2022 Topps Transcendent Collection Baseball: Ultra-Premium To The Tune Of A $27k Price Tag

Back in the day, baseball cards came in one level. For about a quarter of a century, you had one card company (Topps) producing one set (flagship) per year. Other than the occasional short print, double print, and variety between print runs of different series, cards were produced in the same quantities. How quaint.

The modern hobby features many different tiers of products from different manufacturers, from the entry-level to the middle tier to the premium. Then there is a tier that takes premium to its logical extreme. That crazy product is the $27,000 per box 2022 Topps Transcendent Collection Baseball.

But what will you find in 2022 Topps Transcendent Collection Baseball? What are the hits, autos, and 1/1’s that make up the offering? And is it really $27K for a box?

2022 Topps Transcendent Collection Baseball release date & release format

The release date for 2022 Topps Transcendent Collection Baseball is scheduled for March 29, 2023 (subject to change).  

Each box of 2022 Topps Transcendent Collection Baseball contains 109 total cards. There is one box per case and only 99 cases are being produced. The pre-sale price for 2022 Topps Transcendent Collection Baseball is a somewhat shocking $27,000 per box.

What does that $27K get you? An interesting mix of some really interesting and rare cards!

Each box includes:

• A complete 50-card set of either Transcendent Icons or Transcendent Icons Image Variations (each #’d to 50)
• One Wander Franco or Vlad Guerrero Jr. Through the Years 1/1 Autograph (or a 1/1 dual auto)
• One  Transcendent Icons Gold Deco Variation 1/1 Autograph
• One Topps Transcendent Chrome 4-card pack w/ at least 1/1 Superfractor parallel
• One Oversized Cut Signature or Dual Cut Signature or One (1) Oversized Letter Autograph Card (both 1/1’s)
• One Autograph Patch Card or Autograph Bat Knob/Nameplate Book Card (both 1/1’s)
• One 1958 Topps SuperFractor Autograph (1/1)
• 50 Transcendent Collection Autographs – #’d to 20 or less w/ two 1/1 parallels
• One VIP Event Invitation Card – #’d to 99 – a ticket to one of Topps big events for collectors. Location, guests, and additional info to come.

In other words, that’s a lot of serial-numbered cards, lots of 1/1s, and LOTS of ink.

2022 Topps Transcendent Collection Baseball base set & design

The base set, if you can call it that, consists of 50 cards. Why do I question if it’s even a base set? Topps sell sheet actually lists them as inserts, and they are serial-numbered to only 50 copies each.

Each box contains a complete, 50-card set of either Transcendent Icons or Transcendent Icons Image Variations, each numbered /50.

The base design is fairly simple, yet elegant. The wood grain and metal elements suggest a high-end frame in an art museum. The player name, product logo, and a stylized team logo are the only non-frame and photo elements on the page.

2022 Topps Transcendent Collection Baseball Transcendent Chrome

One Four-card Transcendent Chrome packs are included in each box. The pack contains three Red Refractors cards and one Superfractor. The Red Refractors are numbered /5 and the Superfractors are numbered 1/1.

1/1 SuperFractor Autographs are also potential hits in the Chrome packs.

2022 Topps Transcendent Collection Baseball Autographs

Autographs are a big part of the allure of the ultra-premium 2022 Topps Transcendent Collection Baseball product.

Transcendent Collection Autographs

Limited to just 20 copies each, these gold-framed autograph cards really pop.

Parallels include:

• Emerald Parallel – /15
• Purple Parallel – /10
• Red Parallel – 1-of-1
• Platinum Parallel – 1-of-1

Transcendent Collection Image Variations Autographs

Also numbered to only 20 copies each, the Image Variation version has even fewer parallel offerings.

Parallels include:

• Emerald Parallel – /5
• Red Parallel – 1-of-1
• Platinum Parallel – 1-of-1

Wander Franco or Vlad Guerrero Jr. Through the Years Autographs

89 unique designs, each numbered 1/1, featuring two of the hottest young players in the game today.

Wander Franco/Vlad Guerrero Jr. Through the Years Dual Autographs

10 designs, each signed by both Franco and Guerrero Jr. and numbered 1/1. Sure to be a very popular hit.

1958 Topps SuperFractor Autographs

These brand new SuperFractors are 1/1, feature some of the biggest names in the game, and pays homage to the classic 1958 Topps design.

Transcendent Icons Gold Deco Variation Autographs

Another 1/1 autograph offering, that should have a unique design.

Cut Signatures & Dual Cut Signatures

Featuring one or two cut signatures of some of the biggest names from sports, politics, and pop culture. Numbered 1/1.

Names featured include:

• Andy Warhol
• Ty Cobb
• Babe Ruth
• Winston Churchill
• Jackie Robinson
• Thomas Edison
• David Bowie
• Christy Matthewson
• Abraham Lincoln
• Louis Armstrong
• Alexander Hamilton

Autographed Relics

Adding a relic to the autograph goodness, and keeping the print run at 1/1, these add another interesting hit to the product.

Oversized Autograph Letter Boxtopper

These oversized box toppers feature a nameplate letter patch and large autograph and are numbered 1/1.

Active Autograph Patch Cards

Contain a premium patch relic from some of the biggest names in the game. Numbered 1/1.

Cut Signature Bat Nameplate or Bat Knob Booklet Card

Featuring a mix of cut signatures, autographs, bat nameplates, and bat knobs, these promise to be some really interesting hits.

2022 Topps Transcendent Collection Baseball Value

2022 Topps Transcendent Collection Baseball is the ultimate high-end gamble product. At $27,000 for 109 cards, we’re talking about just under $250 per card. Looking at 2021 Topps Transcendent, a handful of cards have sold on eBay for $800-1,500.

A good number more have sold for over the $250/card buy-in price. The vast majority of cards sell for less than the buy-in, and in some cases, significantly less.

A few of the better hits may have sold at auction, or simply be being held in personal collections and may be worth more than $1,500, for sure. But these cards are a gamble and a big one.

If you’re a high roller looking to spend this much on a box of cards, there are certainly some exciting hits to be had.

Final thoughts on 2022 Topps Transcendent Collection Baseball

You don’t get much higher end than 2022 Topps Transcendent Collection Baseball. This is a high-end product with a lot of really amazing hits. The price tag is high, though, so if you’re a high roller interested in sinking $27k into a box, understand the risks before you dive in.