

1. 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle RC – Best Sports Cards of the Year #1

One of the most iconic baseball cards of All-Time, the Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps Rookie Card is the best Sports Card of 2022. Over the past 20-30 years the Mantle rookie continues to climb in value however it was 2022 when we saw a graded SGC 9.5 Topps Mickey Mantle Rookie Card set the record for sale price hitting $12.6 million dollars. Overall, the Mickey Mantle rookie cards are still one of the most popular among baseball card collectors.

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle RC

2. Panini Kaboom! Inserts – Best Sports Cards of the Year #2

While Mickey Mantle dominated the overall sale price, the Panini Kaboom! Inserts were hot as any and some of the best sports cards within the hobby over the course of the year. Not just one card was popular among the popular insert set was popular among sports card collectors and investors. Here is a look at some of the hottest Kaboom! inserts of 2022. Depending on the sport Panini Kaboom! Inserts are spread across various products.

Where to find Panini Kaboom! Inserts

Football Kaboom! Inserts

2022 Panini Absolute Football

2021 Panini Absolute Football

2020 Panini Absolute Football

2019 Panini Absolute Football

2018 Panini Absolute Football

2018 Panini Kaboom! Rewards Multi-Sport Set

Basketball Kaboom! Inserts

2021-22 Panini Crown Royale

2020-21 Panini Crown Royale

2019-20 Panini Crown Royale

2018-19 Panini Crown Royale

2018 Panini Kaboom! Rewards Multi-Sport Set

2017-18 Panini Rewards Exclusive

2016-17 Panini Excalibur

2015-16 Panini Excalibur

2014-15 Panini Excalibur

2013-14 Panini Innovation

Soccer Kaboom! Inserts

2021-22 Donruss Road to Qatar

2020-21 Panini Prizm English Premier

2019-20 Panini Prizm English Premier

2018 Panini Kaboom! Rewards Multi-Sport Set

2017-18 Panini Select

Baseball Kaboom! Inserts

2022 Panini Absolute

2021 Panini Absolute

2018 Panini Kaboom! Rewards Multi-Sport Set

Popular Kaboom! Insert Cards

2020 Panini Absolute Kaboom! Justin Herbert

2018 Panini Kaboom! Lionel Messi

2018 Panini Kaboom! Patrick Mahomes

Find Kaboom! Inserts on eBay today.

3. Luka Doncic Rookie Cards

Luka Doncic continues to solidify himself as one of the best basketball players in the world as well as one of the best NBA Players in the game today. Coming off becoming just the second player in the history of the NBA to post a 60-point triple double, Doncic is looking to close out 2022 on another impressive run. For Doncic he carried the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Playoffs in the first half of the year. His play on the court all year has sports collectors and sports card investors looking for Luka Doncic Rookie Cards.

Here are a few of the hot Luka Doncic Rookie Cards:

2018 Panini Prizm Luka Doncic RC Signatures

2018 Panini Absolute Luka Doncic Ink & Leather RC

4. 2022 Panini Prizm World Cup Soccer – Best Sports Cards Product #1

Only taking place every four years the FIFA World Cup is one of the most prized sporting events in sports history if not the most special sporting event. With the World Cup returning to center state in November 2022 and December 2022 soccer trading cards took center stage including the 2022 Panini Prizm World Cup as well as other Panini Soccer products focused on the World Cup. 2022 Panini Prizm World Cup soccer was released as hobby boxes as well as blaster boxes found in retail locations.

Other World Cup sports cards released from Panini include National Treasures Road to World Cup, Eminence FIFA World Cup Qatar Soccer, Mosaic Road to FIFA World Cup, World Cup Stickers, and Donruss Road to Qatar.

5. Kylian Mbappe Rookie Cards

As the World Cup was taking center stage in the last two months of the year one soccer star taking center stage all season as well as with sports card collectors was Kylian Mbappe. Mbappe who has a long list of popular sports cards on the market saw his rookie cards boom to some of the Best Sports Cards of the Year 2022. Add in a three-goal performance in the FIFA World Cup Final and Mbappe rookie cards will be red hot heading into 2023 as some of the most popular sports cards of the upcoming year.

2018 Panini Prizm World Cup Kylian Mbappe RC Camo Prizm

2018 Panini Kaboom! Kylian Mbappe

6. Julio Rodriguez Rookie Cards

While Kylian Mbappe was red hot within soccer trading cards, Julio Rodriguez rookie cards were some of the hottest baseball cards to hit the shelf. Rodriguez who put on a show during the 2022 MLB Home Run Derby ran away with the 2022 AL Rookie of the Year Award. The Seattle Mariners rookie finished the season with 28 home runs, 74 runs batted in, and 84 runs scored. As baseball cards cool down for the winter, Julio Rodriguez cards still remain hot as the 2023-year approaches.

2022 Topps Update Julio Rodriguez Home Field Advantage

2022 Topps Update Julio Rodriguez SP Photo Variation RC

7. LeBron James 2020-21 Panini Flawless Triple Logoman 1/1

One of one sports cards are always impressive to pull but it is hard to top the 2020-21 Panini Flawless LeBron James Triple Logoman 1/1 that sold in 2022. James who continues to turn in strong performance’s year in and year out on the hardwood continues to dominate the rookie card sales among all sports cards. However, the 1/1 of Logoman is not a rookie card but still an amazing card that sold for $2.4 million dollars during the Summer of 2022.

