I'd like to first thank our sponsor, Topps, for providing us with this box to review.

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/9757/heritagebox.jpg

2009 Topps Heritage Baseball Hobby Box

24 packs/box
8 cards/pack
SRP: 79.99

Product Highlights
- 500 stars of today on the classic 1960 Topps Baseball design!
- On-card autographs and relics from 1960 legends and today's stars!
- One auto or Relic per box!
- Gum in every pack!

Content Breakdown
Base Cards
- Rookies, Veterans, Legends (425)
- Short Prints (75) - Inserted 1:3 packs.

Chrome Parallel Cards
- Black-Bordered (100) - Seq. #'d to 60.
- Refractor (100) - Seq. #'d to 560.
- Chrome (100) - Seq. #'d to 1960.

Insert Cards - Insert 6 per box.
- New Age Performers (15)
- Then and Now (10)
- Flashbacks (10)
- News Flashbacks (10)

Autographed Cards - One autograph or relic per box.
- Real One (30+ subjects)
- Real One Special Edition - Red Ink (30+ subjects) - Hand numbered to 60.
- Real One Dual Autographs (10) - Hand numbered to 25. Hobby Exclusive.
- Flashbacks (5) - Hand numbered to 25.
- 1960 Cut Signatures (10) - One of one.

Autographed Relic Cards (15) - On autograph or relic card per box.
- Clubhouse Collection Relics (10) - Hand numbered to 25.
- Flashbacks Stadium Relics (5) - Hand numbered to 25.
- NEW! Clubhouse Collection Dual (5) - Hand numbered to 10. Hobby Exclusive.

Relic Cards - One autograph or relic per box.
- Clubhouse Collection (23)
- Clubhouse Collection Dual Relics (5) - Hand numbered to 60.
- Flashbacks (10)
- Dual Flashbacks (5) - Hand numbered to 10.

Box Loader - Hobby Exclusive!
- Advertising Panels - Inserted 1 per box.
- 1960 Topps Originals - Inserted 1:2 boxes.


VIDEO BREAK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyKlX1LP_d8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSYQhVqPWAc

WHAT WE PULLED
Base - 168/425 39.5%
Dupes - 2
SPs - 11/75 14.7%

The base cards feature the same design as the 1960 Topps cards. The cards have a flat finish and have the same look and feel as their vintage counterpart. On the right side of each card is a head shot of the player and on the left a full body image. The rookie cards also feature the same Topps Magazine Rookie style used in 1960 Topps. Topps also included team cards as shown below.

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/7128/basecards.jpg

The chrome Parallels use the same image as the base cards but they use the chrome front and are numbered out of 1960. The chrome refractors are numbered out of 560. Here are the ones we pulled.

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/2914/chromez.jpg

Here are a few of the other inserts we pulled.

http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/9808/inserts.jpg

In each box of Topps has included an advertising panel as a box topper. We were also lucky enough to pull a 1960 Topps buyback card. It is an original 1960 Topps card that has been stamped with gold foil.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2026/boxtoppers.jpg

Final Ratings (Out of 5):
Base Set:5
Fun:4.5
Overall Design:4.5
Value:2
Rebuy:2.5

Overall: 18.5/25 (74%)

Topps has done a great job with keeping their 2009 Topps Heritage product in line with all of the past Heritage releases. The cards look and feel like the 1960 Topps set. The cards have a nice flat finish to them and Topps managed to capture a lot of the subtle characteristics of the 1960 set. The rookie cards even feature the Topps Rookie Magazine style and they included the team photo cards.

This is set designed for collectors. The heritage set has always been a favorite of set builders. This year is no different. The base set is made up of 425 cards with cards 426-500 being SPs. The SPs were inserted at a rate of 1:3 so it makes the set challenging to complete but not impossible. Topps also included a few Super SPs. For more information on those click the link below to read the press release from Topps.


Super SP Press Release (http://www.topps.com/sports/news/toppsNews.aspx?news_id=250)

One major complaint I have is that we did not pull a GU or Auto in this box. On the top of the box it says "Look for a REAL ONE Autograph or Relic in every box". So it was disappointing to not get one. Another complaint I have about this product is with the 1960 Topps Buy Back cards. If Topps is going to go through the trouble of finding 1960 Topps cards and stamping them they should find ones that are in better condition. The Buy back card that we pulled has a large crease going through the top of the card.

Overall Heritage is a nice set and is a great one if you are a set builder or if you are a fan of vintage cards.

I would like to thank Topps for providing Sports Card Forum with this box and giving us the opportunity to review it.

Nice review...it's a shame about not getting a relic or auto out of the box. The Chrome and Refractors are wonderful again this year. You are right. Heritage is primarily for set collectors. But it's typically cheap enough that everyone can get a few packs and enjoy...not to mention a piece of gum when they are done...

Thanks for the great review. I always like the Heritage releases and how they try to mimmick the vintage sets with present day players. That's too bad you didn't get a relic or auto in the box and I haven't heard that this has been much of a problem...actually it's the first Heritage box break I've heard of this year that did not contain a hit. As far as the buy back card, I think there were problems with last years buy back cards as well. I have one from last year and it is severely damaged around the edges and corners and is miscut badly on the right side. I would think they could at least put EX or better buy back cards in the product. Overall, though, I think the product is great and affordable. I no longer collect sets, but if I did, this would be one of the top sets for me to collect. The SP's and variation cards should make it very fun to tackle (possibly frustrating too since the variation cards seem very hard to find and are selling high on auction sites).

Sucks there was no Auto/GU, but the break did seem solid and the King Felix Refractor looks nice!

NIce job on the buyback!

I need that Wright :)

Good review Chuck I know you always liked this product.

DOn

Thanks to Topps for the box ...I have always liked the look of the Heritage cards..

Great reaview..

Thanks Ed

Nice break and review!

Thanks Topps!

Darin

looks like a nice product and good review

Nice review! Obviously, there is not a lot of value if you don't get a GU or auto and pay $80 for the box. Hopefully, this is not the norm!

Very nice stuff, i really like the Vintage look

Thanks Charlie for the review....sold me...I dont want them.. really appreciate Topps and their contribution, but you'd think they'd send a stacked box so peeps would actually want to buy them. I'm going to stick with the regular 09 Topps for now as I want those sketch cards :)

Nice review.

Nice review...too bad there wasn't a hit in the box, but that actual 1960 card is a nice hit, of sorts. Thanks Topps!