Q&A with Clay Luraschi + Variation Info

Today we have a special Q&A with Topps rep Clay Luraschi. He will answer some of the burning questions collectors have had about the new 2011 topps heritage. Here we go!


Q) The 2011 issue of topps heritage brings a lot to the table this year, lets start with what wasn't in the product...first the gum. What happened to the gum?

We’ve received a lot of requests over the past couple of years from collectors asking us to remove the gum and to replace it with an extra card. At first, we were hesitant to do this, because we really wanted to stay true to the original product. Eventually, after reviewing it with buyers and consumers, it made more sense from a value standpoint to take out the gum and put in an additional card.


Q) The chrome set was missing many of the stars. Why did topps feel they could leave those names out? Will they appear in other products in the future?

Yes, the Heritage Chrome Parallel will be continued in 2011 Topps Chrome baseball starting with card # 101.

Q) Why the addition of the unnumbered green refractor cards. Did you mean to issue them as one per case hot boxes?

We thought it would be fun to have an additional layer of the GREEN TINT since that’s a big part of the 1962 set. And yes, it’s a one per case hot box.


Q) It appears like the super short prints ARE out there. How great of an eye are we going to have to have to spot them? Care to tell us how many there are?

See below. We released this today


Q) The addition of Sandy Koufax might be the biggest news of the product. How hard was it to secure a deal with Mr. Koufax? Did he only sign blue inked cards?

Koufax and Aaron only signed in blue and their autographed card is much shorter than the rest.


Q) Topps witnesses all their autograph to assure the collector of their authenticity. Who is the poor soul who has to go out there and sit with all these legends and talk to them while they sign cards? LOL

We have reps in different regions. The older players always have amazing stories and are always great to work with. I’ve personally done a couple of signings with the older players and they are a lot of fun.

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MORE INFO

TOPPS CONFIRMS HERITAGE SHORT PRINTS AND VARIATIONS
*Base Cards 426-500 are short printed and can be found 1:3 packs.*Replicating the original 1962 Topps , there are short printed GREEN TINT variations. Subjects include cards 110-158 and 160-196. These are found in hobby boxes only.
*There is also a BLUE TINT variation (found at Wal-Mart) and a RED TINT variation (found at Target) featuring the same subjects. These are also short printed.
*Collectors can also find GREEN REFRACTOR parallels (100 subjects) that are only found in Green Refractor Hot Boxes. These Hot Boxes are 1 per hobby case.
*And at retail outlets, collectors can find a special 100-card BLACK BORDERED parallel. They are exclusive to the $8.99 3-pack blister.
*There are 6 short printed ERROR VARIATIONS, which mimic the original set:
* Alex Rodriguez (Photo Reversed w/ bat in left hand image attached)
* David Wright (Cincinnati Reds)
* Joba Chamberlain (Card # 139)
* Bengie Molina (Wrong birthday)
* Ryan Zimmerman (Wrong batting average)
* Vlad Guerrero (Listed as Pitcher on card back)

*And exclusive to hobby boxes, there is a special 10-card JACKIE ROBINSON STORY variation that has the look and feel of the Babe Ruth Story insert. In addition, there is a relic version of each card numbered to 42.

2011 Topps Heritage Review Up Close and Personal.

That green glow coming from my house isn't radioactive, it is 2011 topps heritage and it is everywhere! Green wrappers and some green cards to boot. Today I indulged in 10 boxes of the new topps heritage. It wouldn't be February, urrrrr March without another topps heritage review.

For many, topps heritage rolls on year after year and while the design always changes, the product is always about the same. I would say this year there is more that is new to heritage than old. The base set is as we expected....wooden. The design for the most part works well. Topps did a good job with cropping these pictures to mostly head shots and many without hats, just like the original set. We see some interested hair-do's. Brian Wilson's hair looks like it came right our of the movie Something about Mary, but then again don't we expect that from some of the more colorful characters in baseball? 10% of the shots you will recognize from past topps issues and even past heritage issues. These are always a disappointment, but for the most part topps kept things fresh. There is a green tint parallel which are hard to pull. The cards I pulled had decent centering.

