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!

2010 Topps Heritage Preview

2010 Topps Heritage marks the 10th year of this very popular product. I was able to ask Clay Luraschi, who is director of product development at topps, a few questions regarding the future release.

HK: Hi Clay, thanks for your time. I would like to start with a little history. Recently 2001 Topps Heritage was named the set of the decade. Can any one person take credit for the Heritage idea or was it a group effort, and why do you think it has been so popular for all these years?

CL: The concept of the Heritage brand was definitely an idea spawned by the team. I remember it clearly. We were celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Topps baseball cards that year and we thought it would be fitting to recreate the 1952 set. I remember the group having very deep discussions about how the retouching and the small things (black and red backs, short prints, etc) would make this set great. To have the set of the decade is a great honor for Topps and something we are very proud of. The Heritage brand is one of those brands that the group truly loves to work on. It's out history!

HK: One of the driving forces behind the popularity of heritage are the beautiful on card autographs. How far in advance do you have to work to get those into packs as live cards? Will Musial, Yaz, and Gibson be in packs?

CL: On card-autographs in general are tough to coordinate, because there are so many hurdles that can come up in the process. It can sometimes be even more difficult for Topps, because we witness every single autograph session in person. We are the only company that does that. We start way out with Heritage compared to other products, because we track down a ton of retired players. As you know, we do as many autographs as we can of the players who had their last card in that particular year. And some of these guys are hard to track down. But at the end, the player enjoys it (because many times this is the first card deal they've received since that last Topps card) and the collector enjoys it.

HK: 2010 Topps Heritage will be modeled after the 1961 Topps set, that was obviously a huge year in the history of baseball. What kinds of cards will you be putting into the product to commemorate that season?

CL: Well, the big story in 1961 as we all know is when Roger Maris and Mickey chased after Ruth's 60 HR record. There is a major insert playing tribute to all three players in 2010 Topps Heritage.

HK: One of the most exciting parts of ripping into a fresh box of Topps Heritage the past few years has been the prospect of pulling what has been called, super short prints. Should we be keeping our eyes peeled again this year?

CL: With Heritage, you should always keep your eyes peeled! Like I said, we really enjoy putting this product together and we have so much fun doing so. From selecting the photos and matching them up with the original card numbers to to trying to recreate them as close to the original as possible...it's a challenge, but we love what we do. Thanks




2010 Topps Hertiage is shipping to card stores now!

Heritage Favorites 9/9/09 Edition

Here we are on the 9th day of the 9th month of the 9th year of the new century, well actually it is the 10th year of the new century, but topps heritage is in its 9th year. That made me think of the number 9 and what it means to heritage. I immediately thought of all the famous baseball players who wore the #9. Of course Ted Williams comes to every ones mind. He has appeared in several heritage releases, from then and now cards in 06 and 07 to a cut in 2006 which to my knowledge has never been pulled, to one of the more famous cards in the heritage run, the Korean War time capsule card in 01, which featured a piece of military uniform (not from Williams). I always thought of Teddy Ballgame as the best hitter who ever lived, you have to wonder what his stats would of been had he not gone to war twice!

Yankee fans will think of Roger Maris who has only appeared as a cut autograph back in 2007. If heritage makes it to 2010 (1961 issue), they will most likely have to put Maris in the set somehow. You can't ignore the magic of that season, Maris versus Mantle versus Ruth. Hopefully the Upper Deck exclusives will be long gone by then.

Two other famous 9's have also appeared quite a bit in topps heritage. Enos Slaughter was one of the original guys appearing in the first 01 autograph set. Bill Mazeroski would also have plenty of jersey cards and autograph cards in various sets starting with 2006. Pirate fans had something to shout about back then!

However, none of these guys have appeared in more heritage products than the #9 heritage champ, Minnie Minoso. Saturnino Orestes Armas Miñoso Arrieta, or Minnie as he was called, was a fountain of youth. He is only the 2nd player ever to play in 7 different decades, a feat that will stand for ever. Starting in the negro league, Minoso would go on to play for the Indians, Cards, Senators and on and off with the White Sox where he was called Mr. White Sox.

