I’ve just seen the first error/variation card from the new 2009 Topps Heritage baseball set on eBay. It seems Topps issued the #70 Tom Glavine card with his name spelled as “Thom” instead of Tom. This is reminiscent of the original 1960 Topps #70 Lew Burdette card that had his name misspelled as “Lou Burdette”, although the 1960 card was never corrected.
I haven’t opened any yet, but cards are showing on on eBay already! Will there be any surprises for us in Heritage this year? I will probably hold out for retail Heritage, of which I hear there will be the regular 8-box 24-pack cases, but also “Jumbo Packs” that contain 14 cards (20 packs per box, 6 boxes per case), but supposedly, 2009 Topps Heritage production was cut by up to 40% from last year, making for a scarcer product.
I’ll be updating the CHECKLIST HERE as I am able.
The first packs I’ve seen opened were by Kevin at http://heritageking.blogspot.com. Rightfully so, as he is one the most dedicated Topps Heritage collectors around. Check out his blog to see some cool scans.
This is the first I’ve purchased of any 2008 Topps Heritage High Numbers. I bought the box online, too. I haven’t seen any at Wal-Mart or Target, but I haven’t looked much. Only 8 packs, but still fun.
Pack One:
Pack Two:
Pack Three:
Pack Four:
Pack Five:
Pack Six:
Pack Seven:
Come on now, make an auto magically appear in the last pack!
Pack Eight:
Oh well, no autographs. The Griffey Jr. White Sox card is cool, it’s the first card I have of him in a White Sox uniform.
The 2009 Topps Heritage set will be designed the same as the 1960 Topps baseball set. Wax Heaven was the first with photographs, and Beckett provided more details today:
HIGHLIGHTS
– 500 stars of today and yesterday on the classic 1960 Topps Baseball design
– On-Card Autographs and Relics from 1960 legends and today’s stars
– One Autograph or Relic card per box
– Gum in every pack
DESCRIPTIONÂ SRP:Â $3 per pack
Insertion rates are based on estimated production levels, which may vary from the actual insertion rates to be published on product packaging.
BASE CARDS (500)
– 425 Rookies, veterans, legends
– 75 Short-prints (1:3 Packs)
CHROME PARALLELS
– Black-Bordered /50
– Refractor /560
– Chrome /1,960
INSERTS
– New Age Performers
– Then and Now
– Baseball Flashbacks
– News Flashbacks
AUTOGRAPHS
– Real One
– Real One Special Edition (Red Ink) /60
– Real One Dual Autographs /25
– Flashbacks /25
– 1960 Cut Signatures 1/1
AUTOGRAPHED RELICS
– Flashback Stadium Relics /25
– Clubhouse Collection Relics /25
– NEW! Clubhouse Collection Dual /10
RELICS
– Clubhouse Collection
– Clubhouse Collection Dual /60
– Flashbacks
– Dual Flashbacks /10
HOBBY BOX LOADERS
– Advertising Panels one per box
– 1960 Topps Originals 1:2 boxes
2008 Topps Heritage High Numbers are live, and it seems to be a popular product so far. I haven’t purchased any for myself yet, but I plan to. Here is a link to the main page about the 2008 High Numbers, along with a list of Short Prints and Clubhouse Collection Relics.
Credit to T.S. O’Connell for being the inventor of “insert packs”.
I think it sounds like a great idea! He mentions on his blog that he imagines it in a case of 2010 Topps Heritage finding an unopened 1975 Topps Mini wax pack. In his own words:
 Imagine you are systematically working your way through a brand-new box of 2010 Topps Heritage Baseball (I picked Heritage because that’s a product I can actually imagine myself opening), and just as you get to the bottom of the box, there’s a pack of a different color, so to speak.
  There, surrounded by the last two packs of 2010 Heritage, is a pack that looks nothing like the others, and has a vintage look and feel and bright red-and-yellow graphic design, but for some reason it’s somewhat smaller than the other packs. That’s because it is a pristine wax pack of 1975 Topps Baseball Minis!
I doubt Topps would issue 1975 packs in the 2010 Heritage product, due to the fact that 2010 Topps Heritage is supposed to be styled like the original 1961 Topps set, but ”insert packs” are still a neat idea.
Also, Topps would need to have the packs authenticated and verified that they were unsearched. I can imagine the backlash if someone opened a pack and found evidence of tampering.
In my opinion, it sounds like they are trying to catch some of the Donruss Americana collectors and Topps Heritage collectors with this set. Many Heritage fans feel that Topps is getting greedy with its Heritage brand, after seeing how successful their baseball product has been.
However, at least this isn’t a set that collectors will need to buy to finish their sports sets. It is just an entirely different set altogether. I’ll probably buy a box or two, I like some of the non-sports sets.
Details from the Topps news release:
 On the heels of the 44th U.S. President being elected into office, Topps is giving people a sneak peek at a new product shipping after the first of the year…Topps American Heritage.
American Heritage will fuse the popular Topps Heritage brand name, a selection of classic Topps designs as well as new designs and tell the story of our country, The United States, through sports, politics, the arts and pop culture.
In Addition, this great looking set will be accompanied by an array of autographs, relic cards and cut signatures from every U.S. President. Each hobby box will guarantee 2 HITS!
Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks…