Chromes: Chromes are of course a heritage staple, but even these get spruced up a bit. The regular chromes, refractors, and black refractors are all there, numbered to 1962,562 and 62 respectively, but there is also an unnumbered green chrome set which fall all in one box of a case. I believe that these might of been the unsuccessful first run of chrome cards, perhaps the printer forgot to number them and topps threw them in as a bonus. These could be kinda hot. I would also add that the backs for the first 20 or so chromes look a bit different from the rest. Again this might be a mistake, it makes no sense. Another thing to keep in mind is that the chromes are more difficult to pull this year. Chromes at 1:11 and refractors at 1:37! The green chromes make up a hot box and pull 1:1 but only in one box of a case. I have not studied the chrome checklist, but my chromes all were of B and C level guys, I didn't pull any stars.

Inserts: They are all there, the sets we have known to love...and hate (putting together). The New Age set looks nice, but I pulled way too many doubles. I also don't know how Jim Thome is considered New Age. The Flashback set is back with two versions, baseball and world events. Of course the conflict with Cuba is mentioned several times. Then and Now pairs old and new. This year some new blood..Bautista and Juan Pierre and of couse the heritage mainstays...Mantle and Spahn.

Game Used: I wasn't impressed by these cards but I was blown away by some of the patches topps has been using in the dual patch cards. These could be VERY popular. Topps did a great job on the higher end relics. Again something a little new and I think improved.

Autographs: This is what truly makes us salivate and topps has thrown us some very nice bones. Topps has said that they are trying to focus more on players who played their last season rather than just Hall of Famers. You will find many players that you don't know, guys who called 1962 not only their rookie season but their final season, but you will also find higher tier autographs. Quite Frankly topps hasn't given this much fire power to the autograph set in a long time. Koufax is in as well as Hank Aaron, who unfortunately is a redemption. Followed by popular guys like Ernie Banks, Stan Musial and Bob Gibson. VERY impressive. Don't expect to know print runs, there was nothing on the boxes and early reports suggest that the blue inks in some cards are rarer than the numbered red inks. Topps has gone to an up and down feel for the dual autographs. There are some really nice pairings here. Brooks Robinson/Evan Longoria and Musial/Utley come to mind. As a topps heritage autograph freak, I was really happy with what topps did here. Hopefully the redemption's will be fulfilled very soon.

Show me the money: Well not really called that, but topps has doubled up the case hits this year. The stamp set is there, numbered to just 62 copies each, but also there are 62 Mint cards, which feature a player or event along with a real coin minted in 1962. As you can see by the picture above, the coin is in amazing shape. Almost looks uncirculated! These are nice additions and by early info on ebay, collectors are adding these to their shopping lists. Also heritage gets an added box topper in the form of topps bucks. One dollar, Five Dollar and 10 dollar version each featuring a ballplayer. The wrapper for the original cards can't be seen through this year which is much needed addition.

Overall, topps has another hit on their hands. I would tell collectors out there who have been hearing that hobby boxes are drying up to keep in mind that there appears to me plenty of retail boxes around. Sure the odds are astronomical on some of the higher end cards, but set builders shouldn't care about that. You will also find target and walmart exclusive cards in packs. Retail packs include single packs, 3 packs (with bonus cards), jumbo hanging packs and blasters.

What are you waiting for? The gum...well is ain't there, but everything else is. Woof woof!

2011 Topps Heritage is LIVE!!!

I have been getting early reports from Brent Williams that 2011 heritage has hit walmarts and sports authority. There looks to be blue tinted cards and green tinted cards and they may be retail exclusives. I hope to have a first look and maybe some pictures up today. WOO HOOO!

Are you ready for some 2011 Topps Heritage?

That time of year is almost here, the time when spring training is in full gear and our collecting taste buds are watering for a new topps baseball release. Base brand topps now seems like a distant memory. It is now time for that big one we expect at the end of February.....well, now March.

This time last year we already had topps heritage in our hands, it was a fun year and we were giddy trying to find, and pull, any and all of the super short prints. I was also hard at work trying to pull ink from my boxes, something that has been harder to do in recent years. The above card will be not only #1 on my list but the big pull for anyone busting packs and boxes of this product.