Minoso was also featured in the first 2001 heritage set. He had an autograph, a jersey card and a dual jersey card with Frank Thomas. He would sign again in 2002 and have an insert card in 2003. After a short break he would again be featured prominently in 2008. In 2009 he would appear with Chipper on a then and now card. If topps continues in the next decade and feature the players of the 60's and then 70's, Minoso should be right there!!

Have a happy 9/9/09!

Heritage Favorites Part II

In our second installment of heritage favorites I visit another active player. Alex Rodriguez's heritage rein has spanned three teams. He was a featured autograph back in 2001 heritage with the Seattle Mariners. The next year he would be traded to the Texas Rangers and then again to the Yankees. Arod has of course been a heritage staple appearing in the autograph set both in 2001 and 2002. He also has appeared heavily in the insert sets being paired with HOF'ers from Mantle to Jackie Robinson to Yogi Berra. In 2009 a surprise double GU card of Mantle and Arod was on every ones wish list. Arod has also appeared in every chrome set except 2007 including the very popular black refractors. Rodriguez has been a very good signer with topps over the years but it looks like those days are gone, he doesn't sign nearly as much as he once did.

The card you see above was pulled at a target, an amazing feat for the highly searchable 2001 packs, what would be even more amazing is that I would pull the 2002 heritage Arod auto the very next year at the same target! They are still two of my more favorite heritage cards.

Heritage Favorites

In the next couple of posts I will be revisiting the most popular heritage players over the years. These players year after year provide heritage with the bang that has us coming back for more every year.

The first of those players is 10 year vet Chipper Jones, now I know he has played longer than 10 years, but he has appeared in every heritage release since 2001. He has several autographs in the 2001 release including a rare classic renditions autograph. He is also on a bat card with Eddie Mathews twice, once in 01 and once in 03. These cards are the crown jewel of Chipper collections. Chipper has been a mainstay in the chrome set for every year except 2007. Topps tried to go cross-branding with the chrome set in 2007 hoping that collectors would buy lesser products in order to chase the heritage chromes (it did not work).

If you are a Chipper collector you can count on great looking cards every year. Sadly Chipper doesn't sign a lot of cards today, but the old ones are beautiful, my favorite is this black chrome from 2008, the colors are amazing. Anyone out there with an 01 autograph? I would love to post it here.

Time to say goodbye?

All good things must come to an end and it looks like one of the greatest baseball products is coming to an end. Topps just released the presale info for their 2009 Heritage High Number series and it has collectors scratching their heads. The presale material shows "big hits" as they always do, but what we see is a Jay Bruce autographed jersey card and a Dick Burwell real one autograph.

Jay Bruce is a popular player with collectors but he has appeared en masse recently in topps products including 2009 topps heritage. Dick Burwell is, well, I don't
really know. So I went to the baseball reference site and looked him up. Dick Burwell played with the Chicago Cubs for the 60 and 61 season, he pitched a total of 13.2 innings. He had "retired" at the age of 21.

If you collected topps heritage in the past then you have seen this before. The 2009 edition was chalk filled with these 3-inning career guys. Most of the players on the autograph checklist didn't play even a month. Is this what topps new game plan for heritage is?

Let me remind you all who appeared in last years product. Guy like Kaline, Snider, Frank Robinson, Kaat, and Cepeda, with minor stars such as Skowron, Muary Wills, and Tommy Davis. They also added in some of the hottest current players in the majors, guys like Pedroia and Soto.

I have to ask myself why topps is opting to cheapen the heritage brand so much? Do they really think the base set alone can sell this product? The autograph odds already make this product a 2 per case venture, but what fun is pulling a Dick Burwell autograph as your case hit?

Yes all good things must come to an end and this might be the end of topps heritage. In todays economy this lack of effort will not fly, even with your
most loyal collecting base, and I dare say that no other product, save for bowman
chrome, has had a more loyal following. I had hoped after seeing the presale info
that 2009 topps heritage would have some nice surprises in it, well it did, an even more watered down autograph checklist and players missing from the set that were actually pictured on the promo material. Topps also made a "mistake" by putting 80% of the super SP's into a few boxes of retail cards.

I know many heritage collectors like to pre order this stuff, but if last years product is selling for way less a box than it did when it came out, then what is this stuff going to be selling for next year? 35 a box? It might be worth the wait.