2020 Panini Flawless LeBron James Triple Logoman One of One

8. Panini Downtown Inserts

Not the most popular insert set on the market but Panini Downtown Inserts are still a fun and excellent designed insert. In addition, Panini Downtown inserts are a little easier to find but still bring solid resale values if you are looking to make a profit selling sports cards. When comparing inserts Downtown inserts are a close second to Panini Kaboom! Inserts on the market.

Originally starting as “From Downtown” with basketball has evolved to other trading card products released from Panini including baseball and football sports cards. Here are some of the hottest Panini Downtown inserts from 2022.

Where to find Downtown inserts:

Basketball Downtown Inserts

2020-21 Panini Prizm Draft Picks

2019-20 Panini One and One

2018-19 Panini Cornerstone

2017-18 Panini Cornerstone

2016-17 Panini Studio

Baseball Downtown Inserts

2022 Panini Diamond Kings

2021 Panini Diamond Kings

2020 Panini Diamond Kings

2019 Panini Diamond Kings

Football Downtown Inserts

2021 Donruss

2021 Donruss Optic

2020 Donruss

2020 Donruss Optic

2019 Donruss

2019 Donruss Optic

2018 Donruss

2018 Donruss Optic

Popular Downtown Inserts

2021 Panini One and One Stephen Curry Downtown Insert

2018 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown Tom Brady Downtown Insert

10. Connor McDavid Rookie Cards

As Hockey sports cards and rookie cards are dominated by Wayne Gretzky rookie cards, Connor McDavid now owns the most expensive hockey card among modern sports cards. McDavid saw his 2015 Upper Deck The Cup Auto Patch rookie card sell for $55,000 during 2022. While that card was red hot the rest of McDavid’s rookies are some of the best cards of the year as well as they continue to rise in value. The Edmonton Oilers star has made six NHL All-Star teams, won four Art Ross Trophies, as well as two Hart Memorial trophies.

2015-16 Upper Deck Young Guns Connor McDavid RC

11. 2022 Bowman Baseball – Best Sports Cards Product #2

Despite not being the most expensive baseball trading card product year in and year out, Bowman baseball continues to be a household name. Bowman Baseball which delivers the first cards of MLB prospects offers collectors a chance to land the top MLB Draft Picks and Prospects before arriving at the Major League Baseball level. In addition, landing a Top 5-10 caliber prospect delivers a nice price tag for sports card collectors. 2022 Bowman Baseball delivers top prospects including Elly De La Cruz, James Wood, and Kahlil Watson.

2022 Bowman Khalil Watson Chrome Prospect Auto

2022 Bowman Elly De La Cruz Chrome Prospect Auto

12. Albert Pujols Rookie Cards

As his career has come to an end, so has an ERA of one of the greatest baseball players to play the game. As Albert Pujols made his farewell run around the game, he also managed to top the 700-home run mark after landing back with the St. Louis Cardinals during the 2022 MLB season. His retirement and run to 700 home runs drove the interest in his rookie cards up while making it one of the best sports cards of 2022.

2001 Upper Deck Spx Albert Pujols

2001 Topps Traded Albert Pujols RC

13. 2021 Panini National Treasures Rookie Patch Autographs Football

Yes, your read that right it is a 2021 trading card product, but it arrived on shelves for football card collectors during the 2022 calendar year. Each year Panini National Treasures delivers a high-end sports card product that demands high sale prices including Rookie Patch Auto’s or RPAs of the game’s top rookies. 2021 Panini National Treasures features RPAs of NFL rookies Trevor Lawrence, Mac Jones, JaMarr Chase, Justin Fields, and Jaylen Waddle.

2021 Panini National Treasures Trevor Lawrence RPA Laundry Tag 1/1

2021 Panini National Treasures Mac Jones RPA

14. Lionel Messi Rookie Cards

As Kylian Mbappe is red hot on so is Lionel Messi who helped guide his Argentina team to the World Cup Championship. Messi who has been the face of soccer cards for years and years continues to be a fan favorite. With the World Cup taking center stage all focus was placed on the top soccer players from around the world including Lionel Messi who many consider to be one of the best if not the best.

2004 Panini Sports Lionel Messi Megacracks Barca Campeon

2004-05 Panini Megacracks Lion Messi RC La Liga

15. Shohei Ohtani Rookie Cards

Landing at number 15 on the 15 Best Sports Cards of the Year is the Los Angeles Angels All-Star Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani continues to amaze fans all over the country while dominating both at the plate as well as on the mound. While Aaron Judge took home the AL MVP award, Ohtani was well deserving of it posting 34 home runs to go along with a 2.33 earned run average while also winning 15 games on the mound. Continue to dominate on the field, Shohei Ohtani rookie cards continue to dominate on the sports card marketplaces.

2018 Topps Chrome Gold Refractor Shohei Ohtani RC #/50

2018 Topps Diamond Icons Shohei Ohtani RC #/25