Sandy Koufax will make his first topps debut in a week. He has never signed cards for topps which seems kinda odd given topps history. There will be no doubt that the Koufax card might break sales records on heritage autograph cards. I myself have even thought of cutting down on the boxes I open, just so I can afford a Koufax autograph. I could think of no better card to add to my heritage autograph collection than that of Koufax, who has had few autograph appearances in recent times. Heritage has actually promised quite a few HOF'ers in the 2011 edition. Guys scheduled to sign include, Hank Aaron, who has only appeared on 2 heritage autograph cards, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Stan Musial, Al Kaline, Bob Gibson and Ernie Banks. Of course true heritage collectors know that they won't believe that list until they see the live cards coming out of packs. Topps has been known to shift the checklist prior to release and in 2009 made quite a bit of cuts to the list. We are hoping that topps makes good and gets all those guys into the product.

There will also be some coin cards, a card that topps has experimented with in the past. It will remain to be seen weather or not these will be popular with heritage faithful. The stamp cards from last year did get hot. Heritage tends to avoid innovation. collectors collect ceratin sets every year and don't need gimmicks. These coin cards, which include a half dollar, are supposed to be case hits.

If its a peek at the past, or that new rookie that you want, topps heritage has something for everyone. Of course the best part of topps heritage is once again making all those trades with long time collectors. There are some guys I have been trading with since 2001 now. I know what they collect and they know what I collect.

My search for a real one Koufax starts soon. Who are you after?

Those Burning Topps Heritage Short Print Questions....Answered!

We have significant information on short prints, autographs and other bonus cards in the new 2010 Topps Heritage which hit last week. This is from topps:


1961 HR Chase Insert

2010 Topps Heritage commemorates the 1961 Topps design, so Topps saw it fitting to celebrate the famous 1961 HR chase with a special 45-card insert…

Babe Ruth (15 cards) Hobby Exclusive

Roger Maris (15 cards) Wal-Mart Exclusive

Mickey Mantle (15 cards) Target Exclusive


Each of these inserts also has a Relic Parallel that’s sequentially numbered to the player’s jersey number …Ruth (#’d to 3), Maris (#’d to 9) and Mantle (#’d to 7). In addition, there are short printed variations in the base set featuring Ruth (#60), Maris (#61) and Mantle (#56).


Dice Game Variations

In 1961, Topps issued an obscure 18-card dice game as a test. The following players in 2010 Heritage have short printed variations with dice game backs:


Joe Mauer, Victor Martinez, Albert Pujols, Mark Teixeira, Grady Sizemore, Justin Upton, Adam Jones, Vladimir Guerrero, Matt Kemp, Ichiro, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Lincecum, Chase Utley, Ian Kinsler, Derek Jeter, Hanley Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez and Chipper Jones.


Color Variations

There are 10 extremely short printed color variations. The color changes appear on the player and team name plates at the bottom of the card. *NOTE* All of these cards appear to have the short printed light backs, so they will be easy to find.

Albert Pujols Black-Black
Joe Mauer Black-Black
CC Sabathia Green-Yellow
Derek Jeter Red-Yellow
Grady Sizemore Green-Red
J.A. Happ Orange-Blue
Zack Greinke Yellow-Blue
Ryan Braun Blue-Orange
David Wright Green-Yellow
Pablo Sandoval Yellow-Green



Juan Marichal Autographs

All of Juan Marichal’s Real One autographs were signed in red ink and none are sequentially numbered unlike the other Red Ink autographs in the product.



Short Printed Base Cards

Base cards 426-500 are short printed and can be found 1:3 packs.

