Sales for the flagship set have been strong but Heritage fans will have a secondary product to collect this summer with the arrival of 2017 Topps Heritage High Number baseball.
The annual follow-up will return in pack form this year, with nine cards per pack and 24 packs per box at a cost that will likely be around $70. Each box will have one autograph or relic card and one box loader.
The checklist (linked below) will include players called up to the majors who weren’t in the set released a few weeks ago as well as veterans who changed teams after the first set was created. Cards will be an extension of the base set with numbering from 501-725.
Here’s a look at the base set, parallels, variations, autograph cards, relics and inserts that will be a part of the product.
2017 Topps Heritage High Number Base Set
The base set will consist of 225 cards, with the final 25 short-printed to the tune of one card in every three packs.
There will be some history-minded parallels including:
Gray backs – The card back color goes from yellow to gray, mimicking the backs of the Venezuelan issue. Limited to 10.
Bright Yellow backs – The card back color goes from yellow to bright yellow, mimicking the backs used in Milton Bradley games. Limited to 25.
Blue-bordered Parallel – Limited to 50. Flip Stock Parallel – The card is printed with the stock flipped, so the front prints on the uncoated back and the back prints on the coated front. Limited to 5.
Base Card Mini Variations – Numbered to 100.
In addition to the standard parallels, 2017 Heritage High Number will also have:
Error Short-Prints – Cards reproducing errors from the 1968 set.
Trade Variations – Cards reproducing variations from the 1968 set.
Throwback Uniform Variations – Cards featuring subjects in throwback uniforms.
Action Image Variations – Features new action photography of a star player.
Team Name Color Variations – Cards with different-color team names.
There will also be base card Chrome variations including:
Chrome Refractor Parallel – #’d to 568.
Chrome Blue Bordered Parallel – #’d to 68.
Chrome Gold Bordered Parallel – #’d to 5.
Chrome Superfractor Parallel – #’d 1/1.
Chrome HOT BOX Refractor Parallel – 1 per pack in Hot Boxes
Autographs
Among the big hits found only in hobby boxes will be 1968 Baseball Cut Signatures, featuring players from the 1968 set and 1968 Celebrity Cut Signatures with signed cuts of musicians and celebrities that were popular or relevant in 1968. Both will be 1/1.
Autographed Relic Cards will include:
Clubhouse Coll
ection Autographed Relics – Single uniform and bat relic cards to be signed on-card by active players. Hand-numbered to low quantities.
Autograph Patch Parallel – Hand-numbered 1/1.
Clubhouse Collection Dual Auto Relics – A mixture of retired and active players featuring a relic piece and an on-card autograph from both. Hand-numb
ered to low quantities.
Autograph Patch Parallel – Hand-numbered 1/1.
Real One
Autographs will be the most common signed cards with active and retired players signing on-card in blue ink. There will also be Red Ink versions numbered to 68 or less. Other autographs to look for include:
Dual Autographs– A mixture of retired & active players sign on-card autographs in blue ink. Hand-numbered to low quantities.
1968 Poster Box Loader Autograph – Styled after the oversized 1968 Topps Posters, featuring an on-card autograph. Subjects will feature active MLB players. Hand-numbered to 10.
Nolan Ryan Highlights Autographs – The ’68 Topps design showcasing highlights of the career of Nolan Ryan. Hand-numbered to 5.
Other hits in 2017 Topps Heritage High Number will include:
1968 Baseball Cut Signatures – Featuring players from the 1968 set. #’d 1/1. 1968 Celebrity Cut Signatures – Featuring musicians and celebrities that were popular or relevant in 1968. #’d 1/1.
Relic Cards
Clubhouse Collection is the starting point for 2017 Heritage High Number relics with Gold versions numbered to 99 and new 1/1 Patch Parallels also in the mix.
Dual, Triple and Quad Relic cards will feature either a jersey or bat piece, all numbered to 68 or less and all with Patch Parallels that are 1/1.
Insert Cards
Five different insert sets were highlighted in Topps’ promotional material for 2017 Heritage baseball:
Rookie Performers – Top rookie players from the 2017 season.
Then & Now – Highlights from the 2017 season and connections to 1967.
Combo Cards – Featuring two or more standout players.
Award Winners – Celebrating the major award winners of 2016.
Nolan Ryan Highlights – Career highlight cards of Nolan Ryan in the ‘68 design.
Box Loaders
Packed on top of each box will be one of several different “box loaders” including:
1968 Ad Panel – 3-card strips with an advertisement back featuring a player.
1968 Poster Box Loader – Styled after the oversized 1968 Topps Posters and an extension of the set that was offered inside the flagship product. Numbered to 50.
1968 Topps Originals – Original cards foil-stamped and inserted in a wrap.
2017 Topps Heritage High Number baseball has been delayed but is set for release the week of September 13.
2017 Topps Heritage High Number Checklist
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