Autograph Checklist (complete):

Joe Ginsberg
Ted Lepcio
Julio Becquer
Ned Garver
Billy Harrell
Tom Borland
Tom Brewer
Johnny James
Bob Hale
Danny Kravitz
Jim Woods
Reno Bertoia
Ralph Lumenti
Rocky Bridges
Bobby Malkmus
Al Neiger
Jim Rivera
Luis Aparicio
Red Schoendienst
Bob Gibson
Frank Robinson
Juan Marichal
Matt Holliday
Gordon Beckham
Raul Ibanez
Buster Posey
Justin Upton
Joe DeMaestri
Ray Semproch
Jerry Casale
Gene Leek
Walt Dropo
Jay Bruce
Al Rosen
R.C. Stevens
Collin Balester
Dustin Pedroia

COMMENTS: Most of this was found out slowly through the mass rips of multiple cases. The retail only Mantle and Maris inserts and game used cards weas good news. These give us heritage hounds a reason to buy these cards now. Those Mantle jersey cards will be very hot. There should be 105 of them (numbered in 15 lots of 7), so big rippers will have a shot.

The super short prints feature some big names, so those cards will once again be worth big money, but overall the thrill of the hunt was killed when it was announced that the SSP's have a light back. It appears at least to this collector that the blue ink autographs are rare, if not rarer than the reds. More on this to come hopefully later.

It's Here! 2010 Topps Heritage Review

Well folks, here it is. 2010 Topps Heritage. I was able to pick up 6 boxes today and I will share with you what I pulled and give my opinions on the product. Heritage is now in its 10th year. Started in 2001, topps has modeled their heritage set with a vintage set. They have gone in order starting with the landmark 1952 set (2001 Heritage). 2010 takes us to that magical year 1961. Obviously a big year for baseball. There are plenty of Ruth, Maris and Mantle to keep you collecting for a long time. Here are the results of my 6 boxes:

Short Prints: (1:3) Expected: 48 Pulled: 51
Base Card Dice Game Var. (1:72) Expected: 1 Pulled: 1 Adam Jones
Base Card Chase '61 (1:435) Expected: 0 Pulled: 1 Babe Ruth
Framed Topps Stamps (1:193) Expected: 0 Pulled: 2
Base Chrome (1:5) Expected: 28 Pulled: 27
Base Chrome Refractors (1:18) Expected: 8 Pulled: 6
Base Chrome Black Refractor (1:167) Expected: 0 Pulled: 1 Aaron Hill
New Age Performer (1:15) Expected: 10 Pulled: 7
Then & Now (1:15) Expected 10 Pulled 8
Flashbacks (1:12) (1:12) Expected: 24 Pulled 25
Clubhouse Relic (1:29) Expected 5 Pulled: 4
Real One Autograph (1:357) Expected: 0 Pulled: 0
Real One Autograph Red Ink (1:586) Expected: 0 Pulled: 1 Raul Ibanez


The Base Cards:

The base set is what always drives topps heritage. This is a set builders set and that means all the cards must look great. I think the cards for the most part are beautiful. The pictures are mostly portrait shots but that is keeping close to the original set. The colors are a bit washed out but I think topps did a great job recreating that old look. Almost all the big name free agents are pictured with their new teams. The card backs list the players complete stats NICE.

Grade B+

The Short Prints

The short prints are once again easy to pick out as they have lighter backs. These fall usually as the last card in the pack. There are also two variation sets that we know of, the first base cards of Mantle, Maris and Ruth (see above). The second is a dice game variation. These cards also have light backs and have the dice game on the back. They will be inserted not as the last card in the pack but further in. At 1:3 packs you have a lot of work to do on the base short prints. Collation was very poor. Triples of some cards.

Grade B-

Insert Sets

Once again 4 insert sets make their familiar appearance in Topps Heritage. The New Age performer set will prove to be the toughest at 15 cards. Also the popular Then and Now set and two flashback sets.The player selection is excellent, even though
Whitey Ford makes an appearance on all the Then & Now cards which feature pitchers.

Grade A

Chromes

Always a popular set, the chromes are back. This time the base cards have a white border, so it will be much easier to distinguish them from the refractor. The black chromes are once again drop dead gorgeous. Odds for the chromes have been improved over the past few years even though it didn't appear that way in my break. Refractors should fall 3 per every two boxes, but I received 1 per box only.

Grade A

Autographs

At 6 boxes I did not expect to pull ink, but I did just 30 packs into the rip. It was a beautiful Raul Ibanez card. This is a curious card, it appeared in the 2009 update set but was a redemption and topps has said that Ibanez didn't sign, yet here he is in 2010 as a live autograph. You have to wonder why topps isn't honoring those 2009 redemptions. The one thing lacking initially, is that topps gave no autograph checklist. It appears that Musial and Yaz did not make the set...disappointing, but other surprises have been ink from Frank Robinson and Juan Marichal. Autographs are on card and beautiful, you can't ask for anything more....well better names would help, but this is MUCH improved over 2009.

Grade B+

Extra Goodies

There are extras, those cards that pull tougher than the box odds. Topps has thrown in a stamp set. These are cards that feature two stamps of current players in them. These are framed and are numbered to just 50. It appears initially that the set is very big even though they are hard to pull. There are also box topper panels that use the stamp theme. These can be pulled one in every other box next to the more familiar ad panels. Original cards can also be pulled as box toppers. I pulled 2 of them. They are again stamped. Topps has also put in those rarer cards, dual autographs and multi game used cards. Expect big money if you pull those. These extras make heritage a fun rip for the high roller. They are supposed to come in addition to the one Gu or Auto per box, even though one of my boxes didn't have a hit in it (but that box contained a black refractor and a stamp card in it).

UPDATE: Early box rips have shown that some boxes will not contain the GU/Auto while other boxes will have multiple.

Grade A

Those disappointed with the effort topps gave last year will be happy to know that 2010 topps heritage is a much improved product. It is still not as good as the hey day of heritage 01-03, but there is plenty to collect in this stuff. I have not looked through all my cards for variations, but there are bound to be a few. The 61 chase variations are easy to spot as they are lighter backed. These are the first and maybe only cards of Ruth and Maris and the only base heritage card of Mantle. Expect those to be hot hot hot.

Check back often here for more information regarding 2010 Heritage. It is certainly worth a buy!

The Thrill of the chase

Few things mean more to baseball fans than the dying days of cold winter who spawn into warm spring mornings. Spring is not only time for birth, but rebirth, when all the memories, good and bad, are gone. When everyone's team is in first place. Topps Heritage always ushers in the spring and this year is going to prove to be very exciting. Mostly because topps has leaked very little about what is actually going to be in 2010 Topps Heritage. In a few days, my blogosphere friends, the hunt will be on! I am anticipating a Wednesday release of topps heritage. I will be hopefully getting mine then if everything goes well, that gives us 2 days to get ready.

If you are a player collector you will want to get busy early. There will be a fury of Heritage opened the first week and a half, many of those collectors will be looking to make a profit early, so keep your eye out for that key card or you might miss it. Many of the people who buy Heritage on ebay put them straight into personal collections, never to see the light of day again! Rarer dual autographed cards will command high prices, so watch out. You should have a good shot at the chrome player "set" of a certain player, that is one chrome, one refractor and one black refractor, even though the latter of the three will cost you as the print run will be only 61. Also be expected to pay well for the red ink autographs...and remember, they are all live this year, no redemptions!

The largest group of hunters will of course be set collectors, not only master set builders but chrome and refractors set builders. Finding a group of traders is the best way to complete your sets. I'll suggest the Freedom Card Board, there will be plenty of traders there ready to help you out with your needs. The great thing about heritage is there is very little waste, someone will be looking for those chromes and short prints, and even the box toppers and stamps. If you go the conservative route and buy off ebay, be prepared to pay a premium early, but prices will come down later on, of course buying off ebay takes the thrill of the pack rip out, but sometimes finding the set for that great price can be exciting also. Also be real careful, those high priced super short prints will be flying (and trading) under the radar the first week of the release. Those who study the set and do their homework can sometimes find these ahead of everyone else and if you do, you will make a killing. (hint: don't forget the checklist cards!)

The last part of the hunt will happen in a another week or so...the retail hunt- searching the targets and walmarts for retail. In the past those early packs have been chock-full of goodies. I have come to the conclusion a long time ago that early retail packs have the best odds for pulling the best cards and after a month or so the blaster boxes and packs are really dead. Some of my best autograph cards have come from these early target packs.

Do you smell it heritage dogs? That is the smell of gum. Now go get it!